Mat Returns: Pat Popolizio breaks down the NC State wrestling team

NC State wrestling lost only one starter from last season, when it won a third straight ACC championship and placed sixth at NCAAs: 174-pound All-American Daniel Bullard. But that doesn’t mean it will be the same lineup this year for the Wolfpack.

Quite the contrary.

Despite the returners, there were several weight changes and emerging competitors. 125-pound redshirt sophomore Jakob Camacho and 184-pound classmate Trent Hidlay were always locks to return at the classes they competed at last year.

A quartet of super seniors returned — All-Americans Hayden Hidlay and Tariq Wilson, who have combined for five top-five NCAA placements in six chances; plus Thomas Bullard and Nick Reenan. Hidlay and Wilson would certainly find a spot in the lineup, but Hidlay moved up two weights to 174, while Wilson will compete at 149, the third different weight of his college career.

Bullard, a second-team All-American in 2020 when the NCAA Championships were canceled after he had earned the No. 10 seed, mulled a weight change but has decided to stay at 165, where he has qualified for the last three national tournaments. Reenan moved down from 197 to 184, where he will back up Trent Hidlay.

Not that those five weren’t pushed for the spots — the first two weeks of the season have proven the Pack has backups that can beat former NCAA qualifiers and nationally ranked foes — but it would’ve basically required an injury for them to not enter the dual season that starts Sunday at Reynolds Coliseum against West Virginia (1 p.m. on ACC Network Extra) as the expected starter.

There was plenty of competition for the other five NC State wrestling spots, and also some surprises.

Redshirt freshman Kai Orine dropped from 141 to 133 and beat returning starter and two-time NCAA qualifier Jarrett Trombley in the Wolfpack Open finals last weekend, 2-0.

Another returning starter, junior heavyweight Deonte Wilson, also lost at an open tournament to a teammate, redshirt freshman Owen Trephan, at the Battle at The Citadel two weeks ago. It was actually Trephan’s second win over Wilson in two weeks, counting the unofficial wrestle-off.

Others have emerged at the remaining three weights — Ryan Jack at 141, Ed Scott at 157 and Isaac Trumble at 197. Each is a second-year freshman who got a taste of action without burning even a redshirt last year, though Jack (formerly 133) and Scott (previously 149) both moved up a weight.

Still, NC State wrestling head coach Pat Popolizio isn’t closing down any competitions yet with so many quality wrestlers on his roster. He even admits there are certain times where the team may rest a super senior to help develop talent for the future.

“We have a lot of good options right now,” he said Thursday. “I like the talent base we have, and we’re going to continue to develop the next generation of kids that are going to be in our lineup.”

He does feel it’s the right mix for the team to accomplish its goals. At the top of the list is an NCAA team trophy, which requires a top-four showing at what may be the deepest national tournament ever.

“It’s a combination of those guys coming back for their sixth years and good recruiting, and guys just being hungry,” he said. “… I know we’ve got a different lineup, but the mentality is the same — we want to win our duals, win the ACC dual and tournament championship, and then bring home a team trophy from NCAAs.”

With the dual season now upon us, Popolizio gave his thoughts on each weight class for NC State wrestling going into the opener:

125 — R-So. Jakob Camacho

Camacho was the ACC Championships’ most outstanding wrestler two years ago but is still looking for his first All-America honor. He is 30-10 over the last two seasons, and beat former NCAA finalist Jack Mueller for his ACC title in 2020.

“He’s got to have that blind confidence, and I think that’s going to be a big factor in what he accomplishes this year,” Popolizio said. “That weight class got deeper [nationally], but it’s going to be, does he want to be a round of 12 guy again or does he want to break through and do the hard things we’ve been asking him to do?”

133 — R-Fr. Kai Orine or R-So. Jarrett Trombley

Orine is the expected starter after a 2-0 win over Trombley last weekend, but Popolizio likes having both former top-100 recruits at this weight. Trombley earned the No. 12 seed for NCAAs a year ago.

“I’m hoping it really makes each guy continue to work hard and develop and stay focused,” the coach explained.

