Monday, January 23
Chapel Hill, N.C. - Memorial Hall
7 p.m.
NC State
at
North Carolina
@PackWrestle Travels to UNC for Pivotal ACC Dual Monday Night
1/22/2017 9:23:00 AM | Wrestling
RALEIGH, N.C. - The 10th ranked NC State wrestling team heads to rival North Carolina for an ACC dual Monday night at 7 p.m. The dual will take place at UNC's Memorial Hall, tickets are available by clicking HERE, and it will be available to watch HERE.
Off to an 8-1 start this season, the Wolfpack opened the ACC portion of its schedule with a dominating 34-6 home win over Duke on Jan. 11. The Tar Heels fell at No. 17 Arizona State Friday night, 31-9, but have won four of their last six duals with the only losses at Arizona State and against No. 6 Virginia Tech (28-8).
The two coaches have already determined the dual will start at 149 pounds, meaning the final match of the night will be No. 2 Kevin Jack versus No. 3 Joey Ward at 141 pounds.
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Quick Takedowns
• For the 10 consecutive poll to open the 2016-17 season, NC State is ranked in the top-10 in the USA Today/NWCA Wrestling Coaches poll. NC State is currently ranked No. 9 this week, after the previous three weeks at No. 10. NC State was also ranked No. 9 in the first six polls of the season
• With an 8-1 start in duals in 2016-17, NC State has won 31 of its last 33 duals dating back to the beginning of last season (23-1 last year). Over the last two seasons, the Pack is a perfect 11-0 in road duals, four wins over ranked foes.
• NC State has won its last three ACC road duals.
• Junior Kevin Jack's current 20-match winning streak ties as the eighth longest winning streak in school history. It is also a personal-best for Jack, as last season he won 18 in a row.
• Last week, the Pack went a perfect 4-0 in dual action - outscoring its opponents 132-32 and winning 31 of the 40 possible matches. NC State started with a 34-6 ACC over Duke then went 3-0 at the Pitt Duals (29-10 over Harvard, 24-13 over Edinboro, and 45-3 over Columbia).
• In the Pack's probable lineup vs. UNC, only R-So. Jamal Morris (133) and Jr. Kevin Jack (141) are returning starters from last year's ACC Championship squad. In addition to those two, NC State has three true freshmen, three others that redshirted 2015-16, and a pair that were back-ups last year among its 2016-17 starters.
ACC-Best Nine of 10 Starters Ranked in First NCAA Coaches' Panel Rankings
The NCAA released the first of four coaches' panel rankings for the 2016-17 wrestling season. Nine of the Pack's 10 starters were ranked in their respective weight class - among the top-33 nationally.
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Probable Lineups
#9 NC State Wolfpack (8-1, 1-0 ACC)
125: Fr. Tommy Cox (15-10)
133: #14 R-So. Jamal Morris (16-4)
141: #2 Jr. Kevin Jack (22-1)
149: #11 R-Sr. Sam Speno (17-5)
157: #28 Fr. Thomas Bullard (14-5)
165: #24 R-Jr. Brian Hamann (17-9)
174: #30 Fr. Nick Reenan (16-5)
184: #10 R-Jr. Michael Macchiavello (17-4)
197: #24 R-So. Malik McDonald (15-6)
285: #21 R-Sr. Mike Kosoy (16-7)
North Carolina Tar Heels (5-4, 0-1 ACC)
125: So. James Szymanski (7-9)
133: Fr. Nicholas Lirette (3-8)
141: #3 R-Sr. Joey Ward (20-2)
149: #32 R-Jr. Troy Heilmann (8-11)
157: #25 R-Sr. Joey Moon (11-9)
165: R-So. Jack Clark (8-9) -OR- Fr. Devin Kane (7-4)
174: #6 R-Jr. Ethan Ramos (13-6)
184: #19 Jr. Chip Ness (9-4) -OR- R-Fr. Lance Armenta (1-8)
197: #32 Jr. Daniel Chaid (10-11)
285: #30 R-So. Cory Daniel (15-9)
Key Matchup
141: #2 Kevin Jack (22-1) vs. #3 Joey Ward (19-2)
Both head coaches rightfully decided to put this matchup on last in the dual, as this top-three showdown will be the top ACC matchup this season in regards to rankings. Jack has won 20 straight matches dating back to Nov. 19. On the season, Jack has five wins over ranked foes, including four top-10 wins, and a pair of top-five victories. Ward is also on a hit streak, winning 17 of his last 18 matches dating back to Nov. 6. Ward is 6-1 against ranked foes this year, including a win over then-No. 2 McKenna of Stanford (7-1) at the Southern Scuffle.
