The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1177236
NOVEMBER 2019 ■ 111 if they get hot and get confident, they can find themselves in the national finals, com- peting for it. "Then we'll have five other guys that could be very dangerous if things click for them. The other guys on our team are developing but could be like 2018 NCAA champion Michael Macchiavello — you can see it in them, but they've got to prove it a little bit." Though there is competition at every weight class, there are a few front runners that seem like good bets to start at the re- maining five weights. The Bullards should man 165 and 174 again, and both open the year ranked among FloWrestling's top 20 nationally, with Thomas checking in at No. 12 at 165 and Daniel No. 20 at 174. Redshirt freshman Jarrett Trombley also ■ Key Matches • At Cornell, Nov. 23: The Big Red has not finished outside of the top 10 nationally since 2007 and wel- comes the Pack to New York, one of its most important recruiting areas. The marquee matchup will be at 184, where hotshot redshirt freshman Trent Hidlay faces All- American Ben Darmstadt, who enters the season ranked second nationally by FloWrestling. • At Pitt, Feb. 1: Versus North Carolina (Feb. 7) is at home and a big one, but it was a surprise when the Panthers were ranked as the ACC's top team in some preseason rankings. Flo lists Pitt with three top-10 grap - plers and four more in the top 22. NCSU owes them after Pitt upset the Pack 18-16 in Raleigh last year, and there will be likely top-10 showdowns at 157 and 184. • Vs. Virginia Tech, Feb. 15: In each of the last four campaigns, the ACC regular-season championship has been decided by this matchup, and that is likely to continue this year. The Hokies boast six ranked among Flo's preseason top 18, including three in the top eight. Gardner Marsh Gas Equipment Company, Inc. 8209 Brownleigh Drive 2119 Jody Road Raleigh, NC 27617 Florence, SC 29501 Ph: 919 787 8214 Ph: 843 669 3136 Ph: 800 334 9245 Ph: 800 868 8988 Fax: 800 400 2596 Fax: 843 661 5236 Web: www.gardnermarsh.com GREGORY D. MILLER, CPA SANDRA A. MILLER, CPA REBECCA A. RHODES, CPA Serving the accounting needs of small businesses and individuals throughout Southeastern North Carolina since 1993. • Tax Planning and Prepara on • Accoun ng and Audi ng Services • Small Business Consul ng Wilmington, NC 265 Racine Drive 910-452-5260 Burgaw, NC 105 East Fremont Street 910-259-4644 www.millercocpas.com We're Pack Proud! Three Wrestlers To Watch Redshirt junior Hayden Hidlay The 157-pounder and unquestioned leader of the team enters this year as the favorite to win his first national title and lists No. 18 in FloWrestling's pound-for-pound rankings of all grapplers. He is 72-8 in college, including his redshirt campaign, and 50-5 the last two years. Redshirt junior Nick Reenan Though the 197-pounder may wrestle a limited schedule while returning from a torn ACL, many are still ranking him among the nation's top 10 coming into the year. He'll compete at his third different weight class in college and is a dark horse con- tender for a national title at a weight that doesn't return a single top-eight placer from last season. Redshirt junior Tariq Wilson He was unseeded at the 2018 NCAA Champion- ships, but knocked off three top-five seeds while taking the eventual champ to overtime en route to a third-place finish at 133 pounds. He battled inju- ries last year and is moving up a weight this season, but is still a national title contender after 141 lost its top three placers from a year ago.