9.27.2013

Featured Freshman Series: Randy Shine


Randy Shine
149/157 lbs.

Badger High School (Lake Geneva, WI)


  • 6th Place 2012 Wisconsin State Tournament
  • Sectional Champion
  • 2X Regional Champion
  • Conference Champion & Runner-up
  • Senior Record: 35-1
  • Career Record: 144-18
  • Top 12 at 2012 Asics Folkstyle Nationals - 145 lbs.
  • 3X Team Captain
  • Led team to first sectional and state appearances in school history
  • High Honor Roll
  • 2X Academic All-State 2nd Team

  • Favorite Movie: Boondock Saints
  • Favorite Athlete: Rashad Evans
  • Fun Fact: Has a twin brother, Rory, who attends Ohio State.



9.25.2013

Featured Freshman Series: Beau Donahue





Beau Donahue
149 lbs.



Westfield High School (Centreville, VA)




  • 3X Virginia AAA State Champion (2013 - 145 lbs; 2012 - 152 lbs; 2011 - 140 lbs)
  • 4X Virginia State Qualifier
  • 3X All-Metropolitan selection by the Washington Post (includes DC, MD, VA)
  • 3X NHSCA All-American (4th Junior Nationals - 152 lbs; 4th Sophomore Nationals - 145 lbs; 2nd Freshman Nationals - 140 lbs)
  • 2013 Dapper Dan Tournament Selection (Virginia All-Star Team)
  • 3X Northern Virginia Regional Champion
  • 4X Northern Virginia Regional Finalist
  • 4X Concorde District Champion
  • Virginia Big School Student Athlete of the Year (National Wrestling Hall of Fame - Virginia Chapter)
  • 2X Team Captain
  • Senior Record: 53-5
  • Career Record: 204-25
  • Honor Roll Student

  • Favorite Movie: Space Jam
  • Favorite Athlete: Demarcus Ware
  • Fun Fact: He has been shaving since middle school

9.24.2013

Featured Freshman Series: Rodney Shepard






Rodney Shepard
149/157 lbs.


Northern High School (Durham, NC)



  • 2013 NC State Champion 152 lbs. (60-1 record)
  • 2012 NC State Runner-up 152 lbs. (49-2 record)
  • 2011 NC State Place-winner (5th) 140 lbs. (50-8 record)
  • 2011 Fargo Cadet Greco All-American (6th 140 lbs.)
  • 2011 Fargo Cadet Freestyle All-American (8th 148 lbs.)
  • 2X Team Captain
  • Career Record: 185-27
  • Honor Roll Student

  • Favorite Movie: Inception
  • Favorite Athlete: Jon Jones
  • Fun Fact: Rodney has a black belt in Judo


9.23.2013

Featured Freshman Series: Brenden Calas




Brenden Calas
125 lbs.



Seton Hall Prep (Clark, NJ)





  • 2X NJ State Champion
  • 3X NJ State Finalist
  • 4X NJ State Qualifier
  • 2010 Fargo Cadet Greco All-American (8th)
  • 2012 Junior Greco All-American (8th)
  • Career Record: 112-12
  • 2X Team Captain
  • Honor Roll Student at Seton Hall Prep 
  • Favorite Movie: Due Date
  • Favorite Athlete: Tom Brady
  • Fun Fact: Likes to play tennis

9.20.2013

Featured Freshman Series: Chris Wilkes


Chris Wilkes
133 lbs.


Whitfield School (Troy, MO)



  • 2X Missouri State Champion
  • 4X Missouri State Place-winner (2X 3rd, 2X 1st)
  • USA National Champion
  • 3rd Place Fargo Freestyle Cadet Nationals
  • Academic All American
  • All St. Louis Metro Team Member
  • Missouri All-Star Dual Team Member 
  • Career Record: 208-8 
  • Holds record for second-most wins in Missouri
  • Defeated #1 ranked wrestler in his weight in 2012
  • Wrestler of the Year award recipient
  • Team Captain

  • Favorite Movie: Think Like a Man
  • Fun Fact: He has not ever been to a Cardinals, Blues, or Rams game.