The two have developed quit a rivalry over the previous two seasons, as they have split the four previous encounters all at 141 pounds. Ward defeated Jack 6-1 at the 2015 ACC Championships, but Jack returned the favor and knocked off No. 12 seeded Ward at the NCAA Championships that season, 6-5. Last year the pair also split their bouts, with Jack winning in OT in the dual (5-3), and Ward winning at the NCAA Championships (3-2).
The Series vs. UNC
NC State and North Carolina will be facing each other in a dual for the 98th time since the start of ACC competition. The Tar Heels currently lead the overall series, 51-44-2, with NC State winning the last three matchups (19-16 in 2014, 22-18 in 2015, and 28-8 last year). The Pack is looking for back-to-back wins at UNC for the first time since winning in 2000 and again at UNC in 2001.
Last Year vs. UNC
The #3 NC State wrestling team won all four matches among the ranked vs. ranked bouts, and defeated visiting #14 North Carolina 28-8 in Raleigh. The Wolfpack won eight of the 10 matches on the night, and with the dual starting at 125 pounds, took control early by jumping out to an 11-0 lead after the first three bouts.
Here are how NC State's probables fared last year:
133: #28 Jamal Morris (NCSU) major dec. James Szymanski; 13-3
141: #3 Kevin Jack (NCSU) dec. #11 Joey Ward; 5-3 (TB-1)
* - Team Ranking according to USA Today/NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll
* - Individual Rankings according to 1/20 NCAA Coaches' Panel Rankings
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Off to an 8-1 start this season, the Wolfpack opened the ACC portion of its schedule with a dominating 34-6 home win over Duke on Jan. 11. The Tar Heels fell at No. 17 Arizona State Friday night, 31-9, but have won four of their last six duals with the only losses at Arizona State and against No. 6 Virginia Tech (28-8).
The two coaches have already determined the dual will start at 149 pounds, meaning the final match of the night will be No. 2 Kevin Jack versus No. 3 Joey Ward at 141 pounds.
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| #9 NC State (8-1, 1-0 ACC) at UNC (5-4, 0-1 ACC) | |
| Date | Monday, Jan. 23 |
| Time | 7 p.m. |
| Location | UNC's Memorial Hall |
| Live Stream | ACC Network Extra |
| Live Scoring | TrackWrestling.com |
| Social Media | @PackWrestle |
| Tickets | $10 adults, $5 youth |
Quick Takedowns
• For the 10 consecutive poll to open the 2016-17 season, NC State is ranked in the top-10 in the USA Today/NWCA Wrestling Coaches poll. NC State is currently ranked No. 9 this week, after the previous three weeks at No. 10. NC State was also ranked No. 9 in the first six polls of the season
• With an 8-1 start in duals in 2016-17, NC State has won 31 of its last 33 duals dating back to the beginning of last season (23-1 last year). Over the last two seasons, the Pack is a perfect 11-0 in road duals, four wins over ranked foes.
• NC State has won its last three ACC road duals.
• Junior Kevin Jack's current 20-match winning streak ties as the eighth longest winning streak in school history. It is also a personal-best for Jack, as last season he won 18 in a row.
• Last week, the Pack went a perfect 4-0 in dual action - outscoring its opponents 132-32 and winning 31 of the 40 possible matches. NC State started with a 34-6 ACC over Duke then went 3-0 at the Pitt Duals (29-10 over Harvard, 24-13 over Edinboro, and 45-3 over Columbia).
• In the Pack's probable lineup vs. UNC, only R-So. Jamal Morris (133) and Jr. Kevin Jack (141) are returning starters from last year's ACC Championship squad. In addition to those two, NC State has three true freshmen, three others that redshirted 2015-16, and a pair that were back-ups last year among its 2016-17 starters.
ACC-Best Nine of 10 Starters Ranked in First NCAA Coaches' Panel Rankings
The NCAA released the first of four coaches' panel rankings for the 2016-17 wrestling season. Nine of the Pack's 10 starters were ranked in their respective weight class - among the top-33 nationally.
