THURSDAY, MARCH 17
- Session 1 (8 Mats - 1st Rd.) - 12 PM on ESPNU
- Session 2 (8 Mats - 2nd Rd. & Cons. 1st Rd.) - 7 PM on ESPN2
FRIDAY, MARCH 18
- Session 3 - (8 Mats - Quarterfinals & Cons. 2nd/3rd Rd.) - 11 AM on ESPNU
- Session 4 - (6 Mats - Semifinals & Cons. 4th/5th Rd.) - 8 PM on ESPN
SATURDAY, MARCH 19
- Session 5 - (Four Mats - Cons. Semis & 3rd/5th/7th Place) - 11 AM on ESPNU
- Session 6 - (One Mat - Championship Matches) - ESPN
@PackWrestle Nabs Four Top-4 Seeds, Qualifies All 10
The 2022 ACC Champion and ACC Dual Champion NC State Wolfpack tied a school record with 10 NCAA qualifiers for the 2022 NCAA Championships. The Wolfpack will have four seeded fourth or better, eight in the top-20, and all 10 21st or better.
For only the second time in school history (2017), the Pack will have all 10 of its starters compete at the NCAA Champions. NC State was one of only three schools nationally (Iowa and Northwestern) with 10 NCAA qualifiers this year.
Over the last seven seasons, NC State has qualified 63 of the possible 70 starters (90%).
#PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast: Ep. 93 - NCAA Championships Preview
It is postseason time on a brand-new episode of the #PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast. NC State head coach Pat Popolzio and host Brian Reinhardt recap the Pack's fourth straight ACC Championship, and then turn their attention to previewing the 10 NCAA qualifiers from NC State who will be traveling to Detroit for the 2022 NCAA Championships.
Seven Straight Top-20 Finishes at the NCAA Championships
NC State will be rolling into Detroit with seven straight top-20 finishes at the NCAA Championships, which is a school record, topping five straight from 1980-84.
NC State recorded its best finish in school history in 2018, as the fourth place finish was the Pack’s first-ever team trophy and tied as the ACC’s best-ever team finish. Last year, NC State had four All-Americans and finished sixth, the second-highest finish ever.
Experience vs. Youth
With all 10 starters qualified for only the second time in school history, the NC State Wrestling team will be bringing a mixture of experience and youth to the NCAAs.
NC State’s three ‘Super Seniors’ have combined with nine previous trips to the NCAA Championships, and earned top-eight finishes a combined five times: Tariq Wilson (149), Thomas Bullard (165) and Hayden Hidlay (174).
Although they competed last year, both R-Sophmores Jakob Camacho (125) and Trent Hidlay (184) have not been to the NCAA Championships with fans present.
Exactly half of the Pack’s lineup will be competing at the NCAA Championships for their first time: Kai Orine (133), Ryan Jack (141), Ed Scott (157), Isaac Trumble (197), and Tyrie Houghton (285).
One Last Ride
A trio of ‘Super Seniors’ will all be making their fourth trips to the NCAA Championships.
• Hayden Hidlay has reached the podium in each of his three previous trips - all at 157 pounnds. He was an NCAA finalist in 2018, fourth in 2019 and fifth last year. He is 12-5 all-time at the NCAAs, having reached the semifinals each time.
• Tariq Wilson will be competing in his third different weight class at 149 pounds, and his #2 seed is the highest of his career. He previously has finished in third place a pair of times, in 2018 at 133 and last year at 141. He is 13-4 all-time at the NCAAs.
• Thomas Bullard is 3-6 all-time at the NCAAs, but went 2-2 last year. This is his third straight trip at 165 pounds, 157 as a R-Fr.
Pack Trio Looking to Repeat as All-Americans
The Pack had four All-Americans lead the squad to a sixth place finish last year, and three return looking to duplicate the honor.
Trent Hidlay made the NCAA Final at 184 pounds in his first trip to the NCAAs, Tariq Wilson placed third at 141 (his second third place finish of his career) and Hayden Hidlay was fifth at 157 (his third podium finish all-time) last year.
Four in a Row: @PackWrestle Claims Fourth Straight ACC Championship
Powered by four individual championships, NC State claimed its fourth straight ACC Championship. NC State had all 10 wrestlers post a podium finish (top-three). The Pack tied a school record with its fourth straight ACC Championship (1988-91).
NC State captured the team title with 98.5 points. The 98 points scored were the most at the conference tournament since NC State had 103.5 in 2007.
Individual ACC Champions
Four NC State wrestlers won an individual ACC title. Gr. Tariq Wilson (149) and R-So. Trent Hidlay (184) both won ACC Gold for the second straight year. R-So. Jakob Camacho (125) also accomplished the feat for the second time in his career, he also won in 2020. Fr. Ed Scott (157) won his first career title.
Pack Finishes in Top-10 for Seventh Straight Year
After claiming the ACC Dual Championship with a perfect 5-0 mark, and going 13-1 overall, the NC State wrestling team finished ranked fourth in the final NWCA Coaches Poll.
