Top-10 ACC Showdown as #5 @PackWrestle Hosts #7 Virginia Tech

@PackWrestle Notes Packet | Match Program
VIEW: A Special Look - NC State vs. Virginia Tech
LISTEN: #PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast: Ep. 88 - VT Preview

RALEIGH, N.C. - #5 NC State opens its ACC slate with a top-10 battle, as the Wolfpack will host #7 Virginia Tech on Friday, Jan. 21 inside Reynolds Coliseum. The dual will be televised on ACC Network at 7 p.m., with Shawn Kenney and Rock Harrison on the call.

	#5 NC State (6-1) vs. #7 Va. Tech (5-3)
Date	Friday, Jan. 21
Time	7 p.m.
Location	Raleigh, N.C.
Arena	Reynolds Coliseum
Tickets	$7 adult, $5 youth
TV	ACC Network
Streaming	WatchESPN
Social Media	Twitter: @PackWrestle \| Instagram: wolfpackwrestling

The Rivalry: NC State vs. Virginia Tech
Each of the last seven years, only NC State (2018-20) and Virginia Tech (2015-17, 21) have been crowned ACC regular season champions by posting the best conference dual record. When the two teams meet it is often the best dual of the year in the ACC, and in each of the past seven years the winner of the dual went on to claim the ACC Dual title.

Each of the last four seasons, the dual was not decided until the final match, with two of the contests coming down to criteria. The Pack has won three of the last four meetings.

Protecting Our Den
NC State enjoys one of the biggest home mat advantages when it competes in Reynolds Coliseum. Since Reynolds was reopened for the 2016-17 season after a $35 million renovation, NC State is 30-3 in home duals inside 'The Old Barn', including a mark of 11-1 in ACC duals over the last six season. NC State has won its last 10 duals inside Reynolds, with the last home loss coming three seasons ago - on Feb. 9, 2019 vs. #16 Pitt (16-18).

The Pack is Streaking
Four NC State starters are undefeated in dual action thus far, as Tariq Wilson (149), Ed Scott (157), Hayden Hidlay (174) and Trent Hidlay (184) are a combined 26-0 in duals.

Even more impressive, each has a dual winning streak dating back to at least last season. Both Trent Hidlay and Scott have won eight straight, while Wilson has not lost a dual since the 2019-20 season with his 13 straight wins. Incredibly, Hayden Hidlay has won each of this last 37 dual matches, his last loss coming way back in December of 2018.

PROBABLE STARTERS
#5 NC State (6-1, 0-0 ACC)
125: #14 R-So. Jakob Camacho (8-2)
133: #17 R-Fr. Kai Orine (7-1) -OR- R-So. Jarrett Trombley (8-2)
141: #15 Fr. Ryan Jack (11-3)
149: #3 Gr. Tariq Wilson (6-0)
157: #10 Fr. Ed Scott (14-0)
165: #22 Gr. Thomas Bullard (7-4)
174: #4 Gr. Hayden Hidlay (6-0)
184: #3 R-So. Trent Hidlay (7-0)
197: #19 Fr. Isaac Trumble (9-3)
285: #23 R-Fr. Owen Trephan (13-4) -OR- Jr. Tyrie Houghton (14-6)

#7 Virginia Tech (5-3, 0-0 ACC)
125: #21 R-So. Sam Latona (7-6)
133: #5 Gr. Korbin Myers (11-1)
141: So. Sam Hillegas (4-3) -OR- R-Jr. Collin Gerardi (8-4)
149: #6 Jr. Bryce Andonian (4-1)
157: #23 R-So. Connor Brady (11-2)
165: So. Clayton Ulrey (13-10)
174: #3 R-Jr. Mekhi Lewis (13-0)
184: #13 R-Sr. Hunter Bolen (16-2)
197: #33 R-Jr. Dakota Howard (7-4) -OR- So. Andy Smith (10-5)
285: #13 Gr. Nathan Traxler (13-1)

FEATURED BOUTS
125: #14 Jakob Camacho vs. #21 Sam Latona
A rematch of last year's ACC Final at 125 pounds, Latona has won all three previous matchups - 10-5 in the 2020 Southern Scuffle, 7-4 in the dual last year and then 2-1 (TB1) in the 2021 ACC Final. Camacho is 8-2 on the season, with six bonus point wins. Latona finished sixth at the NCAAs last year, and is 7-6 this season.

149: #3 Tariq Wilson vs. #6 Bryce Andonian
A first-ever meeting, as Wilson has moved up to 149 pounds for his final season. Wilson is the consensus #3 wrestler at 149 pounds, off to a 6-0 start (all in duals). Andonian took time to compete at the 2021 Junior World Championships and is 4-1 on the season, but returned to the Hokie lineup with a pin over #25 Madrigal of George Mason last weekend.

174: #4 Hayden Hidlay vs. #3 Mekhi Lewis
The headline match, one school's first-ever four-time All-American (Hidlay) vs. the other school's first-ever NCAA Champion (Lewis). For the first time, they are in the same weight class, Hidlay moving up from 157 pounds and Lewis from 165 pounds. Hidlay is #4 in ever poll, while Lewis is right ahead of him at #3 in all five polls. Hidlay is 6-0, all dual wins, with four win going for bonus. Lewis is a perfect 13-0 on the season.

184: #3 Trent Hidlay vs. #13 Hunter Bolen
The second ACC Final rematch from last year, the two will battle for the fifth time over the last three seasons. Bolen leads the head-to-head 3-1 (by a combined score of 8-6), but Hidlay won the last matchup for the ACC title with a takedown in extra time (3-1). The largest margin of victory in their series has been just two points, and the most points scored by an individual has only been three. Hidlay is 7-0 in duals this far, six going for bonus, while Bolen is 16-2 on the season.

Top-10 ACC Showdown as #5 @PackWrestle Hosts #7 Virginia Tech

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Thomas Bullard

Jakob Camacho

Hayden Hidlay

Trent Hidlay

Tyrie Houghton

Ryan Jack

Kai Orine

Ed Scott

Owen Trephan

Jarrett Trombley

Isaac Trumble

Tariq Wilson

Top-10 ACC Showdown as #5 @PackWrestle Hosts #7 Virginia Tech

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Thomas Bullard

Jakob Camacho

Hayden Hidlay

Trent Hidlay

Tyrie Houghton

Ryan Jack

Kai Orine

Ed Scott

Owen Trephan

Jarrett Trombley

Isaac Trumble

Tariq Wilson

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