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New Rankings
Going into the final week of the regular season, the NC State wrestling team (14-0, 4-0) held-serve at #3 in the national rankings by the NWCA. This is likely where the Pack will remain for the final dual poll next week, as both #1 Iowa and #2 Penn State are unlikely to stumble in their remaining duals.
Iowa stays No. 1 in latest @nwcawrestling poll after finishing out its @B1GWrestling dual season undefeated
— NCAA Wrestling (@ncaawrestling) February 18, 2020
1️⃣: @Hawks_Wrestling
2️⃣: @pennstateWREST
3️⃣: @PackWrestle
4️⃣: @HuskerWrestling
5️⃣: @ASUWrestling
6-25: https://t.co/0fircYRDDw pic.twitter.com/m0HDPoAxJw
And as you know, with each new week of results comes a new week of rankings. Check out where our guys slotted in according to FloWrestling, after their win against Virginia Tech.
- 125: Camacho #15 (last week: 16)
- 133: Trombley #23 (NR)
- 141: T. Wilson #13 (11)
- 157: H. Hidlay #2 (2)
- 165: T. Bullard #8 (10)
- 174: D. Bullard #16 (15)
- 184: T. Hidlay #3 (3)
- 285: D. Wilson #24 (NR)
Both Trombley and Deonte Wilson deservedly re-enter the rankings this week after their huge top-25 wins in the Virginia Tech dual.
Duke Dual
How to Watch: ACC Network
On Friday night, the Pack will travel to Cameron Indoor to take on the only-defeated Duke Blue Devils (0-16, 0-4) for a chance to clinch the ACC dual championship. After having faced three top-10 ACC foes in consecutive weeks, I’m sure Pop’s guys will be happy to have the opportunity to finish off the season on a less intense note.
The Blue Devils have had a season to forget. Mind you, this is not a program expected to be in the top-25 each year, but even for their standards, this is bad. Of their 16 dual losses on the season, they have only reached a double-digit team score twice. The Duke lineup boasts zero ranked wrestlers, and only one starter with a winning record. Despite their complete lack of scholarships, Duke has had an All-American in each of the last six seasons - that run will certainly end this year. They’ve redshirted a couple of vital pieces to their lineup, but that won’t help them this year, and definitely won’t on Friday night either.
The Pack should roll in this one, and I would be surprised if we didn’t sweep all ten weights. However, Pop could see this as an opportunity to get some starters a little rest and let a few bench guys jump into the lineup for some TV time, so don’t hold me to that! Probable lineups and my predictions are below:
- 125: #15 Jakob Camacho vs. forfeit (Camacho forfeit; 6-0 NCSU)
- 133: #23 Jarrett Trombley vs. Harrison Campbell (Trombley pin; 12-0 NCSU)
- 141: #13 Tariq Wilson vs. Bryson Neace (Wilson tech fall; 17-0 NCSU)
- 149: AJ Leitten vs. Wade Unger (Leitten major; 21-0 NCSU)
- 157: #2 Hayden Hidlay vs. Eric Carter (Hidlay tech fall; 26-0 NCSU)
- 165: #8 Thomas Bullard vs. Benjamin Anderson (Bullard decision; 29-0 NCSU)
- 174: #16 Daniel Bullard vs. Mason Eaglin (Bullard decision; 32-0 NCSU)
- 184: #3 Trent Hidlay vs. Kai Blake (Hidlay major; 36-0 NCSU)
- 197: Nick Reenan or Tyrie Houghton vs. Vincent Baker (Houghton decision; 39-0 NCSU)
- 285: #24 Deonte Wilson vs. Jonah Niesenbaum (Wilson decision; 42-0 NCSU)
I’ll also go on the record and predict that we don’t see any more wardrobe malfunctions from Coach Hall.
Wrestling is tough on coaches. Sometimes it tough on your pants, too. Glad I could humor a few people, including our guy, @KeeshanGanatra, who was in the right place at the right time. Winning the dual helped redeemed this moment . pic.twitter.com/qgzfg6uRna
— Adam Hall (@coachhallstar) February 17, 2020
This one will likely be ugly, but I think it will be super beneficial to the team to be able to reset after the tough stretch they overcame in the last three weeks. Claim some victories, collect a little ACC championship hardware, and get ready for the postseason.
Raleigh is a WRESTLING city! @PackWrestle wins #NCAAWrestling Team of the Week honors after earning another top-ten victory and staying undefeated #PackMentality pic.twitter.com/BxCObAxz8m
— NCAA Wrestling (@ncaawrestling) February 18, 2020
Hopefully we can get a nice contingent of Red & White out to Durham to watch the team close out such a successful season. It will be the first undefeated campaign in NC State wrestling history, and should provide a nice springboard for the ACC tournament in a couple weeks. Dual starts at 7PM. Go Pack!
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