NC State Wrestling Notebook: Summer Preseason Rankings

It’s never too early to start predicting the NC State Wrestling lineup for the upcoming season. Coming off a fifth straight ACC Championship and third straight top-10 finish at the NCAA Championships, NC State returns one of its best lineups during head coach Pat Popilizio’s tenure.

Although there might still be a few questions – Who goes at 165? Can Jakob Camacho return and contend for a national title? How will Trent Hidlay’s move to 197 affect the team race? – expectations are sky-high for the Pack this season with an experienced lineup returning to the mat.

Last week, FloWrestling pushed out its newest set of preseason national rankings now that the transfer portal has finally slowed down. Let’s look at where Flo has the Pack in all 10 weight classes, and what the ACC competition looks like for NC State.

125
5^th-year Jarrett Trombley – #8
Flo included Trombley in these rankings since he is the returning ACC champion and went 2-2 at the NCAAs last year. But Camacho will be back after missing last year with a knee injury, and all indications are he is good to go and will be the starter. Camacho not only has a chance to earn his first All-American honor, but he should be in contention for a national title with the way things look at 125 pounds nationally.

ACC competition: #4 Eddie Ventresca (VT)

133
R-Sr. Kai Orine – #5
Orine shined best in March last year, winning an ACC title and earning All-American honors as well. Some time off this summer might have been the best thing for Orine to heal up, as he had a slow start to last season but made the biggest strides on the team late. There is a lot more tape on Orine now, opponents are going to start to look for his ‘funk’, as he used a lot of big moves late to secure some impressive late season wins.

ACC competition: #4 Sam Latona (VT)

141
Sr. Ryan Jack – #10
No wrestler has more to prove this upcoming season than Jack. He had a great regular season and was a runner-up at ACCs, but had a disappointing NCAAs after entering as the #5 seed. He has improved his offense each offseason, and the new three-point takedown might benefit him the most. The ACC’s best weight once again looks to be 141. All three in the top-10 are quite familiar with each other.

ACC competition: #4 Lachlan McNeil (UNC) & #9 Cole Matthews (Pitt)

149
So. Jackson Arrington – #10
The most exciting jump to watch in college wrestling is one’s true freshman season into their second year on campus. Arrington stepped right into the Pack’s lineup last year as a freshman and was runner-up at the ACCs and one win away from All-American honors at the NCAAs. Fans are wondering if this is the final season at 149 for Arrington, as there could be a future bump up to 157. Arrington has seen a lot of action this summer in freestyle, working on his neutral game for the upcoming collegiate season.

ACC competition: #5 Caleb Henson (VT)

157
Sr. Ed Scott – #5
Scott broke through last season earning All-American honors for the first time and, in the process, notching his first win over ACC rival Bryce Andonian with a pin at the NCAAs. Scott continues to be one of the Pack’s biggest threats for bonus points every match, but opponents have been scouting him more and keeping away from his headlock. Scott also saw a lot of freestyle action this summer, something key for his neutral offense moving forward.

ACC competition: #6 Bryce Andonian (VT)

165
So. Matthew Singleton – #22
We seem to be in Year 2 of ‘will he or won’t he redshirt’ with Singleton. Is the cut too much for an entire season? He has an opportunity to be the starter once again at 165 pounds as 174 will be occupied for one more season. The conversation between Singleton and the coaching staff is well worth it to explore the possibilities, as 165 in the ACC is wide open. A decision must be made— hopefully before the season even starts. If Singleton redshirts, R-So. Derek Fields seems poised to get the first shot at the spot, but he will not be ranked to start the season.

ACC competition: #11 Holden Heller (Pitt) & #13 Justin McCoy (UVA)

174
5^th-year Alex Faison – #22
Probably the biggest surprise to be returning for the Pack. As last season went along, Faison was certain he was done with wrestling and moving onto his military obligations. He went on to be runner-up at ACCs with a narrow OT loss to Mekhi Lewis on ride outs, and his NCAA finish left a bad taste in his mouth but showed he belonged. An offseason discussion with Popolizio led to his return for one last season.

ACC competition: #3 Mekhi Lewis (VT)

184
R-Fr. Dylan Fishback – NR
Presumably Fishback will get the nod at 184 pounds, the lone new face to the Pack’s lineup. The #5 overall recruit in his class, he missed last summer and was slowed in the fall following surgery he had before coming to campus. He then went 10-5 in redshirt last season, adjusting down to 184 pounds as he was at 195 as a senior in high school. Fishback has already had a great summer in freestyle, claiming top honors at 86 kg at the U23 World Team Trials. There is still a chance for him to represent the U.S. at the U23 World Championships if Penn State’s Aaron Brooks declines the spot.

ACC competition: #5 Gavin Kane (UNC) & #13 Reece Heller (Pitt)

197
5^th-year Trent Hidlay – #5
Even with a move up from 184 pounds to 197 for his final season, Hidlay is a very heavy favorite to win a fourth ACC title. On the national scene, Hidlay still has nemesis Aaron Brooks from Penn State in this new weight class, as he moved up as well, but, at a quick glance, every other national title contender will be a new collegiate opponent. How will they handle the underhook the first time it’s locked in? This family has meant so much to the NC State program dating back to 2018, and fans will want to PACK Reynolds Coliseum this year for Hidlay’s final season on the mat.

ACC competition: #18 Mac Stout (Pitt)

285
R-Sr. Owen Trephan – #7
Another returning ACC champion, Trephan had a breakthrough season in his first year in the lineup but was disappointed with his showing at the NCAAs after being the #7 seed. Trephan has gotten bigger and stronger since he has been on campus and is one of the best athletes among the heavyweights nationally. Points at heavyweight will be crucial at both ACCs and NCAAs for NC State to contend for both trophies.

ACC competition: #8 Dayton Pitzer (Pitt)

Team
NC State – 9^th (47 points)
ACC competition – Virginia Tech (t-4^th with 61 points)

Before Hidlay announced his move to 197 pounds, NC State was battling for a team trophy in Flo’s rankings. Hidlay was #2 at 184 pounds and Isaac Trumble was #8 at 197. With the Hidlay move, NC State lost all its team points at 184 pounds without having a wrestler nationally ranked.

Who would have thought. It looks like yet another NC State-Virginia Tech battle, not only for the ACC title, but potentially a team trophy (top-four NCAA team finish). Flo has five NC State athletes with a preseason All-American finish (top-eight) and two more in the top-10. The Hokies have five within the top-five of their weight class to start the season.

Both schools have one previous NCAA team trophy apiece, who will get their second first? 

Redshirt Note: This will be the second year of the new redshirt rule (an athlete can compete in up to five competitions and still maintain a redshirt season). But this rule only applies to true freshman. So, if Trumble and/or Singleton redshirt this upcoming season, they will not be eligible to compete in five competitions. Meaning, you will not be seeing either in a dual if they decide to redshirt, but they can still compete unattached in open tournaments. 

Both Trumble and Singleton are in unique situations as well which would favor them to redshirt, as they have both qualified and will represent the U.S. in freestyle action later this year. Trumble will be the U.S. representative at 97 kg at the U23 World Championships, while Singleton clinched the top spot for the U.S. at 79 kg for the U20 World Championships.

Also, a ton of wrestlers nationally are eligible for an Olympic redshirt this upcoming season. It will be interesting to see if any of the big names sit out 2023-24 and decide to train freestyle full-time to make a run at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials.

One final note. Orine, Jack, Scott and Trephan all have the option for one more season after this upcoming year due to the COVID year.