“Kai’s in a position where he doesn’t want to be a backup, that’s what’s motivated him to make the cut down to 33, which is the right weight for him. I think we’re seeing that, and we’re very confident in Kai. That’s very dangerous when you have a guy that can wrestle the way he does, and then also has the confidence that he has.

“I wouldn’t count Trombley out either at the end of the year. He’s a seasoned guy, he’s just got to stay motivated and keep doing the right things, but I think you’re going to see us mix and match between those two guys in our lineup this year.”

141 — Fr. Ryan Jack

Jack split time with Trombley as the 133-pound starter last year, going 7-3 overall, but just 1-2 in ACC duals. The consensus top-50 prospect had tough matchups in both conference chances last year, and lost a competitive 3-2 bout to the nation’s No. 11-ranked wrestler at the time.

The move up was the right one per Popolizio, and Jack’s future is extremely bright. He just needs some more experience. There were no open tournaments last year, so Jack’s first tournament this season was the first of his college career. He’s competed in eight matches through two weeks, compared to 10 all of last year.

“He’s a very dangerous guy once he’s hitting from all cylinders, just naturally out there wrestling and not thinking about things,” the coach said. “As you get into the lineup, guys scout you and game plan, and that’s something he’s got to mature and understand and be ready for.”

149 — 6th-Sr. Tariq Wilson

With his third-place NCAA showing last year at 141, Wilson is just the fourth wrestler in school history to record multiple top-three NCAA placements, joining three national champions.

Now is Wilson’s time to join an even more exclusive club at NC State wrestling and climb to the top of the podium.

It may be the third weight class of his college career, but Popolizio is not worried about Wilson being overmatched by size. Especially with how he looked in the preseason. The coach went beyond saying it’s the best he’s ever seen Wilson wrestle.

“He’s probably made the biggest gains out of anyone I’ve seen, he’s looking the best out of everyone in our room,” Popolizio explained. “I think he’s going to be a major threat at 149 to win a national title. I’ve seen a different level out of him.

“… He’s got every tool that you need, and being a gamer is one of the biggest things he has. He lives for the limelight, and I think that’s what makes him who he is. That’s going to be fun to watch.”

157 — Fr. Ed Scott

The consensus top-40 recruit went 6-6 last year as the starter at 149 pounds, but was a wildcard contender for NCAAs due to his tough schedule — five of his six defeats came against ranked foes.

Scott was pushed for the spot by second-year freshman AJ Kovacs, another former top-100 recruit. Scott won the wrestle-off, 6-1; then Kovacs won at The Citadel’s tournament, 9-8. Scott took the rubber match in the Wolfpack Open finals via a first-period pin (though Kovacs got hurt in the match).

“Ed’s a competitor, so I think taking that loss at The Citadel didn’t sit well with him; sometimes you need that to just remind you that you still need to get better,” Popolizio said. “One thing I like about Ed is he didn’t pout about anything. He worked hard, knew the opportunity was going to be there a week later and did all the right things.

“Both those kids are great kids and they’re going to be an asset in our lineup. I’m sure we’ll mix and match a great deal with both those guys as well. Between 57 and 65, we got a lot of good options. … Don’t forget [freshman] Derek Fields, he beat Kovacs this summer at the junior freestyle tournament.”

165 — 6th-Sr. Thomas Bullard

Bullard was downright dominant at the Wolfpack Open, recording three pins that each took less than four minutes and a 15-0 tech fall over teammate Donald Cates in the finals.

Like fellow super senior Wilson, he also goes into the year looking better than ever.

“I know it’s crazy to say, but he’s matured a ton in his sixth year here,” Popolizio said. “He’s gained a lot of confidence. I think last year didn’t sit well with him, and I think it’s sparked a little fire underneath him. When he wrestles with just a tiny bit of emotion is when he’s dangerous.

“Again, it’s one of those where he’s not going to wrestle a ton for us this year, but he’ll be in a lot of our duals, and I think you’re going to see some really good things out of Thomas Bullard.”

Plenty of young talent awaits in the wings, including Donald Cates, Alex Faison and Jake Null.

