#WrestleSTL: @PackWrestle Looks for Fourth Straight Top-20 NCAA Finish

NC State Media Packet | 2017 Brackets | ESPN Coverage
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RALEIGH, N.C. - A school-record 10 NC State wrestlers will be competing at the 2017 NCAA Championships set to take place in St. Louis. NC State will have five of its 10 wrestlers seeded among the top-16 in their respective weight classes, with a pair in the top-10.

For the second year in a row, Kevin Jack (141) enters with a top-three seed. Last year he was the third seed, and with a 29-1 record to this point in 2017, he is the second seed for his third straight trip overall. Redshirt-junior Michael Macchiavello (184) will be competing at the NCAAs for the first time, and he received the No. 10 seed with a 23-6 mark.

Redshirt-sophomores Sean Fausz (125) and Jamal Morris (133) will be making their second straight trips. Fausz is a 12th seed while Morris is 15th at their respective weights. Redshirt-senior Sam Speno (149) will be making his third trip to the NCAAs, but his first since 2014, and he is also a No. 12 seed.

The Pack's five other participants will all be making their first trip to the NCAAs: redshirt-senior Mike Kosoy (285), redshirt-junior Brian Hamann (157), redshirt-sophomore Malik McDonald (197), and true freshmen Thomas Bullard (157) and Nick Reenan (174).

Reaching New Heights
• NC State's school record 10 NCAA Qualifiers upped the total from last season's then-school record eight. NC State is one of only two schools nationally with 10 NCAA Qualifiers – Oklahoma State. NC State is also one of only two schools nationally with multiple true-freshmen NCAA Qualifiers – Penn State.
• Adding in the six seeded wrestlers form last year's squad, the 11 seeded wrestlers over the last two years are the most for NC State in a two-year span in school history. In fact, NC State had a combined 11 seeded wrestlers total the previous 23 years - 1993-2015.
• With a final dual record of 13-2 during the 2016-17 season, the Wolfpack finished ranked No. 8 nationally in the final NWCA/USA Today Coaches' Poll for the second straight season. The Pack was a school-best No. 2 following 2015-16.
• In all 15 Coaches' Polls this season, the Wolfpack was ranked in the top-10.
• The Pack defeated #16 Michigan, 23-15, in the NWCA National Duals, becoming one of only three schools to win their matchups each of the last two years in the event. In 2016, NC State won at #2 Iowa, getting the ACC's first-ever win over the Hawkeyes.
• With the 23-1 mark last year, NC State has won 35 of its 38 duals the last two seasons.
• In the final three Coaches' Panel Rankings, NC State had all 10 starters ranked.

NC State NCAA Championships Tradition
NC State wrestling has a rich tradition of performing well at the NCAA Championships. NC State has finished in the top 10 nationally three times, including a seventh-place finish in 1993, the best-ever showing at nationals. The Wolfpack has finished in the national top 25 in 17 of the last 37 seasons as well, including three straight top-20 finishes.

The Wolfpack's current stretch of three straight top-20 finishes is the longest streak in school history since 1991-93. NC State finished 19th in 2014, 16th in 2015 and 11th last season with a school-record three All-Americans.

Six individuals have claimed national titles. Matt Reiss at 177 pounds in 1980, Tab Thacker at heavyweight in 1984, Scott Turner at 150 pounds in 1988, Sylvester Terkay at heavyweight in 1993, and Darrion Caldwell in 2009 at 149 pounds. Nick Gwiazdowski was the first in school history to not only win two titles, but to do it in back-to-back seasons when he won the heavyweight title in both 2014 and 2015.

NC State has also had three runner-ups (Michael Stokes-126 in 1989, Terkay in 1992, and Gwiazdowski last year.) In all, 21 NC State wrestlers have earned 33 All-America honors. Last year, Gwiazdowski, Tommy Gantt (157) and Pete Renda (184) all finished as All-Americans - although two graduated and Renda redshirted this season.

Four Returning to NCAAs, Six Making Their First Trip
A school-record 10 NC State wrestlers earned a trip to the 2017 NCAA Championships, but six will be competing at the NCAAs for the first time in their careers.

Redshirt-senior Mike Kosoy (285), redshirt-juniors Brian Hamann (165) and Michael Macchiavello (184), redshirt-sophomore Malik McDonald (197) and freshmen Thomas Bullard (157) and Nick Reenan (174) will all be seeing action in their first NCAA Tournament.

The remaining four have a combined six trips under their belts, with three having wrestled at their same weights at the 2016 NCAA Championships in New York. Redshirt-sophomores Sean Fausz (125) and Jamal Morris (133) will both be in the NCAAs for the second straight year, while junior Kevin Jack (141) is making his third straight trip. Redshirt-senior Sam Speno is also making his third trip, but his first since 2014. He wrestled at 133 pounds as a freshman in 2013 and then at 141 pounds in 2014.

