NC State wrestling notebook: Big weekend, recruiting news

NC State wrestling started strong in the opener. Former Wolfpack sports information director Brian Reinhardt recaps the win over Appalachian State and shares other news from the Pack.

By Brian Reinhardt

Rounding Up NC State-App State Dual

The Pack opened the season with a 26-12 home win over Appalachian State, taking six of the 10 bouts and four going for bonus points. Reynolds was packed with over 2,000 fans, and the Pack’s upper weights of Trent Hidlay and Isaac Trumble at 184 and 197, respectively put on a show with back-to-back pins to open up the scoring.

Some notes and observations from the dual:

• Not sure any of the three starting battles have been settled yet, as this weekend up in Pennsylvania will go a long way in determining 165, 174 and heavyweight weight classes as the NC State wrestling staff is excited to see multiple guys in those weight classes hit opponents from other schools rather than teammates. 
• The Pack was very strong on the re-attacks. That seemed to be a point of emphasis in training to score off an opponent’s shot. Ed Scott, Donald Cates and Brock DelSignore were the ones I noticed to easily score quickly after App State shots.
• You need to score to win, and takedowns win matches. Jarrett Trombley and Kai Orine both came out on the wrong end of tight matches in the final two bouts of the evening, as neither was able to secure a takedown in their match. They both did face former NCAA Qualifiers in those two matches, but nothing will draw the ire of the Pack wrestling staff more than not taking quality shots.
• That was one of the best crowds in Reynolds for a non-ACC dual. It was loud, and the pins got the fans on their feet. Hope the Pack fans came out, because NC State doesn’t have another home dual until January.

Onto Bethlehem, Pa.

It will be a very busy weekend of action for the Pack, expect a lot of matches over the weekend as 25 NC State wrestlers will be in the travel party. On Saturday, the Pack will be in dual action against Lock Haven (3 p.m.) and then Nebraska (5 p.m.). The duals will be streamed on Rokfin, and you can support the Wolfpack Wrestling Club by signing up through their channel to watch (@Wolfpack WC – https://rokfin.com/WolfpackWC).

What to Look for vs. Lock Haven

• Lock Haven had a breakthrough season last year, going 10-5 in duals and then winning the program’s first-ever MAC Championship. They are starting their dual season strong this year, at No. 1 Penn State Friday night then facing the Pack on Saturday.
• A familiar face to NC State wrestling fans will be in Lock Haven’s lineup at 125 pounds, R-So. Anthony Noto. Noto spent the 2021 season redshirting with the Pack, then transferred. He had one of the most impressive seasons last year, going 31-3 and winning the MAC Championships. This year, he is currently ranked No. 13.
• Heavyweight will be a true test for the Pack in this dual. Do we see Owen Trephan again or does Tyrie Houghton, last year’s ACC runner-up get a chance in that on-going battle? For Lock Haven, R-Jr. Isaac Reid is currently ranked No. 15 nationally, and was an NCAA Qualifier last year.

What to Look for vs. Nebraska

• Glad these two are meeting again, as the two squads had some great battles recently. They met five straight years (2015-16) with NC State holding a slight 3-2 edge in recent battles. The best was saved for last, as the Pack won 18-17 on criteria back in 2018-19, when Tariq Wilson scored a tech fall in the final bout of the night inside Reynolds Coliseum.
• The Cornhuskers started the season ranked No. 8 in the NWCA Coaches Poll, one spot ahead of the Pack, but suffered the biggest upset of the first weekend falling to unranked North Dakota State at home, 20-16.
• Nine of the 10 Nebraska starters are ranked, including a pair of top-5 wrestlers.
• The marquee match-up will be at 157 pounds, as No. 6 Ed Scott faces No. 4 Peyton Robb. These two met in the NCAA consolation round this past March, with Robb scoring a controversial pin fall as Scott was attempting a roll-through. Scott was motivated last year by a 6-6 record as a freshman, and the pin at the NCAAs motivated him even more this past offseason.
• Another match to watch is up at 184. Everybody knows what Trent Hidlay brings to the table, but many fans of college wrestling have high hopes and see All-American potential in RS-freshman Lenny Pinto. Pinto was the No. 16 overall recruit in the 2021 class, and he is a former PA state champion.

On Sunday, NC State will compete in the Journeymen Collegiate Classic, which is scheduled to be a round robin tournament. There are a whole host of teams at the event, including: Nebraska, Penn, Lehigh, Army, Oklahoma and Arizona State, to name some of the bigger programs. Wrestlers will be placed in pods and hit certain opponents, but the list of top-24 ranked wrestlers (according to FloWrestling, which will broadcast the matches) is impressive.

Here are how many ranked wrestlers could be in each weight class:

125 – 6

133 – 4

141 – 2

149 -3

157 – 2

165 – 2

174 – 2

184 – 2

197 – 2

285 – 7

Because it is still the first semester, any true freshman that competes in this event, and of course during Saturday’s duals, will be using one of their five available dates to compete while still maintaining a redshirt. There is a lot of confusion around this new rule, but one thing that is for certain is no freshman can compete during the first semester in any competition without using one of those five available dates.

Jackson Arrington (149) was the lone true freshman for NC State to see action against App. State, and looks to have secured the spot moving forward. Pack fans can expect to see most of the true freshmen from the No. 3 recruiting class in action at some point this weekend: Dylan Fishback (197), Matty Singleton (174), and Chase Horne (285) were all top-50 recruits along with Arrington. Finn Solomon (149) and Troy Hohman (125) will also be a couple to keep an eye on.

NC State Wrestling Recruiting Roundup

The early signing period is upon us, and NC State wrestling will be bringing in another pair of top ranked wrestlers. Pat Popolizio and staff have brought in three straight top-5 classes, as the last three signing classes were ranked No. 5 in 2020, No. 4 in 2021 and No. 3 last year.

This year’s class might not be ranked that high because it is much smaller, but NC State will ink a pair of top-50 recruits once again. Here are the commitments from current high school seniors:

Class of 2023

• Koy Buesgens (Minnesota)

#43 nationally and #5 at 145 pounds on MatScouts

#16 nationally and #6 at 145 pounds on FloWrestling

• Vince Robinson (Illinois)

#50 nationally and #7 at 132 pounds on MatScouts

#40 nationally and #11 at 132 pounds on FloWrestling

• Cheaney Scheoff (Indiana)

#161 nationally on MatScouts

• Jackson Baglio (North Carolina)

NC State also has four pledges (including two that committed Wednesday night) for next year’s class, including a much-coveted potential 125-pounder. The 2024 signees are currently ranked the #6 class nationally by FloWrestling.

Class of 2024

• Laterale Schafer (Georgia)

#29 nationally and #9 at 152 pounds on MatScouts

#27 nationally and #6 at 152 pounds on FloWrestling

• Louis Gill (Pennsylvania)

#46 nationally and #10 at 113 pounds on MatScouts

#32 nationally and #11 at 113 pounds on FloWrestling

• Jaydon Robinson (Illinois)

#55 nationally and #19 at 145 pounds on MatScouts

#56 nationally on FloWrestling

• Josh Boykin (Florida)