NC State wrestling preview: Weight-by-weight, who could push for a starting spot and more

Coming off a sixth straight ACC Championship, the NC State wrestling program has big expectations once again for the upcoming season. The Pack returns six of its seven ACC champions from last year, but heading into the start of head coach Pat Popolizio’s 13th season, there are some questions throughout the lineup which may look different from what wrestling fans were expecting. “We lose great leaders every year, everybody moves on when their careers come to end,” said Popolizio. “I think what has made us fortunate is we have had great mentors and developed great leaders to fill those roles. Our young guys have been around greatness, and they have seen what it takes to elevate this program. Now it is their turn to take the lead. “It is time for new people to step up and voice their leadership. Our young guys have been stepping up this preseason. These younger guys have made up a lot of ground, and I know they will be ready when we need them. This is an important time for us. We know we are going to have some new faces, and we are going to be moving our lineup around a bit and putting some new names in the lineup. But the expectations will remain the same for whomever gets thrown out there. I do think it will be a little bit of a different year then what fans were used to seeing (lineup-wise).”