The fifth-ranked NC State wrestling team returned to action tonight in its first match since a convincing 29-12 win over then-No. 12 Princeton. Tonight the team earned its second-biggest win of the season 44-3 in Philadelphia against Drexel University.
The Wolfpack got out to a hot start winning the first two bouts. The match started at 174 which was a forfeit by Drexel, giving redshirt junior No. 18 Daniel Bullard the win and NC State an early 6-0 lead. Next, at 184, redshirt freshman No. 3 Trent Hidlay registered 11 total takedowns in route to a 25-9 technical fall win.
After Drexel won its only bout of the night at 197, NC State got back on track with a 3-1 win. With sophomore Deonte Wilson’s win at 285, NC State’s lead grew to 14-3.
At 125, redshirt freshman Jacob Camacho won big 20-5 thanks to a six-point move in the second period and three takedowns in the third period. The technical fall win gave the Wolfpack five more points as it headed into the halfway point of the match with a 19-3 lead.
NC State then rattled off three more wins as redshirt freshman Jarrett Trombley won at 133 in quick fashion. He turned a headlock into a pin at the 2:38 mark of the first period, giving the Pack its first win by pin of the night. Redshirt freshman Jarred Papcsy held onto his early lead from a 6-point first period to earn a win at 141 by decision 8-5. Papcsy’s win pushed NC State’s lead to 28-3 and with only three bouts left, NC State had clinched the team win.
However, the Wolfpack had no interest in taking its foot off the gas, as it finished off the match with three more wins. After redshirt sophomore A.J. Leitten won at 149 by major decision, 13-3, the team finished the match with two straight pins.
Redshirt junior No. 2 Hayden Hidlay got the win at 157 with a takedown, which he then converted to a pin at the 2:06 mark of the bout. In the last match of the night, redshirt freshman Tyler Barnes scored the third pin of the night at 165 for the Pack at the 2:14 mark of the first period.
With tonight’s win, the Wolfpack move to 9-0, including a 4-0 record on the road. With this win it now leads the nation in wins among undefeated teams. It’s case for No. 1 in the team rankings is growing as it has three more wins than any other top-5 team.
NC State has a quick turnaround this weekend as it travels up to Hempstead, New York to take on Hofstra at 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon. This will be the last nonconference match of the season as NC State takes on Virginia next Friday, Jan 24 at Reynolds Coliseum.
