The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1137844
30 ■ THE WOLFPACKER TRACKING THE PACK PACK PICTURE ■ The Best Heavyweight In America — Again Former NC State wrestler and two-time NCAA champion Nick Gwiazdowski has won a bronze medal at the World Championships in back-to-back years, but it was no guarantee that he would represent his country again at the 2019 edition. He would have to beat his toughest domestic competition yet for America's starting spot at 125 kilograms during Final X - Rutgers June 8. Minnesota All-American Gable Steveson, who just finished his freshman sea- son and is widely considered the greatest prep grappler in U.S. history after winning both cadet (2015-16) and junior (2017) world championships, pushed Gwiazdowski to the brink, but the former Wolfpack star prevailed on criteria (4-4, 3-3) in the first two matches of a best-of-three championship series. The wins mean the 26-year-old Gwiazdowski still has not lost to a U.S. foe or on American soil since the 2016 Olympic Trials, when he placed fourth. Seeing such quality competition and coming out on top should also have him more prepared than ever for Worlds Sept. 14-22 in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, and help him reach his goal of being not only the best heavyweight wrestler in the country, but also the world. "Across the board in our country, younger guys are getting better and better, but it reminds people like me I need to stay sharp and continue to improve," he told The Wolfpacker before Final X. "That improvement will help get me to where I want to be in my career." PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS