North Carolina State University Athletics
Caldwell, Goodman Ready For Wrestling Nationals
3/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
The 2007-08 wrestling season did not go according to Hoyle for NC State, but this weekend offers a chance for two of the Wolfpack’s standouts to salvage a little pride for the Pack.
Although NC State wound up 9-10-1 in dual matches during the regular season, then came in fifth in its attempt to repeat as Atlantic Coast Conference champions, sophomore 149-pounder Darrion Caldwell and junior 184-pounder Ryan Goodman are in St. Louis, Mo., this weekend for the NCAA Championships. Caldwell and Goodman both have a chance to compete deep into the tournament.
“Both of these guys can be All-Americans,” Wolfpack head coach Carter Jordan said. “Our season has not been what we wanted it to be when we started back in October, but if these two guys wrestle the way they’re capable of this week, we can have a great finish to the season.”
Caldwell, ranked No. 8 in the latest NCWA poll, has created a considerable stir in the collegiate ranks this season, winning 32 of 35 matches, winning 21 by pin, winning the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, and defeating five of the top 14 149-pounders in the latest poll. He pinned No. 1-ranked Brent Metcalf of Iowa at 1:40 back on November 24, defeated No. 3 J.P. O’Connor of Harvard in the finals at the Las Vegas Invitational, and whipped Josh Churella of Michigan by a 12-3 major decision in the semifinals at Vegas. Caldwell also pinned No. 11 Jake Patascil of Purdue in 19 seconds, his fastest pin of the season, and won a 4-1 decision over Cesar Grajales of Penn.
Two of Caldwell’s three losses were to ranked opponents. He was pinned by Appalachian State’s Scott Erwin (No. 9) at the Southern Scuffle, and was pinned by Oklahoma’s Will Rowe (No. 17) back in November.
Goodman’s season has been truncated by football and a knee injury. He carries a 15-6 record for the season. He has wrestled just two matches vs. members of the current top 20 at 184. No. 15 Vince Jones pinned Goodman at the Las Vegas Invitational just days after the Wolfpack’s last football game of the season. And Virginia’s Rocco Caponi, ranked No. 12, defeated Goodman 7-2 in the finals of the ACC Championships. The 2007-08 season was Goodman’s first at 184 pounds after two seasons at 197.
NCAA Notebook: With his two pins at the ACC Championships, Darrion Caldwell now ranks third in school history with 31 career pins. He trails Sylvester Terkay (64 pins from 1990-93) and Tab Thacker (54 pins from 1981-84), both of whom won national championships in the heavyweight classification.
Caldwell holds the school record for pins by a freshman (10 a year ago) and by a sophomore (21 and counting this season). His 21 pins for 2007-08 rank third in school history. Terkay pinned 27 in 1991-92, and 25 in 1992-93.
Dual 30-Match Winners: Although junior 141-pounder Joe Caramanica’s season was ended by a knee injury in the ACC Championships, he did reach the 30-win plateau, finishing his season with a 30-6 record. Caramanica and Darrion Caldwell, 32-3 at 149 entering the NCAA championships, are the second pair of NC State wrestlers to win 30 matches apiece in the same season. Brian Jackson and Michael Stokes both won 30-plus matches in 1989.
Caramanica Climbing Career Wins List: With his 30 wins this season, Caramanica will enter his senior season with a career record of 73-25. He currently is tied for 18th in school history in career victories, and if he matches his career average of 24 wins per season as a senior next year, he would finish with 97 wins, which would place him second in school history. Sylvester Terkay holds to school record for career victories with 122.
Although NC State wound up 9-10-1 in dual matches during the regular season, then came in fifth in its attempt to repeat as Atlantic Coast Conference champions, sophomore 149-pounder Darrion Caldwell and junior 184-pounder Ryan Goodman are in St. Louis, Mo., this weekend for the NCAA Championships. Caldwell and Goodman both have a chance to compete deep into the tournament.
“Both of these guys can be All-Americans,” Wolfpack head coach Carter Jordan said. “Our season has not been what we wanted it to be when we started back in October, but if these two guys wrestle the way they’re capable of this week, we can have a great finish to the season.”
Caldwell, ranked No. 8 in the latest NCWA poll, has created a considerable stir in the collegiate ranks this season, winning 32 of 35 matches, winning 21 by pin, winning the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, and defeating five of the top 14 149-pounders in the latest poll. He pinned No. 1-ranked Brent Metcalf of Iowa at 1:40 back on November 24, defeated No. 3 J.P. O’Connor of Harvard in the finals at the Las Vegas Invitational, and whipped Josh Churella of Michigan by a 12-3 major decision in the semifinals at Vegas. Caldwell also pinned No. 11 Jake Patascil of Purdue in 19 seconds, his fastest pin of the season, and won a 4-1 decision over Cesar Grajales of Penn.
Two of Caldwell’s three losses were to ranked opponents. He was pinned by Appalachian State’s Scott Erwin (No. 9) at the Southern Scuffle, and was pinned by Oklahoma’s Will Rowe (No. 17) back in November.
Goodman’s season has been truncated by football and a knee injury. He carries a 15-6 record for the season. He has wrestled just two matches vs. members of the current top 20 at 184. No. 15 Vince Jones pinned Goodman at the Las Vegas Invitational just days after the Wolfpack’s last football game of the season. And Virginia’s Rocco Caponi, ranked No. 12, defeated Goodman 7-2 in the finals of the ACC Championships. The 2007-08 season was Goodman’s first at 184 pounds after two seasons at 197.
NCAA Notebook: With his two pins at the ACC Championships, Darrion Caldwell now ranks third in school history with 31 career pins. He trails Sylvester Terkay (64 pins from 1990-93) and Tab Thacker (54 pins from 1981-84), both of whom won national championships in the heavyweight classification.
Caldwell holds the school record for pins by a freshman (10 a year ago) and by a sophomore (21 and counting this season). His 21 pins for 2007-08 rank third in school history. Terkay pinned 27 in 1991-92, and 25 in 1992-93.
Dual 30-Match Winners: Although junior 141-pounder Joe Caramanica’s season was ended by a knee injury in the ACC Championships, he did reach the 30-win plateau, finishing his season with a 30-6 record. Caramanica and Darrion Caldwell, 32-3 at 149 entering the NCAA championships, are the second pair of NC State wrestlers to win 30 matches apiece in the same season. Brian Jackson and Michael Stokes both won 30-plus matches in 1989.
Caramanica Climbing Career Wins List: With his 30 wins this season, Caramanica will enter his senior season with a career record of 73-25. He currently is tied for 18th in school history in career victories, and if he matches his career average of 24 wins per season as a senior next year, he would finish with 97 wins, which would place him second in school history. Sylvester Terkay holds to school record for career victories with 122.
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