Not only has the Pack finished in the top-10 of the final poll each of the last seven seasons, but NC State has been ranked in the top-10 in 98 straight polls dating back to the 2015-16 season.
NC State recorded four ranked wins on the season, including a pair of top-10 victories: #7 Virginia Tech (21-10) and #10 Missouri (19-12). The Pack’s lone loss of the season was a neutral site affair to then-No. 1 Iowa, 19-15.
Popolizio Named NWCA Coach of the Year Finalist
For the fifth straight year, Pat Popolizio has been named a finalist for the NWCA DI National Coach of the Year presented by Defense Soap. NC State brought home its fourth straight ACC Championship in 2022, and also finished #4 in the final NWCA Coaches Poll.
2022 @PackWrestle Qualifiers
125 • #14 seed R-So. Jakob Camacho
Danbury, Conn. • Danbury HS
Second NCAA Championships … Was the #6 seed last year and fell one win short of All-American status going 2-2 … Was named second-team in 2020 after being seeded #10 … 2022 and 2020 ACC Champion at 125 pounds … Was named Most Outstanding Wrestler in 2020 after defeating #2 Meuller of UVA in the final … This year, scored the winning takedown with five seconds left to down top-seeded #20 Latona of Virginia Tech, avenging his dual loss … Sits at 16-3 on the season, 5-3 vs. ranked foes … Went 10-3 in duals, 4-1 vs. ACC foes (outscored them 55-23 with a pin) … All three losses this year to top-20 wrestlers … Has won nine of 10 matches since Jan … A perfect 10-0 in bonus point matches this year, and 17-0 over the last two seasons.
133 • #15 seed R-Fr. Kai Orine
Imperial, Mo. • Seckman HS
First career NCAA Championships appearance … Split time as the Pack’s starter at 133 pounds with two-time NCAA Qualifier R-So. Jarrett Trombley, but won the job and started every ACC dual … Placed third at the ACC Championships, going 3-1 with a pair of ranked wins … Downed #23 Courtney of UVA 5-2 in the quarters and finished with a 5-3 win over #19 Heilmann of UNC in the third place bout … 15-5 on the season, 6-4 in duals … All five losses to top-25 wrestlers, four in top-10 … Went 2-3 vs. ACC foes, with the final four bouts vs. top-25 wrestlers.
141 • #18 seed Fr. Ryan Jack
Danbury, Conn. • Danbury HS
First career NCAA Championships appearance … Moved up to 141 pounds to claim the starting spot, was the back-up at 133 last season … ACC Finalist in his first ACC Championship … Downed UNC’s #8 Clarke in the semifinals with the bout’s lone takedown with five seconds left … Fell to #5 Matthews in the final, 3-2 … 16-7 on the season, 7-5 in duals … Five of seven losses have been to top-15 foes, four in top-10 … Went 3-2 vs. ACC foes … Had a forfeit at Duke in the first ACC dual, downed Cedeno of UVA 4-3, and #22 Gerardi of VT 4-3 in the finale … Both ACC losses to top-10 foes … The wins over #8 Clarke and #22 Gerardi were his first career ranked wins … 6-0 in bonus point wins this season, 11-0 all-time.
149 • #2 seed Gr. Tariq Wilson
Steubenville, Ohio • Steubenville HS
Fourth NCAA Championships appearance, third different weight class … Has placed third on two occasions (in 2018 at 133 and 2021 at 141) … Only losses those two years were in the semifinals … Is 13-4 all-time at NCAAs, with eight bonus point wins … Enters NCAAs undefeated for second straight year, #2 seed is his highest entering … Competing in third different weight class in his career … First two seasons at 133, then next two at 141 before this year at 149 … Back-to-back ACC Champion, last year at 141 this year at 149 … Downed #8 Andonian of VT in the final, 10-4 … Perfect 15-0 on the season, 12 wins coming in duals … Has gone 18-0 in duals over the last two years, 27-1 over the last three … 7-0 vs. ranked foes this season, 11-0 over the last two seasons, and 23-11 for his career … Each of his last four matches all vs. ranked foes, outscored them 29-11 without allowing a single takedown.
157 • #4 seed Fr. Ed Scott
DuBois, Pa. • DuBois HS
First career NCAA Championships appearance … A consensus top-8 wrestler … Moved up to 157 pounds for the season, was the Pack’s starter at 149 pounds last season as a true freshman but didn’t make NCAAs … 2022 ACC Champion … Avenged his lone loss with a first-period pin vs. UVA’s Keating, then scored the lone takedown and defeated 2021 national champ #4 O’Connor of UNC in the final, 3-2 … 22-1 on the season, 12-1 in duals, 8-1 vs. ranked foes … 16 bonus point wins (six pins), has outscored foes 225-74 … Perfect 3-0 vs. top-10 foes this year, pair of top-5 wins … Downed #4 O’Connor in ACC final, pinned #8 Young of Iowa and downed #5 Monday of Princeton (6-4) … Named ACC Wrestler of the Week after knocking off #15 Jacques of Missouri 3-2 and scoring a first-period pin over #8 Young of Iowa.
