NC State wrestling team heads to Las Vegas for Cliff Keen Invitational

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RALEIGH Thirty three wrestling teams from across the country will participate in the 40th Annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational.

The event will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Dec. 2-3.

N.C. State, the No. 8 team in the country, rolls into the desert hot, a perfect 5-0 on the young season.

"To us it's a tournament that can kind of replicate the NCAAs, so we feel like it's much needed since we haven't been able to do the travel we wanted the last couple of years," NC State coach Pat Popolizio said. "I think this one is going to be important for our guys to prepare themselves. Dual meets are one aspect of our sport, but the tournament is a totally different aspect."

The Wolfpack currently has eight wrestlers ranked (InterMat rankings), including five in the top 20. Trent Hidlay (184) is the highest ranked NC State athlete, coming in at No. 3. Ed Scott (157) is No. 9.

The Pack will be one of two ACC programs at the event, joining Virginia Tech.

The field will be stacked with the best of the best, with 34 wrestlers ranked in the top 10 performing from various schools.

"I think overall as a team, we're obviously not going to have a guy No. 1 on paper," Popolizio said. "We have to go and chase someone who might be higher ranked on paper. That's something new to us. These guys get an opportunity to test themselves and go out and get some good, quality wins."

Hidlay's division will be stacked, with six top 10 athletes. The heavyweight division will also feature five wrestlers in the top 10, including Cohlton Schultz of Arizona State, who is currently ranked No. 1 in the country.

Popolizio knows this weekend could be a breakout tournament for some of his athletes.

"We have a lot of guys who are on the cusp and I think this is going to be a weekend that can break through certain guys and get them to the next level and put them into a really good spot going into the second semester."

In the pre-seeds for the tournament, which were released on Wednesday, Hidlay and Trumble each drew a No. 2 seed. Ryan Jack (141) drew a No. 4 seed.

LAST TIME OUT: NC State picked up two wins in Albany, NY, defeating Central Michigan 26-12 and Illinois 27-12.

NC State wrestling team heads to Las Vegas for Cliff Keen Invitational

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Players Mentioned

Trent Hidlay

Ryan Jack

Ed Scott

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