The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1547338
44 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY BRIAN REINHARDT he 2026-27 edition of the NC State wrestling team will look a lot different than the squad that competed at last year's ACC Championships. Only four starters from last postseason return at the same weight, and when the postseason rolls around this com- ing March, as many as five of the Wolf- pack's 10 starters could have arrived in Raleigh via the transfer portal. The strength of this year's team will be in the middle of the lineup, with the start- ers at 149, 157, 175 and 174 pounds ranked 10th or better to start the year. The pro- jected starters at the three highest weights bring NCAA Championships experience, although Cason Howle (197) is still seek- ing his first appearance. The two lowest weights are a big unknown with very little collegiate experience among all the wres- tlers competing for those starting spots. Here is a look at how the Pack's lineup could shape up to start the season. Also, for the weight classes that will be clear- ing out in the next couple of years, here is a look at some of the young Wolfpack talent that could be taking over. NC State's first event will be the an- nual Wrestle Offs Oct. 28 at Reynolds Coliseum. 125 & 133 Pounds There are plenty of opportunities at the lower weights, where four newcom- ers will fight it out for the two starting spots. Liam Hickey is the only wrestler with collegiate action. The local Cardinal Gibbons grad spent last year at UNC, putting up seven wins at 133 pounds. A trio of true freshmen joins him in the highly contested battles to become the starter — Lander Bosh, Dom Deputy and Sean Wilcox. Bosh is working at 125 pounds and Wilcox at 133 pounds. They are still figuring out the best weights for Deputy and Hickey, ideally with Deputy competing at 125 and Hickey at 133. Ex- pect to see all four in a lot of action over the first two months. Other ACC Rankings at 125: No. 3 Nico Provo (Stanford), No. 6 Eddie Ventresca (Virginia Tech), No. 9 Brendan McCrone (UNC), No. 24 Tyler Chappell (Pitt). Other ACC Rankings at 133: No. 3 Aaron Seidel (Virginia Tech), No. 5 Ty- ler Knox (Stanford), No. 14 Matt Botello (UNC), No. 22 Keyveon Roller (UVA), No. 23 Evan Tallmadge (Pitt). 141 Pounds Zach Redding was granted a final sea- son of eligibility, his seventh. Last off- season he transferred from Iowa State and was the Pack's starter at 133 pounds. He qualified for the NCAAs for the third time in his career, but an ankle injury sustained in his first match ended his season early. Redding will be ranked once he competes at 141 pounds this season — both InterMat (No. 17) and FloWrestling (No. 10) still have him at 133 pounds. Other ACC Rankings: No. 5 Bo Bas- sett (Virginia Tech), No. 8 Jack Consiglio (Stanford), No. 12 Luke Simcox (UNC), No. 20 Gable Porter (UVA), No. 28 Briar Priest (Pitt). 149 Pounds Koy Buesgens had one of the more impressive regular seasons for the Pack last year. He went 20-2 before the post- season, highlighted by a win over No. 2 Jaxon Joy of Cornell (6-3). After a run- ner-up finish at the ACCs, he was given the No. 5 seed at NCAAs but went just 2-2. He qualified for the NCAA Cham- pionships in each of his first two years in the lineup, and big things are expected this year. He opens the campaign ranked No. 9. The future for NC State at 141 and 149: The Wolfpack will more than likely be looking into the portal to bring in some competition. Redding will be out of eligibility, and Buesgens will have one season left. NC State does have a com- mitment from Dale Corbin (Wyoming Seminary). Corbin was the No. 18 over- all recruit when FloWrestling updated their Big Board in July and starts his se- nior season ranked No. 2 nationally at 144 pounds. Other ACC Rankings: No. 1 Caleb Henson (Virginia Tech), No. 3 Aden Valencia (Stanford), No. 14 Kal Miller (Pitt), No. 26 Wynton Denkins (UVA), No. 28 Nick O'Neill (UNC). T STRENGTH IN THE MIDDLE A Formidable Core Anchors NC State Wrestling's New Lineup For 2026-27 Head coach Pat Popolizio's revamped NC State lineup features four top-10 wrestlers at the middle weights, while transfers could fill as many as five starting spots in 2026-27. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS