Previewing NC State wrestling by weight class

The calendar has turned to November, and another Wolfpack wrestling season is upon us. NC State competes in a pair of duals this week to open the 2023-24 campaign, Wednesday vs. Presbyterian at Fort Liberty and then Friday at Appalachian State.

The wrestling squad will be looking to continue a pair of impressive streaks. NC State will be on the hunt for a school-record sixth straight ACC title and will also be looking to extend its school-record stretch of back-to-back top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships.

Four 2023 ACC champions (six former ACC champs are on the roster overall) and three 2023 All-Americans return from last year’s squad. The Pack also welcomes back a two-time ACC champion that who missed last year with and injury, and one of the top-rated recruits in school history will hit the mat as a redshirt-freshman.

Have a look at all 10 weight classes, with the preseason rankings by InterMat listed for each wrestler.

125 pounds
Probable starter: #12 Jakob Camacho

The 2020 and 2022 ACC Champion, Jakob Camacho, returns to the lineup after missing last season due to injury. Camacho had a strong freestyle season over the summer, advancing to the true third-place match at Final X at 57 kg after placing third at the U.S. Open (including a 10-0 tech over 2023 125-pound NCAA champion Pat Glory). Expect 2023 ACC Champion Jarrett Trombley to see some action at both 125 and 133 pounds during the season as well as he finishes up grad school.

Wrestle-Off results: Camacho major dec. Troy Hohman; 18-4
Trombley tech fall Jackson Baglio; 19-4

133 pounds
Probable starter: #5 Kai Orine

No Pack wrestler finished his season stronger last season than Kai Orine. He scored a pair of top-10 wins enroute to his first ACC title, then brought home his first All-American honor at the NCAA Championships with an eighth-place finish. Known for the big move, Orine was able to secure multiple bonus wins for the Pack in the postseason.

Wrestle-Off result: Orine major dec. Jacob Cox; 12-0

141 pounds
Probable starter: #10 Ryan Jack

Perhaps the deepest ACC weight for a second straight year, 141 has three wrestlers ranked in the top-10 to start the season, including the Pack’s Ryan Jack. Jack was the ACC runner-up for a second straight season last year with a 21-5 record and is a two-time NCAA qualifier in both of his seasons at 141. True freshman can now compete in up to five events without burning their redshirt, so look for top recruit Koy Buesgens (No. 24 overall recruit nationally) to see some action throughout the year at either 141 or 149.

Wrestle-Off result: Buesgens WBF Trevor Kantor

149 pounds
Probable starter: #8 Jackson Arrington

Thrust into the lineup as a true freshman last season, Jackson Arrington was the runner-up at the ACC Championship and one win away from earning All-American honors at the NCAA Championships. A top-20 overall recruit coming out of high school, Arrington will be looking to make a significant jump in his second season in Raleigh.

Wrestle-Off result: Arrington tech fall Tyler Tracy; 19-3

157 pounds
Probable starter: #5 Ed Scott

Ed Scott earned All-American honors for the first time in his career, and among his wins at NCAAs was a pin over rival Bryce Andonian of Virginia Tech. Scott went on to place fifth. Scott is another former ACC champion in the lineup, taking top honors in 2022. Scott is a bonus point machine but will be looking for more top-ranked wins during this season.

Wrestle-Off result: Scott tech fall Zach Karagias; 20-4

165 pounds
Probable starter: ????

The lone weight still up for grabs, it looks like three returnees will have a chance to claim the spot before a decision has to be made. A.J. Kovacs enters his fourth year in the program and missed last year with injury but has previously seen action from 149 all the way up to 174 during his career. He won the Wrestle-Off bracket, including a 6-1 OT win over redshirt sophomore Derek Fields when they both went upper-body with Kovacs getting the three-point takedown and two-point near fall.

Fields went 6-6 last year at the weight and started three duals and was previously a top-50 recruit nationally. Fellow redshirt sophomore Luke Ahrberg will be making his way up from 157 where he went 11-3 last year, but he did start the Pack’s dual vs. Duke at 165 and earned a 7-2 decision. Expect last year’s starter, Matty Singleton, to redshirt this season and work his way up to 174 after he had surgery on his hand following his bronze medal performance at the U20 World Championships. But, he will also be cleared for the second semester so maybe a spot to keep an eye on as well.

Wrestle-Off results: Fields major dec. Aaron Faison; 11-2
Kovacs dec. Ahrberg; 4-3
Kovacs dec. Fields; 6-1 (SV1)

174 pounds
Probable starter: #22 Alex Faison

Alex Faison didn’t expect to be back for this season, but after earning second place at the ACC Championship and going to his first NCAA Championships, he sat down with the coaches in the offseason and decided to return for one final campaign. With Faison being a sixth-year veteran in the Pack’s room, look for redshirt sophomore Brock DelSignore to see more action to get experience at the weight.

Wrestle-off result: Faison dec. DelSignore; 10-4

184 pounds
Probable starter: #28 Dylan Fishback

Wolfpack fans are eager to see redshirt freshman Dylan Fishback in the Pack’s lineup after he redshirted last season. Fishback was a top-10 overall recruit, No. 1 at 195 pounds, and an Ohio state champion in his final two campaigns. This past offseason, Fishback claimed top honors in the 86 kg U23 freestyle bracket at the World Team Trials, and then captured bronze at the senior level at the Poland Open.

Wrestle-Off result: Fishback tech fall Andrew Macchiavello; 17-1

197 pounds
Probable starter: #5 Trent Hidlay

This is the last go-around for the Pack’s leader on and off the mat, but is also a new weight class for Trent Hidlay. With three All-American placements at 184 pounds (2^nd, 4^th, 5^th), Hidlay looks to have his final collegiate match on Saturday night at the NCAA Championships in the final. With Hidlay being in his sixth year, redshirt junior Christian Knop could be used more during the season. Junior Isaac Trumble, fresh off a gold medal performance at the U23 World Championships, is expected to redshirt the season and focus on freestyle for the upcoming 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Wrestle-Off result: Hidlay tech fall Knop; 21-5

285 pounds
Probable starter: #8 Owen Trephan

The fourth returning ACC champion from last season, Trephan enters his second season as the Pack’s starter at heavyweight. He was a perfect 4-0 in ACC duals, then capped off the conference run with his first ACC title and a pair of victories at the NCAA Championships. Also look for redshirt freshman Chase Horne to see action throughout the year, as he was a top-40 recruit and four-time state champion from Georgia.

Wrestle-Off result: Trephan dec. Horne; 7-3