Monday, February 22
Iowa City, Iowa
All Day
NC State
at
#2 Iowa - National Duals
@PackWrestle Closes Out Dual Season with Trip to #2 Iowa
2/20/2016 5:04:00 PM | Wrestling
NC State Notes | Iowa Notes
RALEIGH, N.C. - For the first time in school history, the NC State wrestling team has been invited to compete in the NWCA National Duals Championship Series - formly known as the National Duals. The No. 4 Wolfpack (22-1) will travel to No. 2 Iowa, and face the Hawkeyes (16-0) on Monday, Feb. 22 at 8 p.m. (ET).
There will be no TV coverage, but BTN Plus (pay wall) will offer a live stream. In addition, GoPack.com will offer a free audio broadcast of the dual.
NC State closed out the regular season with a 22-1 mark in duals - setting a new school record for most wins in a season. The Wolfpack is currently ranked #4 in this week's NWCA/USA Today Wrestling Coaches Poll after spending the eight previous polls (Dec. 15-Feb. 9) ranked #3, the highest ranking in school history.
The Pack is 8-1 against ranked foes this season, and will be facing its sixth ranked non-conference opponent this season. NC State has outscored ranked opponents 218-105 this season, winning 58 of the 90 individual matches (64.4 %). NC State is also 2-0 against top-five time this season, winning at #4 Oklahoma State (19-15) and last weekend against #5 Missouri (18-17).
In the rankings, six Pack grapplers are ranked among the top-20 in every major poll, with four in the top-10. NC State also has two other starters ranked in the Coaches Panel Rankings and in some polls.
The Hawkeyes are one of two undefeated teams still left standing, sitting at 16-0 on the season including 9-0 in Big Ten action. Iowa is 21-1 at home over the last two seasons, the lone loss coming in last year's National Duals finals to Missouri.
Iowa has recorded six shutouts on the season, including each of their last two duals (combined 96-0). The Hawkeyes have eight of their 10 starters ranked in the latest NCAA Coaches' Panel Rankings, with seven in the top-10 and four in the top-five.
#4 NC State Wolfpack (22-1) Probable Starters
125: #20 R-Fr. Sean Fausz (15-7)
133: #30 R-Fr. Jamal Morris (12-6)
141: #3 So. Kevin Jack (20-3)
149: R-So. Beau Donahue (9-11)
157: #4 R-Sr. Tommy Gantt (21-0)
165: #6 Jr. Max Rohskopf (12-2)
174: So. Nicky Hall (10-11)
184: #17 Jr. Pete Renda (19-6)
197: #16 So. Michael Boykin (14-7)
285: #1 R-Sr. Nick Gwiazdowski (26-0)
#2 Iowa Hawkeyes (16-0) Probable Starters
125: #2 Jr. Thomas Gilman (20-0)
133: #3 Jr. Cory Clark (18-1)
141: Jr. Topher Carton (10-5) -or- Sr. Brody Grothus (4-3)
149: #2 So. Brandon Sorensen (22-0)
157: #17 Sr. Edwin Cooper, Jr. (14-6)
165: R-Fr. Burke Paddock (10-5) -or - Sr. Patrick Rhoads (10-8)
174: #10 Jr. Alex Meyer (20-2)
184: #9 Jr. Sammy Brooks (20-2)
197: #4 Sr. Nathan Burak (19-1)
285: #6 R-Fr. Sam Stoll (20-2)
Key Matchups
184: #17 Pete Renda (19-6) vs. #9 Sammy Brooks (20-2)
One of four rematches from the Midlands Championships, Brooks defeated Renda 8-7. Since there meeting, Renda is 8-3 with three wins over ranked opponents. Last time out, Renda scored an 11-0 major decision over returning All-American #11 Miklus of Missouri. Brooks is 7-2 since they last met, but has lost both of his matches against ranked foes. His last three wins have all been for bonus points - a pin and two technical falls.