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| Weight | Wrestler | NCAA Rank | 16-17 Record |
| 133 | R-So. Jamal Morris | 14 | 16-4 |
| 141 | Jr. Kevin Jack | 2 | 22-1 |
| 149 | R-Sr. Sam Speno | 11 | 17-5 |
| 157 | Fr. Thomas Bullard | 28 | 14-5 |
| 165 | R-Jr. Brian Hamann | 24 | 17-9 |
| 174 | Fr. Nick Reenan | 30 | 16-5 |
| 184 | R-Jr. Michael Macchiavello | 10 | 17-4 |
| 197 | R-So. Malik McDonald | 24 | 15-6 |
| 285 | R-Sr. Mike Kosoy | 21 | 16-7 |
Probable Lineups
#9 NC State Wolfpack (8-1, 1-0 ACC)
125: Fr. Tommy Cox (15-10)
133: #14 R-So. Jamal Morris (16-4)
141: #2 Jr. Kevin Jack (22-1)
149: #11 R-Sr. Sam Speno (17-5)
157: #28 Fr. Thomas Bullard (14-5)
165: #24 R-Jr. Brian Hamann (17-9)
174: #30 Fr. Nick Reenan (16-5)
184: #10 R-Jr. Michael Macchiavello (17-4)
197: #24 R-So. Malik McDonald (15-6)
285: #21 R-Sr. Mike Kosoy (16-7)
North Carolina Tar Heels (5-4, 0-1 ACC)
125: So. James Szymanski (7-9)
133: Fr. Nicholas Lirette (3-8)
141: #3 R-Sr. Joey Ward (20-2)
149: #32 R-Jr. Troy Heilmann (8-11)
157: #25 R-Sr. Joey Moon (11-9)
165: R-So. Jack Clark (8-9) -OR- Fr. Devin Kane (7-4)
174: #6 R-Jr. Ethan Ramos (13-6)
184: #19 Jr. Chip Ness (9-4) -OR- R-Fr. Lance Armenta (1-8)
197: #32 Jr. Daniel Chaid (10-11)
285: #30 R-So. Cory Daniel (15-9)
Key Matchup
141: #2 Kevin Jack (22-1) vs. #3 Joey Ward (19-2)
Both head coaches rightfully decided to put this matchup on last in the dual, as this top-three showdown will be the top ACC matchup this season in regards to rankings. Jack has won 20 straight matches dating back to Nov. 19. On the season, Jack has five wins over ranked foes, including four top-10 wins, and a pair of top-five victories. Ward is also on a hit streak, winning 17 of his last 18 matches dating back to Nov. 6. Ward is 6-1 against ranked foes this year, including a win over then-No. 2 McKenna of Stanford (7-1) at the Southern Scuffle.
The two have developed quit a rivalry over the previous two seasons, as they have split the four previous encounters all at 141 pounds. Ward defeated Jack 6-1 at the 2015 ACC Championships, but Jack returned the favor and knocked off No. 12 seeded Ward at the NCAA Championships that season, 6-5. Last year the pair also split their bouts, with Jack winning in OT in the dual (5-3), and Ward winning at the NCAA Championships (3-2).
The Series vs. UNC
NC State and North Carolina will be facing each other in a dual for the 98th time since the start of ACC competition. The Tar Heels currently lead the overall series, 51-44-2, with NC State winning the last three matchups (19-16 in 2014, 22-18 in 2015, and 28-8 last year). The Pack is looking for back-to-back wins at UNC for the first time since winning in 2000 and again at UNC in 2001.
Last Year vs. UNC
The #3 NC State wrestling team won all four matches among the ranked vs. ranked bouts, and defeated visiting #14 North Carolina 28-8 in Raleigh. The Wolfpack won eight of the 10 matches on the night, and with the dual starting at 125 pounds, took control early by jumping out to an 11-0 lead after the first three bouts.
Here are how NC State's probables fared last year:
133: #28 Jamal Morris (NCSU) major dec. James Szymanski; 13-3
141: #3 Kevin Jack (NCSU) dec. #11 Joey Ward; 5-3 (TB-1)
* - Team Ranking according to USA Today/NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll
* - Individual Rankings according to 1/20 NCAA Coaches' Panel Rankings
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Players Mentioned
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