After the first seven matches, Missouri held a 14-9 lead over the Wolfpack (22-1). NC State's Pete Renda started the comeback with an 11-0 major decision at 184 pounds to pull NC State within 14-13. At 197, former NCAA Champion and two-time All-American J'den Cox was only able to score a 5-1 decision for the Tigers (13-2), which pushed the team score to 17-13 heading into the final bout and left the door open for the Wolfpack comeback. Gwiazdowski left little doubt about the outcome, attacking in the first few seconds and ending his final home dual securing the Wolfpack win.
The dual started with a Missouri win at 125 pounds.
The Pack's first victory came at 133 pounds, when Jamal Morris upset No. 13 Zach Synon 3-0. Morris scored a takedown as time expired in the first period. Starting the second on top, Morris rode Synon the entire period, and chose to start on top in the third and rode Synon the entire period again to finish with 4:00 of ride time for the extra point. Morris' victory was the first of his career over a ranked foe, and he has won eight of his 12 duals overall since January.
No. 3 Kevin Jack made it back-to-back wins for the Pack, as he downed No. 7 Matt Manley 4-2. After a scoreless first, Jack started the second on bottom and scored the lone point of the period with an escape. Manley got a reversal to start the third, but Jack quickly answered with a reversal of his own, and rode out Manley the rest of the period and tacked on another point for ride time. With the win, Jack has now won 14 straight - with four of his last five wins all versus opponents ranked 17th or better.
Missouri scored the duals' first bonus points at 149 with a major decision.
In his last home dual, No. 5 Tommy Gantt remained perfect on the season with a 5-2 win over Le'Roy Barnes at 157 pounds. After a scoreless first, Gantt scored an escape, then a takedown, and then two near fall points to open the scoring in the second. Gantt improves to a perfect 21-0 on the season, including 8-0 versus ranked foes and each of his last four wins have come all against ranked opponents.
At the intermission, the Pack led 9-7. The Tigers came out after the break and put together back-to-back wins with a decision at 165 pounds followed by a major decision at 174 to make the score 14-9.
No. 18 Pete Renda scored the upset at 184 pounds in defeating No. 10 Willie Miklus for a major decision of 11-0. Renda scored a takedown in the first, and then picked up six near-fall points by putting Miklus on his back twice and after the first it was 8-0. Renda then rode him the entire second and periods, picking up a pair of stall points, and his 5:36 of ride time made the final 11-0. Renda's win was his fifth of the season over a ranked foe, his highest of the year, and pulled the Pack within 14-13 with two bouts remaining.
Missouri increased its lead to 17-13 going into the final bout, but No. 2 J'den Cox was only able to pick up a 5-1 decision over the Pack's Malik McDonald -- meaning NC State could win the dual with a technical fall or a pin from Nick Gwiazdowski in the final bout.
No. 1 Gwiazdowski did not disappoint the home crowd in his final home match, as he dominated James Romero from the opening whistle and picked up a 17-1 first-period technical fall, and in the process scored five points for the Pack for the comeback win. Gwiazdowski improves to 26-0 on the season, and sits at 53-0 all-time in duals at NC State.
Results:
125: No. 9 Barlow McGhee (Mizz) dec. Sean Fausz; 5-2 - 0-3
133: Jamal Morris (NCSU) dec. No. 13 Zach Synon; 3-0 - 3-3
141: No. 3 Kevin Jack (NCSU) dec. No. 7 Matt Manley; 4-2 - 6-3
149: No. 3 Lavion Mayes (Mizz) major dec. Beau Donahue; 14-4 - 6-7
157: No. 5 Tommy Gantt (NCSU) dec. Le'Roy Barnes; 5-2 - 9-7
165: No. 5 Daniel Lewis (Mizz) dec. No. 4 Max Rohskopf; 6-1 - 9-10
174: No. 8 Blaise Butler (Mizz) major dec. Nicky Hall; 12-4 - 9-14
184: No. 18 Pete Renda (NCSU) major dec. No. 10 Willie Miklus; 11-0 - 13-14
197: No. 2 J'den Cox (Mizz) dec. Malik McDonald; 5-1 - 13-17
285: No. 1 Nick Gwiazdowski (NCSU) technical fall James Romero; 17-1 - 18-17
Up Next: The Pack will await to hear if they will be selected for the National Duals, which would see NC State travel to a Big Ten school next weekend. The announcement will be made tonight or tomorrow.
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