285: #1 Nick Gwiazdowski (26-0) vs. #6 Sam Stoll (20-2)
Another rematch from Midlands, Gwiazdowski posted a 10-1 major decision over Stoll in the semifinals. Gwiazdowski will be looking to close out his NC State career a perfect 55-0 all-time in duals as a member of the Pack. He enters having an NCAA-best 81 match winning streak, with 56 of those 81 wins being for bonus points and 28 against ranked foes. Since that meeting at Midlands, Stoll is a perfect 10-0 with four wins over ranked foes and his last two wins came via pinfall.
Familiar Foes
Both teams competed at the prestigious Midlands Championships Dec. 29-30. Iowa won their third straight team title, with three individual titles (125, 149, 197), while the Wolfpack placed fourth and won two individual titles (157, 285). During that weekend in Evanston, Ill., there were four matchups between NC State and Iowa wrestlers. The two teams split the four matches, while NC State's two wins were both for bonus points.
157: #6 Tommy Gantt major dec. Edwin Cooper - 17-6
184: #9 Sammy Brooks dec. #15 Pete Renda - 8-7
197: #4 Nathan Burak dec. #17 Michael Boykin - 8-2
285: #1 Nick Gwiazdowski major dec. #13 Sam Stoll - 10-1
(Rankings from 12/28 on FloWrestling)
Series vs. Iowa
Since the ACC was formed in 1955, NC State is 0-4 all-time against Iowa. The Pack has lost both of its dual matches at Iowa City, falling 40-6 in 1985 and 37-7 in 1991. The only other meetings since then were neutral site matchups in 2007 and 2008.
* - Team Rankings according to NWCA/USA Today Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll
* - Individual Rankings according to 2/11 NCAA Coaches' Panel Rankings
RALEIGH, N.C. - For the first time in school history, the NC State wrestling team has been invited to compete in the NWCA National Duals Championship Series - formly known as the National Duals. The No. 4 Wolfpack (22-1) will travel to No. 2 Iowa, and face the Hawkeyes (16-0) on Monday, Feb. 22 at 8 p.m. (ET).
There will be no TV coverage, but BTN Plus (pay wall) will offer a live stream. In addition, GoPack.com will offer a free audio broadcast of the dual.
| #4 NC State (21-1) at #2 Iowa (16-0) | |
| Date | Monday, Feb. 22 |
| Time | 8 p.m. (ET) |
| Location | Iowa City, Iowa |
| Live Stream ($) | BTN Plus |
| Live Audio (free) | GoPack.com |
| Live Scoring | TrackWrestling.com |
| Social Media | @PackWrestle |
NC State closed out the regular season with a 22-1 mark in duals - setting a new school record for most wins in a season. The Wolfpack is currently ranked #4 in this week's NWCA/USA Today Wrestling Coaches Poll after spending the eight previous polls (Dec. 15-Feb. 9) ranked #3, the highest ranking in school history.
The Pack is 8-1 against ranked foes this season, and will be facing its sixth ranked non-conference opponent this season. NC State has outscored ranked opponents 218-105 this season, winning 58 of the 90 individual matches (64.4 %). NC State is also 2-0 against top-five time this season, winning at #4 Oklahoma State (19-15) and last weekend against #5 Missouri (18-17).
In the rankings, six Pack grapplers are ranked among the top-20 in every major poll, with four in the top-10. NC State also has two other starters ranked in the Coaches Panel Rankings and in some polls.
| Wretler | Weight | Coaches | AWN | FLO | InterM | OpenM | WIN | WReport |
| Sean Fausz | 125 | 20 | 17 | -- | -- | 20 | 17 | 19 |
| Jamal Morris | 133 | 30 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 29 |
| Kevin Jack | 141 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Tommy Gantt | 157 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Max Rohskopf | 165 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 |
| Pete Renda | 184 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 15 |
| Michael Boykin | 197 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 19 | 11 | 12 |
| Nick Gwiazdowski | 285 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
The Hawkeyes are one of two undefeated teams still left standing, sitting at 16-0 on the season including 9-0 in Big Ten action. Iowa is 21-1 at home over the last two seasons, the lone loss coming in last year's National Duals finals to Missouri.
