The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1510285
42 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY BRIAN REINHARDT T he NC State wrestling team will be looking to continue a pair of im- pressive streaks heading into the 2023-24 campaign. The Wolfpack will be on the hunt for a school-record sixth consecutive ACC title and will also be trying to place in the top 10 at the NCAA Tournament for the fourth year in a row. Four 2023 ACC champions (seven former conference champs are on the roster overall) and three All-Americans return from last year's squad. The Pack also welcomes back a two-time ACC champion who was forced to miss last year with injury, and one of the top- rated recruits in school history will hit the mat as a redshirt freshman. Here's a look at all 10 weight classes, with the preseason rankings by Inter- Mat listed for each wrestler. 125 pounds Probable starter: No. 12 Jakob Camacho Camacho, an ACC champion in 2020 and '22, will be returning to the lineup after missing last season due to injury. A redshirt junior, Camacho had a strong freestyle season over the summer, ad- vancing to the true third-place match at Final X at 57 kilograms after placing third at the U.S. Open (including a 10-0 tech fall over 2023 125-pound NCAA champion Pat Glory). Expect redshirt senior Jarrett Tromb- ley, a 2023 ACC champion, to see some action at both 125 and 133 pounds dur- ing the season. 133 pounds Probable starter: No. 5 Kai Orine No Pack wrestler finished stronger than Orine did as a redshirt sophomore last season. He scored a pair of top- 10 wins en route to his first ACC title, then brought home All-America honors for the first time with an eighth-place showing at the NCAA Championships. Known for the big move, Orine was able to secure multiple bonus wins for the Pack in the postseason. 141 pounds Probable starter: No. 10 Ryan Jack This is perhaps the ACC's deepest weight class for a second consecutive year, with three wrestlers ranked in the top 10 to start the campaign, including Jack. As a sophomore last season, Jack STRENGTH IN NUMBERS A Contingent Of Returning ACC Champs Will Look To Keep NC State Rolling After earning All-America honors three times at 184 pounds, super senior Trent Hidlay is moving up to 197 this season. PHOTO BY MARK LUNDY