165 • #21 seed Gr. Thomas Bullard
Lawrenceville, Ga. • Archer HS
Fourth career NCAA Championships … 3-6 all-time but went 2-2 last year, both losses to top-10 seeds … Was a second-team All-American selection in 2020 after being seeded #10 … 16-6 on the season, 6-4 in duals … All six losses on the season have been to ranked foes (1-6 vs. ranked this year) … Placed third at the ACC Championships … Went 2-1, with all three matches having a 1-0 scoreline … Top-3 placement for the fourth straight year at ACCs … Went 4-1 vs. ACC foes in duals, lone loss was 4-3 in OT to #14 Wentzel of Pitt, outscored ACC foes 26-7 … Since the Southern Scuffle, is 9-2 outscoring foes 67-9 with seven shutouts in the 11 bouts.
174 • #4 seed Gr. Hayden Hidlay
Lewistown, Pa. • Mifflin County HS
Fourth NCAA Championships appearance, first not at 157 pounds … Has reached the podium each previous trip … NCAA finalist as a R-Fr. in 2018, fourth in 2019 and fifth last year … Is 12-5 all-time at NCAA, reaching the semifinals each year … NC State’s first-ever 4-time All-American, #2 seed in 2020 … Consensus top-five wrestler at 174 pounds. Moved up from 157 pounds where he was his first four years … 14-2 on the season, outscored foes 126-32 thus far with two pins … Nine wins for bonus … Second in school history in career win/loss percentage (.913 - 105-10), only behind Nick Gwiazdowski (.973) … 71-1 all-time in bonus point matches, eight at NCAAs … Became the sixth NC State wrestler to record 100 career wins, with a 6-3 decision over #15 Finesilver of Duke … Four-time ACC Champion at 157 pounds … Took third this year at 174, losing to #6 Lewis of VT in the semis (3-2) … Split with Lewis on the season, 3-1 in OT in the dual.
184 • #3 seed R-So. Trent Hidlay
Lewistown, Pa. • Mifflin County HS
Second career NCAA Championships … An NCAA finalist last year … Was the #2 seed, and fell to #1 Brooks in the final 3-2 … Started with back-to-back tech falls, and outscored his foes 44-12 in going 4-1 … Was seeded #5 as a R-Fr. in 2020 … Perfect 17-0 on the season, 13-0 in duals … 15 of 17 wins this season have been for bonus (outscoring foes 186-46 with four pins) … Ranked the fourth Most Dominant Wrestler in the NCAA, 4.53 team points per match … 33-1 all-time in bonus point matches … 9-0 vs. ranked foes, seven for bonus points and outscoring foes 128-34 … Each of his last six matches have been vs. ranked ACC foes, all but one a bonus point win … 13-1 over the last two seasons in bonus point matches … Back-to-back ACC Champion at 184 pounds … This year, both ranked wins and outscored his foes 30-5 with two major decisions.
197 • #15 seed Fr. Isaac Trumble
Springfield, Neb. • Millard South HS
First career NCAA Championships appearance … Sits at 17-4 on the season, 10-3 in duals … Since being pinned at Princeton (1/9), is 8-1 outscoring foes 51-16 … ACC Finalist … Was the top seed and downed #31 Shaw of UNC (9-2) before falling to #8 Bonaccorsi of Pitt (5-2) … Perfect 5-0 vs. ACC foes in duals, four were ranked wins, two were top-15 … Outscored conference foes 23-6, and each of the last three wins have been shutouts vs. ranked foes … Named co-ACC Wrestler of the Week after defeating 2021 NCAA Finalist #6 Bonaccorsi, 2-0 … The week prior, downed #13 Aiello of Virginia 7-5 in OT, then after his match was commissioned into the U.S. Army … 6-3 vs. ranked foes, three top-15 wins, two in top-6.
285 • #21 seed Jr. Tyrie Houghton
Weddington, N.C. • Weddington HS
First career NCAA Championships appearance … Saw action at both 197 pounds and heavyweight in each of his first two seasons … Has been exclusively at heavyweight the last two season … ACC Finalist at heavyweight … Earned the #2 seed and won in the semifinals in OT before falling to #14 Traxler of Virginia Tech in the final, 9-6 … Has split time at heavyweight with R-Fr. Owen Trephan … Represented the Pack in all four NCAA Coaches Panel Rankings, the last at #22 to go with a #12 RPI … 19-8 on the season, 4-3 in duals … Perfect 8-0 in bonus point matches, 12-0 over the last two years … Is 3-5 in ranked matches, wins #31 Miller of Virginia, #30 McAleavey of The Citadel and #24 Nevills of South Dakota State.