At long last, sixth-year Isaac Trumble joined the ranks as one of NC State wrestling’s national champions.
The Wolfpack holds 10 individual national titles after Trumble dominated the 2026 heavyweight national championship. The title was the final accomplishment that Trumble had yet to earn during his time with the Wolfpack and cemented his legacy as one of the best to ever wrestle at NC State.
Entering the national championship, Trumble faced Iowa State’s Yonger Bastida. Both Trumble and Bastida were undefeated on the season and one win away from a perfect season.
The two heavyweights began the match slowly, both going scoreless in the first period. Late in the second period, however, Trumble made Bastida pay with a takedown and emerged victorious with a 5-0 decision.
The takedown that won Isaac Trumble the 285 lb NCAA title#NCAAs coverage presented by @CKAwrestling pic.twitter.com/QXnU54szdl
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) March 22, 2026
Trumble’s title marks the Wolfpack’s second straight season with a national championship after redshirt sophomore Vince Robinson won the 125 pound championship last season. It’s also the fifth overall national championship under head coach Pat Popolizio.
As a team, the Wolfpack performed admirably, earning tenth place in the NCAA championships. The Pack’s total of 44.5 points marked second amongst ACC teams, only behind Stanford.
Earning All-American honors with his fourth place finish, Robinson showed impressive grit to finish the season strong. The highlight of Robinson’s tournament came when Robinson earned his first career victory over Virginia Tech’s Eddie Ventresca. In a sudden death match, Robinson broke the tie with a takedown for a 4-1 victory over the wrestler that had formerly been his kryptonite.
The Wolfpack nearly had two more podium finishers in freshman Will Denny and redshirt junior Matty Singleton in the 165 and 174 pound championships, respectively. Both made it to the blood round, featuring the final 12 wrestlers, but both Denny and Singleton suffered losses. Denny’s defeat was particularly close, suffering an 8-7 loss at the hands of Minnesota’s Andrew Sparks.
Like Trumble, another longtime Wolfpack star closed his college career at the NCAA championships — sixth-year Ryan Jack. Competing in the 141 pound tournament, Jack’s final match ended in a 5-2 defeat to Rider’s Elijah Griffin in the second round of the consolation bracket. Jack’s career in Raleigh will be celebrated after six strong seasons, including a 2024 campaign that ended with an ACC title and All-American honors.
Sixth-year Zach Redding also closed potentially his final season as a collegiate wrestler in the 133 pound bracket. Dealt a tough draw by facing No. 11 seed Tyler Ferrara of Cornell in the first round, Redding fought hard but suffered a 6-2 loss. Redding’s season ended in the consolation bracket after a medical forfeit against SIU Edwardsville’s Marcel Lopez.
While he only spent one year with the Pack, Redding turned in a strong campaign after spending much of his career at Iowa State. Redding was a much-needed presence in the 133 pound slot and delivered throughout the season.
Rounding out NC State’s tournament qualifiers was redshirt sophomore Koy Buesgens. Entering the bracket as the No. 5 seed, Buesgens started strong with a 13-1 major decision over Kent State’s Chris Earnest. However, Buesgens season ended in the consolation bracket with a loss to Virginia Tech’s Collin Gaj. Despite the tough finish, Buesgens has a solid career ahead and will be a key wrestler for the future of Wolfpack wrestling.
The 2025-26 season ends, but the future is bright for the Wolfpack. Several key pieces are eligible to return for next season, including Robinson, Buesgens, Singleton and more. The Pack will be back in action in late October or early November.
