North Carolina State University Athletics
Four Pack Wrestlers Ranked in Preseason Rankings
10/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
RALEIGH, N.C. - Four NC State wrestlers have been ranked by TheOpenMat.com in their preseason rankings which were released today. Returning NCAA Champion Nick Gwiazdowski is preseason #1 at 285 pounds. Junior Sam Speno checks in at #9 at 141 pounds, senior Tommy Gantt is #11 at 157 pounds, and sophomore Pete Renda is #18 at 174 pounds.
Junior Sam Speno - #9 at 141 pounds
013-14: Pack’s starter at 141 pounds ... NCAA Qualifier for second straight year, in 2013 he qualified at 133 pounds ... Finished 26-12 in the season, including 16-5 in duals ... His 26 wins were fourth on the Pack, and his 16 duals wins were tied for second-best ... Went 2-2 at NCAA Championships, including an 5-3 upset of fifth-seeded Chris Mecate of Old Dominion ... Earned one of the five ACC automatic bids at 141 pounds, going 2-2 to finish fourth ... Recorded a 7-2 decision over #26 Shyheim Brown of Maryland in the consolation semifinals to clinch NCAA bid ... Scored his first career pin in SV1 vs. #30 Pasquale Greco of Northwestern in the Pack’s final dual of the season ...Finished third in the Wolfpack Open.
Senior Tommy Gantt - #11 at 157 pounds
2013-14: Pack’s starter at 157 pounds ... 2014 NCAA automatic qualifier ... Posted a 35-10 record, including 16-2 in duals and 5-1 in ACC action ... His 35 wins rank as the eighth-most in a season at NC State ... Perfect 6-0 in tech falls ... One spot shy of All-American status, placing ninth at NCAA Championships ... Lost his first bout at NCAAs, then won three straight including a 3-2 upset of 10th-seed Blaise Butler of Virginia ... Finished second at the ACC Championship, defeating No. 24 Immanuel Kerr-Brown of Duke 7-3 in the semifinals to clinch his NCAA berth ... Also finished third in the Wolfpack Open (4-1) and fourth at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite (6-2).
Sophomore Pete Renda - #18 at 174 pounds
2013-14: Pack’s started at 174 pounds as a freshman ... 2014 NCAA Qualifier ... Named the No. 2 rookie nationally at 174 pounds by Amateur Wrestling News ... Finished the year 27-11, including 16-3 in duals ... 27 wins are the third-most for a freshman in NC State history ... One of two NCSU wrestlers to be ranked majority of season ... Finished third on the Pack with 27 wins, 16 dual wins were second-best and six pins were also second-best ... Went 12-1 in bonus point matches ... Earned one of the three ACC automatic bids at 174 pounds, entered as the third seed and went 3-1 to finish third ... Had to win final two bouts to earn NCAA bid, won 4-0 in the consolation semifinals and then 5-0 in third place match ... Placed seconds in the Wolfpack Open.
Redshirt junior Nick Gwiazdowski - #1 at 285 pounds
NCAA Champion at 285 pounds ... Also ACC Champion at 285 pounds ... Finished 42-2 on the season, setting a new NC State record for most wins in a season ... Won his final 20 matches, with 11 of the final 15 all against ranked opponents ... Among the wrestlers in the NCAA Championships, led all in wins and wins versus ranked foes ... Was a perfect 20-0 in duals this year, with 17 bonus point wins (10 falls, 6 majors, 1 forfeit) ... Went 13-2 against ranked foes ... Entered the NCAA Championships as the No. 2 seed, went 5-0 and defeated two-time defending champion Tony Nelson of Minnesota 4-2 in the finals ... Also posted wins over the seventh seed and third seed en route to the title ... Won both matches at the ACC Championship for the conference crown ... After a bye, won by fall in the semis and defeated two-time ACC champion #9 Spencer Myers of Maryland 10-4 in the championship ... Won the Wolfpack Open, was second at Southern Scuffle and third at Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.
