Three From @PackWrestle Place at U.S. Open; Gwiazdowski Claims Title at 125 KG

RALEIGH, N.C. – Three current members of the NC State wrestling team brought home top-four finishes at the U.S. Open this past weekend at the United World Wrestling Junior Nationals (UWW). All three now move on to the 2017 U.S. UWW Junior Freestyle World Team Trials.

Rising sophomore Nick Reenan brought home the Pack's top finish, as he placed second at 84 kg. Reenan opened strong with five straight wins, outscoring his opponents 57-11, and scoring four tech fall wins. In the finals, Reenan fell to 2017 NCAA All-American Zahid Valencia of Arizona State, FloWrestling's National Freshman of the Year.

NC State also had a pair of grapplers that redshirted in 2016-17 place fourth in their respective weight classes. Tariq Wilson was fourth at 60 kg, while Hayden Hidlay was also fourth at 74 kg.

Wilson started out with three straight wins, by a combined 42-17, before dropping his final two bouts.

Hidlay won his first two before suffering a defeat and falling into the consolation round. He came back to win three straight before falling in the third place bout. Among Hidlay's wins were 9-2 win over 2017 ACC Champion Taleb Rahmani of Pittsburgh and a 5-2 win over 2016 All-American and ACC Freshman of the Year David McFadden of Virginia Tech.

Another pair of freshmen that redshirted this past season were also in action. Kellen Devlin (60 kg) and Thomas Bullard (74 kg) both went 2-2 in their weight classes.

The Wolfpack's Regional Training Center was also in action at the U.S. Open, sending eight to compete in the Senior Freestyle Nationals.

Former two-time NCAA champion Nick Gwiazdowski claimed his first U.S. Open title, going a perfect 5-0 at 125 kg, and defeating the top-seeded Zach Rey in the finals, 3-2.

Great work by @NGWIZZZ on winning his 1st US Open! #STATEment #PACKmentality pic.twitter.com/IpBNoSpQVv
— NC State Wrestling (@PackWrestle) April 30, 2017

In addition to the current members of the NC State wrestling team in action this past weekend, former Pack wrestlers and current members of the Wolfpack Regional Training Center were in action at the U.S. Open in the Senior Freestyle Nationals.

Former Wolfpack All-American Tommy Gantt also advances to the team trials, as he took seventh at 70 kg. Current NC State wrestler Pete Renda went 3-2 at 86 kg as well on the senior-level side.

Overall, the Wolfpack Regional Training Center placed second in the team results.

Big day for the @WolfpackWC taking 2nd place at the US Open at as a RTC #STATEment pic.twitter.com/agIcBhKJ9I
— NC State Wrestling (@PackWrestle) April 30, 2017

North Carolina State University Athletics

Three From @PackWrestle Place at U.S. Open; Gwiazdowski Claims Title at 125 KG

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Players Mentioned

Thomas Bullard

Kellen Devlin

Tommy Gantt

Nick Gwiazdowski

Hayden Hidlay

Nick Reenan

Pete Renda

Tariq Wilson

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