Iowa has recorded six shutouts on the season, including each of their last two duals (combined 96-0). The Hawkeyes have eight of their 10 starters ranked in the latest NCAA Coaches' Panel Rankings, with seven in the top-10 and four in the top-five.
#4 NC State Wolfpack (22-1) Probable Starters
125: #20 R-Fr. Sean Fausz (15-7)
133: #30 R-Fr. Jamal Morris (12-6)
141: #3 So. Kevin Jack (20-3)
149: R-So. Beau Donahue (9-11)
157: #4 R-Sr. Tommy Gantt (21-0)
165: #6 Jr. Max Rohskopf (12-2)
174: So. Nicky Hall (10-11)
184: #17 Jr. Pete Renda (19-6)
197: #16 So. Michael Boykin (14-7)
285: #1 R-Sr. Nick Gwiazdowski (26-0)
#2 Iowa Hawkeyes (16-0) Probable Starters
125: #2 Jr. Thomas Gilman (20-0)
133: #3 Jr. Cory Clark (18-1)
141: Jr. Topher Carton (10-5) -or- Sr. Brody Grothus (4-3)
149: #2 So. Brandon Sorensen (22-0)
157: #17 Sr. Edwin Cooper, Jr. (14-6)
165: R-Fr. Burke Paddock (10-5) -or - Sr. Patrick Rhoads (10-8)
174: #10 Jr. Alex Meyer (20-2)
184: #9 Jr. Sammy Brooks (20-2)
197: #4 Sr. Nathan Burak (19-1)
285: #6 R-Fr. Sam Stoll (20-2)
Key Matchups
184: #17 Pete Renda (19-6) vs. #9 Sammy Brooks (20-2)
One of four rematches from the Midlands Championships, Brooks defeated Renda 8-7. Since there meeting, Renda is 8-3 with three wins over ranked opponents. Last time out, Renda scored an 11-0 major decision over returning All-American #11 Miklus of Missouri. Brooks is 7-2 since they last met, but has lost both of his matches against ranked foes. His last three wins have all been for bonus points - a pin and two technical falls.
285: #1 Nick Gwiazdowski (26-0) vs. #6 Sam Stoll (20-2)
Another rematch from Midlands, Gwiazdowski posted a 10-1 major decision over Stoll in the semifinals. Gwiazdowski will be looking to close out his NC State career a perfect 55-0 all-time in duals as a member of the Pack. He enters having an NCAA-best 81 match winning streak, with 56 of those 81 wins being for bonus points and 28 against ranked foes. Since that meeting at Midlands, Stoll is a perfect 10-0 with four wins over ranked foes and his last two wins came via pinfall.
Familiar Foes
Both teams competed at the prestigious Midlands Championships Dec. 29-30. Iowa won their third straight team title, with three individual titles (125, 149, 197), while the Wolfpack placed fourth and won two individual titles (157, 285). During that weekend in Evanston, Ill., there were four matchups between NC State and Iowa wrestlers. The two teams split the four matches, while NC State's two wins were both for bonus points.
157: #6 Tommy Gantt major dec. Edwin Cooper - 17-6
184: #9 Sammy Brooks dec. #15 Pete Renda - 8-7
197: #4 Nathan Burak dec. #17 Michael Boykin - 8-2
285: #1 Nick Gwiazdowski major dec. #13 Sam Stoll - 10-1
(Rankings from 12/28 on FloWrestling)
Series vs. Iowa
Since the ACC was formed in 1955, NC State is 0-4 all-time against Iowa. The Pack has lost both of its dual matches at Iowa City, falling 40-6 in 1985 and 37-7 in 1991. The only other meetings since then were neutral site matchups in 2007 and 2008.
* - Team Rankings according to NWCA/USA Today Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll
* - Individual Rankings according to 2/11 NCAA Coaches' Panel Rankings
Players Mentioned
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