"It was a very impressive win for us," said head coach Pat Popolizio. "We competed all night and it is a well deserved win over the #14 team in the nation. You probably have to go back quite a ways back the last time NC State upset a team ranked that high. Momentum is huge in any sport and for us to go up 15-0 after three bouts set the tone and gave us a great dual win."
The dual started at 125 pounds, and NC State took each of the first three bouts - two bonus point wins.
#26 Joe DeAngelo struck first for the Pack with a 4-2 defeat of #27 Dom Forys. DeAngelo improves to 3-1 in ACC action this season with two major decisions.
The Pack then hit back-to-back pins by a pair of freshmen and jumped out to a 15-0 lead only three matches in. #30 Bryce Meredith pinned #32 Nick Zanette in 4:10 then classmate Kevin Jack pinned Ben Ross in 5:31. It was Jack's first dual of the season.
Pitt scored decisions at both 149 and 157 pounds. At the halfway point, NC State was up 15-6.
#22 Max Rohskopf came out after the intermission and scored a 3-2 at 165 pounds to push the Pack's lead to 18-6.
Pitt cut into the lead with a pair of decisions at 174 and 184 pounds with their two top-10 ranked wrestlers, as the Pack held an 18-12 lead going into the final two bouts.
Freshman Michael Boykin clinched the ACC win for NC State as he upset #19 Nick Bonaccorsi 6-1 at 197 pounds. For good measure, #1 Nick Gwiazdowski won his 46th straight match and pinned his fifth straight opponent, this time in just 1:56.
Up Next: The Pack closes out its ACC dual season with a trip to #13 Virginia on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. NC State will host its final home dual of the year on Sunday, Feb. 22 vs. #7 Oklahoma State. In addition to Senior Day, the last home dual will be the Pack's Military Appreciation Day and NC State will welcome a UFC guest.
Results:
125: #26 Joe DeAngelo (NCSU) dec. #27 Dom Forys; 4-2 - 3-0
133: #30 Bryce Meredith (NCSU) fall #32 Nick Zanette; 4:10 - 9-0
141: Kevin Jack (NCSU) fall Ben Ross; 5:31 - 15-0
149: #19 Mikey Racciato (Pitt) dec. Beau Donahue; 7-2 - 15-3
157: Ronnie Garbinsky (Pitt) dec. Sam Melikian; 9-7 - 15-6
165: #22 Max Rohskopf (NCSU) dec. Cody Wiercioch; 3-2 - 18-6
174: #8 Tyler Wilps (Pitt) dec. #21 Pete Renda; 11-4 - 18-9
184: #2 Max Thomusseit (Pitt) dec. Nicky Hall; 10-4 - 18-12
197: Michael Boykin (NCSU) dec. #19 Nick Bonaccorsi; 6-1 - 21-12
285: #1 Nick Gwiazdowski (NCSU) fall Ryan Soloman; 1:56 - 27-12
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