TRACKING THE PACK
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 ■ 15
■ Crowd Pleaser
NC State's freshman 165-pounder Will Denny sent a shock wave rippling through the BOK
Center in Tulsa, Okla., when he stunned Northern Iowa's fifth-ranked Ryder Downey, 6-4, with
a takedown at the buzzer in the opening round of the National Duals Invitational on Nov. 15.
No one was more excited than coach Pat Popolizio (left) and Denny's teammates. The victory
touched off a wild celebration at the edge of the mat, and the fun continued deep into the dual
meet, with then-No. 7 NC State winning eight of 10 bouts to defeat the No. 14 Panthers, 27-8.
Denny, a three-time state champion at Marist High School in Manhattan, Ill., started out the
season unranked but was up to No. 15 in InterMat's 165-pound rankings after defeating No. 11
Paddy Gallagher of Ohio State, 6-5, in sudden victory on Dec. 12.
— Matt Herb
PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS
