North Carolina State University Athletics
Wrestling Home For Two Local Bouts
1/8/2010 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
RALEIGH, N.C. — NC State last wrestled in the Raleigh area on November 20. Since then, the Wolfpack has been on the road, to Oklahoma, to Las Vegas, to Greensboro, to Nebraska and to Wyoming.
After a trek like that, Saturday’s doubleheader will seem like a huge does of home cooking, even if one of the two matches will be on the road at Duke. The Wolfpack will open the ACC season against the Blue Devils on Saturday evening at 6:30, but not before a 1 p.m. home bout against VMI at Reynolds Coliseum.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve been at home,” Wolfpack head coach Carter Jordan said. “We’re looking forward to it.”
The road has not been especially good for NC State’s record. The Pack sports a 2-5 record in dual matches, against a brutally difficult schedule. The Wolfpack has wrestled two nationally ranked teams in Oklahoma and Nebraska, both at the second match of a doubleheader. And sprinkled in there were appearances at the Las Vegas Invitational and the Southern Scuffle, two of the most rigorous in-season tournaments in college wrestling.
So if the tough schedule has results in some losses, it should pay off in some much-needed seasoning for a young team. NC State has five freshmen and three sophomores in the 10-man starting lineup. With junior 133-pounder Darrius Little now down for the season with a leg injury, the Pack just got a little younger with freshman Scott Norris jumping into the lineup.
“We are a young team, but no one is feeling sorry for us,” Jordan said. “We just have to grow up, work hard and continue to get better. There is a world of potential in that practice room, but potential only means they haven’t done it yet. It’s all part of the process.”
The Wolfpack has been anchored thus far by junior 149-pounder Bobby Ward (15-6 overall, 9-3 at 149). Ward opened the year at 157 before dropping down a weight. Ward’s first action at 149 was at the Southern Scuffle, and he responded by winning seven bouts, climbing through the wrestleback bracket and finishing fifth.
Freshman heavyweight Eloheim Palma (15-7) has been the Pack’s other big winner. Palma began the year wrestling unattached before moving into the lineup when Bobby Isola injured his ankle November 21 at the NC State Open. Palma leads the team with six pins and five major decisions. He also the team’s only victory over a ranked opponent, a 10-3 blowout of then 11th-ranked Benjamin Berhow of Minnesota.
“Bobby and Eloheim have been really solid, very consistent for us,” Jordan said. “Bobby was national runner-up in junior college last year, and he really hasn’t missed a beat since he got here. He’s a very accomplished wrestler. Eloheim was high school national champion last year, but it’s a huge jump from high school to college. He got forced into the lineup when Bobby was injured, and he’s been very impressive.”
VMI carries a 1-2 record in duals into Saturday’s doubleheader. Junior 197-pounder Ronnie Elsworth (10-4) and junior heavyweight Josh Wine (8-0 and the SoCon wrestler of the month for December) lead the Keydets, who have six sophomores in the starting lineup.
Duke will be without the services of top-ranked heavyweight Konrad Dudziak, last year’s national runner-up. The Blue Devils (1-0 in duals) do feature senior 197-pounder John Barone (8-4), senior 174-pounder Voris Tejada, and freshman 149-pounder Brent Jorge.
After a trek like that, Saturday’s doubleheader will seem like a huge does of home cooking, even if one of the two matches will be on the road at Duke. The Wolfpack will open the ACC season against the Blue Devils on Saturday evening at 6:30, but not before a 1 p.m. home bout against VMI at Reynolds Coliseum.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve been at home,” Wolfpack head coach Carter Jordan said. “We’re looking forward to it.”
The road has not been especially good for NC State’s record. The Pack sports a 2-5 record in dual matches, against a brutally difficult schedule. The Wolfpack has wrestled two nationally ranked teams in Oklahoma and Nebraska, both at the second match of a doubleheader. And sprinkled in there were appearances at the Las Vegas Invitational and the Southern Scuffle, two of the most rigorous in-season tournaments in college wrestling.
So if the tough schedule has results in some losses, it should pay off in some much-needed seasoning for a young team. NC State has five freshmen and three sophomores in the 10-man starting lineup. With junior 133-pounder Darrius Little now down for the season with a leg injury, the Pack just got a little younger with freshman Scott Norris jumping into the lineup.
“We are a young team, but no one is feeling sorry for us,” Jordan said. “We just have to grow up, work hard and continue to get better. There is a world of potential in that practice room, but potential only means they haven’t done it yet. It’s all part of the process.”
The Wolfpack has been anchored thus far by junior 149-pounder Bobby Ward (15-6 overall, 9-3 at 149). Ward opened the year at 157 before dropping down a weight. Ward’s first action at 149 was at the Southern Scuffle, and he responded by winning seven bouts, climbing through the wrestleback bracket and finishing fifth.
Freshman heavyweight Eloheim Palma (15-7) has been the Pack’s other big winner. Palma began the year wrestling unattached before moving into the lineup when Bobby Isola injured his ankle November 21 at the NC State Open. Palma leads the team with six pins and five major decisions. He also the team’s only victory over a ranked opponent, a 10-3 blowout of then 11th-ranked Benjamin Berhow of Minnesota.
“Bobby and Eloheim have been really solid, very consistent for us,” Jordan said. “Bobby was national runner-up in junior college last year, and he really hasn’t missed a beat since he got here. He’s a very accomplished wrestler. Eloheim was high school national champion last year, but it’s a huge jump from high school to college. He got forced into the lineup when Bobby was injured, and he’s been very impressive.”
VMI carries a 1-2 record in duals into Saturday’s doubleheader. Junior 197-pounder Ronnie Elsworth (10-4) and junior heavyweight Josh Wine (8-0 and the SoCon wrestler of the month for December) lead the Keydets, who have six sophomores in the starting lineup.
Duke will be without the services of top-ranked heavyweight Konrad Dudziak, last year’s national runner-up. The Blue Devils (1-0 in duals) do feature senior 197-pounder John Barone (8-4), senior 174-pounder Voris Tejada, and freshman 149-pounder Brent Jorge.
#PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast: Ep. 147 - VT Preview & Will Denny
Tuesday, January 27
#PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast: Ep. 146 - Midseason Report for Start of ACC Duals
Wednesday, January 07
#PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast: Ep. 145 - Transfer Patrick Brophy
Monday, January 05
#PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast: Ep. 144 - Season Shifts into Second Semester Action
Tuesday, December 16