Jack Looking for Second All-American Accolade
Junior Kevin Jack has been on a mission this year - after falling short last year, his goal has not only been to get back to All-American status but win a national title. He returns to the NCAA Championships for the third straight year at 141 pounds.

After an opening weekend loss this year, Jack has won 27 straight matches heading into the NCAAs with a 29-1 record. He received the #2 seed at 141 pounds, and is ranked second in every major poll.

He won his second straight ACC title, taking out NCAA #6 seed DiCamillo of Virginia in the finals 10-4. He was named the 2017 ACC Championship Most Outstanding Wrestler, going 2-0 and outscoring his opponents 27-8 en route to the title.

In his previous two trips to the NCAA Championships it was a tale of two different seasons. As a freshman in 2015, he entered unseeded after coming out of redshirt in February, but posted upsets of the #5, #12, and #4 seeds to reach the NCAA semifinals and brought home a fifth place finish and All-American honors.

Last season, Jack entered with a 23-3 record and received the No. 3 overall seed. After a first round win however, he fell to former NC State teammate Bryce Meredith of Wyoming. After another two wins, he lost to UNC's Ward in the Blood Round and was knocked out.

Jack is trying to become the ninth NC State wrestler to earn All-American honors for a second time in school history.

Speno Closing Out Career with Third Trip to NCAAs
It has been a long journey for redshirt-senior Sam Speno at NC State, but that journey concludes with his third trip to the NCAA Championships in his final season, but his first trip since 2014.

Speno was an NCAA Qualifier as both a freshman (133) and a sophomore (141). In 2014, he went 2-2 and was ranked in the preseason going into his junior season. He was well on his way to a third straight NCAA tripin 2015, but came down with mono and missed the last two months of the season.

The coaches decided to redshirt Speno last season so he could make the move up to 149 pounds. He went 19-5 overall to set up his senior season.

The move has paid off, as Speno enters the NCAAs with a 22-8 record, including going 9-1 in duals this season. He is ranked between #10-18 in every major poll, and received the #12 seed, the first time he has been seeded entering the NCAAs.

Junior Season Redshirts Lead to Pair of NCAA Bids
NC State has had the luxury of being able to redshirt a few upperclassmen over recent years. The results have paid off, as three veterans redshirted last year, and all three made the NCAA Championships this season.

Sam Speno was one at 149 that qualified for his third NCAA trip. But a pair of juniors last season both sat out and redshirted, and qualified for their first NCAAs this year.

Brian Hamann spent his first two seasons at 149 pounds, but worked his way up to 165 this season. He enters with a 20-11 mark, and reached the ACC finals at 165 pounds.

Michael Macchiavello went a combined 20-22 in his first two seasons, but after redshirting last year, is 23-6 this season and ranked between #9-11 in every major poll.

Back in 2015, Tommy Gantt redshirted what would of been his senior season. He returned to the lineup last year, and placed eighth for his first All-American honors. In addition, 2016 All-American junior Pete Renda took third last year and is redshirting this season.

Pair of Redshirt-Sophomores Return with National Seeds
Two familiar faces return to the NCAA Championships for NC State, as redshirt-sophomores Sean Fausz (125) and Jamal Morris (133) will both be making their second straight trips. Their improvement has been huge for NC State, as last year they were both unseeded but each won at least one match, and this year they both earned national seeds - Fausz #12 and Morris #15.

Fausz started the season at 133 pounds, but moved down to 125 on Jan. 23. Since the move, Fausz is 8-2 with both losses coming to NCAA #2 seed Dance of Virginia Tech. Fausz is 25-6 overall this year, and made the ACC finals for the second straight year, this year defeating NCAA #10 seed Mueller of UVA in the semis.

Morris also made his way into the Pack's starting lineup for the second semester. He sits at 20-9 on the year, and reached the ACC finals for the first time in his career, avenging a pair of dual losses to reach the championship bout.

Pair of 2016 Back-ups Become Starters and Get NCAA Bids
The Pack's two heaviest weights are occupied by a pair of back-ups from last year's 11th place NCAA squad. Both won the starting spot this year and will be making their first trips to the NCAA Championships.

Redshirt-sophomore Malik McDonald saw action in 19 matches last year, but none against ACC competition. This season as the Pack's starter at 197 pounds, he has gone 20-9 overall, including 3-1 in ACC duals. He earned an at-large bid to his first NCAAs.
Redshirt-senior Mike Kosoy has patiently waited his turn at NC State. He was the Pack's starter as a true freshman in 2013 at heavyweight, then was behind three-time NCAA Finalist Nick Gwiazdowski the last three seasons, including a 2014 redshirt year. This year, Kosoy won the starting spot late in the season, and earned an automatic NCAA bid.

True Freshmen Qualify for NCAAs with At-Large Bids
With 18 true freshmen in the 2017 NCAA Championships, NC State is one of only two schools nationally with multiple rookies in the field - Penn State.

