The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/406183
124 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY RYAN TICE T he Wolfpack wrestling team did not accomplish all of its goals last sea- son, but it made a few significant strides to show the program is on the right track under third-year head coach Pat Popolizio. NC State crowned its sixth NCAA champion when heavyweight Nick Gwiazdowski — now a redshirt junior — reigned supreme last March, while the Pack finished 19th in the country on the strength of five NCAA qualifiers. Four of those who competed at the NCAA Championships return, and State welcomes back fifth-year senior Joe DeAngelo, who redshirted last season but qualified for na- tionals at 125 pounds in 2013. In addition to the lineup bookends, junior 141-pounder Sam Speno, senior 157-pounder Tommy Gantt and sophomore 174-pounder Pete Renda reached nationals. The four combined with Gwiazdowski, who posted a school- record 42 wins, for a cumulative ledger of 130-35 (a .788 win percentage) last season. With half of the 10 lineup spots occupied by grapplers who have competed on col- lege wrestling's biggest stage, the team has the depth and experience it lacked in the first two years under Popolizio. Recently at NCSU, the majority of national qualifiers were upperclassmen, and it's hard for an ath- lete to break through on his first opportunity when the lights are brightest. "Now, we have guys that are freshmen getting there," the coach explained. "This time, it will be their second trip there. I know their goal is not just to qualify. We're at the level where every guy in our starting lineup has high goals — placing [in the top eight] and winning national titles. "There's competition that's going to make somebody very motivated to do things right and outwork everybody at every weight class. That creates a higher level of work ethic within the program." The Pack will also be challenged by a tough slate featuring home duals against national powerhouse Nebraska and 34-time national champion Oklahoma State, both of which finished among the top 11 last year. NC State will also test itself at the Northeast Duals, which will feature a showdown with perennial top-10 finisher Cornell; at the al- ways challenging Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas; in road duals at Oklahoma and Missouri; and against the ACC slate. It's all part of Popolizio returning the pro- gram to its roots as one of the most grap- pling-rich traditions in the ACC. He had to change the culture of the team he inherited, but has navigated the growing pains with a new identity — "Pack Mentality" — which the team trumpets on social media and in its everyday life, the latter of which the coach noted is the real key. "It's a commitment and discipline," he said. "Being an athlete, you have to have a completely different lifestyle than most people. What we require and ask of our guys is probably more than what most people are willing to do. "We started with two like that, then it's the double effect — we had four, then eight, now we have 16. We have to keep doubling because the more we spread it, the more contagious it gets. We need to out-discipline ■ PREVIEW WRESTLING Scratching The Surface NC State Reached Some Goals Last Year, But Is Striving For More Redshirt junior heavyweight Nick Gwiazdowski became the sixth NCAA champion in program history last year and will attempt to become the first to repeat. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP