North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Wrestling Takes On Newberry On Saturday
1/12/2007 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
RALEIGH, N.C. — With its lineup still battling health issues, the NC State wrestling team will return to non-conference action Saturday with a home bout against Newberry at Reynolds Coliseum. The match will start at 2 p.m.
Newberry, in its second season at the NCAA Division II level, comes to Reynolds Coliseum with an 11-2-1 record and ranked No. 12 nationally in the latest Division II poll. Newberry is especially strong in the upper five weight classes. Sophomore 165-pounder Brandon Kelly (13-1), senior 174-pounder Quinn Tolbert (11-3), redshirt-freshman Keeno Griffin (11-3), junior 197-pounder Kelly Anundson (13-1) and sophomore heavyweight Cy Wainwright (13-1) all are in the midst of standout seasons.
“I know they’re Division II, but Newberry is a very solid team, one that we cannot take lightly,” Wolfpack head coach Carter Jordan said. “They’ve got their entire lineup back from last year when they finished in the top 25 at Division II. We did not wrestle well against Duke in our last match. After that performance, I hope that our kids will be focused and ready to compete.”
The Wolfpack (6-4), coming off an uninspiring 26-15 win Wednesday night over the Blue Devils in the team’s first Atlantic Coast Conference action of the season, will face the Indians with starters Darrion Caldwell and Obie Simpson still questionable. Caldwell (7-3), a freshman 141-pounder, is recovering from a neck injury. Simpson (6-4), a sophomore 165-pounder, is still fighting the effects of a concussion. Both wrestlers were injured during the Southern Scuffle the weekend of December 29-30.
A trio of nationally ranked wrestlers pace NC State. Sophomore 197-pounder Ryan Goodman is 10-1 on the season and ranked No. 13 in the latest NWCA poll. Goodman, a backup strong safety with the Wolfpack football team, did not join the wrestling team until the Southern Scuffle, where he finished third in a tough field. Goodman has won eight matches in a row. Senior heavyweight Jainor Palma is 15-3 and ranked No. 18. Palma placed fifth at the Southern Scuffle. Junior 157-pounder Kody Hamrah is 11-5 and ranked No. 19. He also placed fifth at the Southern Scuffle. Palma and Hamrah both have won five in a row.
The Wolfpack also will look for strong performances from brothers Taylor and Garrett Cummings at 125 and 133, respectively. Taylor Cummings, a redshirt-freshman, is 6-5 and is now the starter at that spot with senior Jeremy Hartrum out for the season following shoulder surgery. Garrett Cummings, a senior co-captain, is 9-6 at 133.
With Caldwell and Simpson most likely out of the lineup, redshirt-freshman Jake Smith (0-3) should get the start at 141, with sophomore Jalil Dozier (1-6) the probable at 165.
“We’ve got a good team when we have our regular lineup on the mat, but injuries happen, and when that happens our backups have to step up and perform for us,” Jordan said. “They’re talented enough to get the job done until those other guys are healthy again.”
Newberry, in its second season at the NCAA Division II level, comes to Reynolds Coliseum with an 11-2-1 record and ranked No. 12 nationally in the latest Division II poll. Newberry is especially strong in the upper five weight classes. Sophomore 165-pounder Brandon Kelly (13-1), senior 174-pounder Quinn Tolbert (11-3), redshirt-freshman Keeno Griffin (11-3), junior 197-pounder Kelly Anundson (13-1) and sophomore heavyweight Cy Wainwright (13-1) all are in the midst of standout seasons.
“I know they’re Division II, but Newberry is a very solid team, one that we cannot take lightly,” Wolfpack head coach Carter Jordan said. “They’ve got their entire lineup back from last year when they finished in the top 25 at Division II. We did not wrestle well against Duke in our last match. After that performance, I hope that our kids will be focused and ready to compete.”
The Wolfpack (6-4), coming off an uninspiring 26-15 win Wednesday night over the Blue Devils in the team’s first Atlantic Coast Conference action of the season, will face the Indians with starters Darrion Caldwell and Obie Simpson still questionable. Caldwell (7-3), a freshman 141-pounder, is recovering from a neck injury. Simpson (6-4), a sophomore 165-pounder, is still fighting the effects of a concussion. Both wrestlers were injured during the Southern Scuffle the weekend of December 29-30.
A trio of nationally ranked wrestlers pace NC State. Sophomore 197-pounder Ryan Goodman is 10-1 on the season and ranked No. 13 in the latest NWCA poll. Goodman, a backup strong safety with the Wolfpack football team, did not join the wrestling team until the Southern Scuffle, where he finished third in a tough field. Goodman has won eight matches in a row. Senior heavyweight Jainor Palma is 15-3 and ranked No. 18. Palma placed fifth at the Southern Scuffle. Junior 157-pounder Kody Hamrah is 11-5 and ranked No. 19. He also placed fifth at the Southern Scuffle. Palma and Hamrah both have won five in a row.
The Wolfpack also will look for strong performances from brothers Taylor and Garrett Cummings at 125 and 133, respectively. Taylor Cummings, a redshirt-freshman, is 6-5 and is now the starter at that spot with senior Jeremy Hartrum out for the season following shoulder surgery. Garrett Cummings, a senior co-captain, is 9-6 at 133.
With Caldwell and Simpson most likely out of the lineup, redshirt-freshman Jake Smith (0-3) should get the start at 141, with sophomore Jalil Dozier (1-6) the probable at 165.
“We’ve got a good team when we have our regular lineup on the mat, but injuries happen, and when that happens our backups have to step up and perform for us,” Jordan said. “They’re talented enough to get the job done until those other guys are healthy again.”
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