174 — 6th-Sr. Hayden Hidlay

There’s not much to be said about Hidlay that hasn’t already been said. Last year, Popolizio proclaimed having Hidlay on his roster was like having another assistant on staff … and then he returned for another season.

He’s also a different version of himself, according to the coach. The four-time ACC champion and the school’s first-ever four-time All-American goes for a historic fifth in each, but Popolizio noted he seems more relaxed than ever after moving up two weight classes … and also bigger after adding 20 pounds.

“It’s like a new life for Hayden,” the coach noted. “He looks great in the room. He’s happy. He was spending countless hours doing cardio, and now it’s countless hours of just wrestling.

“He was strong at 57. He’s going to be strong at 74. And it’s different wrestling as he’s already noticed. He’s like, ‘I feel a lot faster at 74,’ and I’m like, ‘Well, you are because you’re used to wrestling 57-pounders.’”

Hidlay’s path to a historic fifth ACC title has two imposing roadblocks — former NCAA champion Mekhi Lewis of Virginia Tech and current national No. 7 Matt Finesilver of Duke.

“It’s a good weight class, but I’ll take Hayden in a lot of these matches right now,” Popolizio stated. “I can’t wait to see him wrestle one of the better guys in the country to see exactly where we’re at and know that he’s one of the best kids right now at that weight.”

184 — R-So. Trent Hidlay

Super senior Nick Reenan looks as good as he has since first tearing his ACL in Dec. 2019, but Hidlay is the unquestioned starter after reaching the NCAA finals last year. He boasts a sparkling record of 23-6 in his first two years in the lineup — the only two losses he’s taken during that time against an opponent he hasn’t beaten were both national champions.

Popolizio noted that winning a national title for NC State wrestling is what Hidlay “lives for.”

“Anything less than winning it is a major disappointment for him,” the coach continued. “He trains and everything he does is 110 percent, so there is no middle of the road ground for that guy. And that’s from the time he wakes up until the time he goes to bed, whatever makes his wrestling career better is what he’s doing.

“He is going to win national titles here for NC State, and I’m expecting him to be doing it this year. And I know that’s his goal as well. He’s closing in real fast.”

197 — Fr. Isaac Trumble

How good can the second-year freshman be? In his first-ever dual appearance last year, Trumble upset Pitt’s Nino Bonaccorsi, 6-1 … the same Bonaccorsi that would later reach the NCAA finals.

Reenan competed in the postseason for the Pack last year — something Popolizio called a “tough situation” — but the spot is all Trumble’s now.

“He’s made a big jump, and I think last year didn’t sit well for him,” the coach said of Trumble. “I think he realized he’s right there with the best in the country and a little salty probably that he didn’t get his shot at the national tournament. And he uses that in a positive way to keep getting better.

“He’s got a great style for folkstyle. He’s very unorthodox to wrestle. He’s taller, he is always in a match because he can pin you, he can score from bottom, he can score from his feet. He’s a very dangerous guy to wrestle, and he works really hard.”

285 — R-Fr. Owen Trephan or Jr. Deonte Wilson or Jr. Tyrie Houghton

Trephan beat Wilson, the defending ACC champion, in the wrestle-off, then again at the Battle at the Citadel. However, at last weekend’s Wolfpack Open the door slightly cracked back open for others to overtake Trephan.

The best NC State wrestling performance at the weight arguably came from Houghton, who should have beaten Virginia Tech NCAA qualifier Hunter Catka if not for an officiating mistake and then lost in overtime. Trephan and Wilson both lost as well — Trephan to Catka and Wilson to NCAA qualifier Taye Ghadiali of Campbell.

“I still don’t know who the guy is,” Popolizio admitted. “I’m going to leave it up to them. I thought we had two guys, but we might have three guys. I can’t count a guy like Tyrie out.

“I need to see someone really separate themselves with results. Anytime you get somebody winning a tournament, I think that speaks volumes to who the guy should be. But that’s not the case. These guys leave the door open and then put it back in our hands.

“I’m not totally sold on head-to-head results between guys like Owen and Deonte. They wrestle every day in practice, so they’re comfortable each other. I need someone to step up and be one of the better guys in the country and be like, hey, this is my spot.”

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