Thomas Bullard (157) was pulled out of redshirt in early December, and immediately became the Pack's starter at 157 pounds. He has gone 14-8 since becoming a starter, and earned an NCAA at-large bid. Bullard was a consensus top-50 recruit, and a 2015-16 ASICS All-America honorable mention selection at 170 pounds.

Nick Reenan (174) was the Pack's starter from the first day of practice. After a 20-11 mark in the season, including 2-2 at the ACC Championship, he also earned an at-large bid. Reenan was a consensus top-10 recruit, top-2 in his weight class. He was a 2015-16 ASICS All-America second-team selection at 195 pounds, as he wrestled up two weight classes in his final year of high school.

The Wolfpack's 2016 signing class was ranked No. 2 nationally, and had six members redshirt this season.

Wolfpack Finishes Regular Season Ranked No. 8
For the second straight season, the NC State wrestling team finished the regular season ranked in the top-10 in the final NWCA/USA Today Coaches' Poll. With a final dual record of 13-2 during the 2016-17 season, the Wolfpack finished No. 8 nationally.

In all 15 NWCA/USA Today Coaches' Polls this season, the Wolfpack was ranked in the top-10. NC State was a season-best No. 7 before its defeat of No. 16 Michigan in the NWCA National Duals. The Pack was No. 8 the three previous weeks, and spent seven weeks at No. 9 and three weeks at No. 10 earlier.

Last year, the Pack went 23-1 and finished a school-best No. 2. The Pack has won 35 of its 38 duals the last two years.

Jack Enters with Nation's Third-Longest Winning Streak
Kevin Jack enters the NCAA Championships tied for the third-longest winning streak nationally at 27 straight wins (in matches this season only). Only Arizona State's Zahid Valencia (174) with 33 and two-time national champion Gabe Dean (184) of Cornell with 30 have more. Jack, along with Gilman of Iowa (125), Heil of Oklahoma State (141) and Martinez of Illinois (165) all have won 27 straight matches during 2016-17.

Jack went 2-1 the first weekend of the season at the Journeymen Classic and has not lost since. Among his 27 straight wins, 18 were for bonus points. His 27 straight are sixth-best at NC State.

Fausz Changes Weight Classes Second Semester
Redshirt-sophomore Sean Fausz, a two-time NCAA Qualifier after back-to-back All-ACC seasons at 125 pounds, went down a weight class the second semester.

Fausz started the 2016-17 season at 133 pounds and went 16-4 overall and 4-1 duals. Since his change to 125 pounds on Jan. 23. He has gone 8-2, including defeating NCAA #10 seed Jack Mueller of Virginia 8-5 in the ACC Championship semifinals, and also two-time All-American Conor Youtsey of Michigan in the National Duals, 5-3. His only two losses at 125 this season are to NCAA #2 seed Dance of Virginia Tech (12-3 in the dual and 3-1 SV1 in the ACC finals).

New Wolfpack Faces in Lineup
The Wolfpack's starting lineup has looked a lot different this season from last year's ACC Championship squad.

Only three Pack starters returned from last season's team that finished #2 nationally in the final poll: redshirt-sophomores Sean Fausz (125) and Jamal Morris (133) and junior Kevin Jack (141).

In addition to those three, NC State has two true freshmen, three veterans that redshirted in 2015-16, and a pair that were back-ups last year among its 2017 starters.

Strong in ACC Action
For the second straight season, NC State finished 4-1 and in second place in ACC duals. The Pack outscored its ACC foes 113-62 (22.6-12.4 avg.) this year, winning 31 of the 50 matches, with 13 bonus point wins.

NC State Leads ACC with Most Wrestler of the Week Honors
For the third straight year, the Wolfpack led the ACC for the most ACC Wrestler of the Week selections during the season. Three Pack wrestlers combined for five weekly awards during the 2016-17 season.

Junior Kevin Jack won the award a league-best three times, while redshirt-junior Michael Macchiavello (184) and senior Max Rohskopf (157) both were named once.

Great to be Back in Reynolds
The Nov. 30 dual against Appalachian State marked the first time in 646 days the Pack had competed it its home venue, Reynolds Coliseum. Last season, Reynolds was closed for the entire year to all NC State teams as the historic arena underwent a $35 million renovation.

The Pack was 5-1 in Reynolds this season, three of which were top-25 wins, and 2-0 in ACC duals. The Pack also placed second at the ACC Championship, hosted by NC State in Reynolds two weeks ago.

#WrestleSTL: @PackWrestle Looks for Fourth Straight Top-20 NCAA Finish

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Players Mentioned

Thomas Bullard

Sean Fausz

Tommy Gantt

Nick Gwiazdowski

Brian Hamann

Kevin Jack

Mike Kosoy

Michael Macchiavello

Malik McDonald

Jamal Morris

Nick Reenan

Pete Renda

Max Rohskopf

Sam Speno