9.18.2013

Featured Freshman Series: Chad Pyke



Chad Pyke

157 lbs.

Woodward Academy (McDonough, GA)



  • 2X Georgia State Champion
  • 4X Georgia State Place-winner (5th, 3rd, 1st, 1st)
  • 2012 Preseason Nationals Runner-up
  • 2013 FloNationals All-American (6th)
  • 2X Clinch Gear Prep Slam Champion
  • Senior Record: 89-2
  • Career Record: 329-19 (National Record Holder for most career victories)
  • 2X Team Captain
  • Honor Roll Student throughout high school
  • Graduated Cum Laude
  • Member of Honor Council & Discipline Board, Peer Leadership, and Student Alumni Ambassador

  • Favorite Athlete: Chris Weidman
  • Favorite Movie: Tombstone
  • Fun Fact: Cookout is his favorite place to eat. 

9.13.2013

Featured Freshman Series: Max Rohskopf



Max Rohskopf
149/157 lbs.


West Holmes High School (Killbuck, OH)



  • Champion 2012 Michigan Grappler Fall Classic
  • 148-21 Career Record
  • 40-2 Senior Record
  • 4X Ohio State Qualifier 
  • 3X D2 Ohio State Place-winner (7th, 3rd, 3rd)
  • 2X Medina Invitational Runner-up
  • Top Gun Tournament Champion & Runner-up
  • 4X Team Captain

  • Favorite Athlete: Chael Sonnen
  • Favorite Movie: Gladiator
  • Fun Fact: Max will never claim to be normal.



9.12.2013

9.11.2013

Featured Freshman Series: Joe Mastro



Joe Mastro
149/157 lbs.


Yorktown High School (Yorktown Heights, NY)



  • Disney Duals Goal Medal Recipient
  • 3rd Place 2013 NYSPHSAA D1 Championships
  • 5th Place Eastern States 
  • 7th Place Flonationals
  • 2X NYSPHSAA Scholar Athlete
  • 3X Team Captain
  • 47-4 Senior Record
  • 157-32 Career Record
  • 5X High Honor Roll

  • Favorite Movie: Anchorman
  • Favorite Athlete: Thurman Munson
  • Fun Fact: Taught himself to play guitar


9.09.2013

Featured Freshman Series: Peter Renda



Peter Renda
174 lbs.


Brandywine Heights High School (Topton, PA)


  • PIAA AA State Champion
  • 4X PIAA AA State Medalist (7th, 5th, 2nd, 1st)
  • FloNationals Champion
  • Journeyman Classic Champion
  • 3rd Place Super 32
  • Fargo All-American
  • No. 43 overall recruit by FloWrestling
  • No. 5 170 lbs. recruit by FloWrestling
  • 40-0 Senior record
  • 160-22 Career Record

  • Favorite Athlete: Jordan Burroughs
  • Favorite Movie: The Heat
  • Fun Fact: Enjoys playing guitar


9.06.2013

Wolfpack Wrestling in the News

Wolfpack Wrestling received a nod as one of the teams that may surprise people in 2014.  This week's Riordan's Roundup on Intermat puts NC State at #5 on the list of teams to watch.

5. North Carolina State
During the last year Binghamton transfer Nick Gwiazdowski has proven that he is a serious threat to win a national championship at heavyweight, his presence alone vaults the Wolfpack up in these rankings. N.C. State will also enjoy the services of JUCO stud Ryan Fox at 174, as well as NCAA qualifiers Joe DeAngelo at 125, Sam Speno at 133 and Nijel Jones at 165. Combine this with a nice recruiting class and you have the recipe for a big turnaround in Raleigh.

In addition, D1CW recently released part one of this season's Top Wrestlers.  Heavyweight Nick Gwiazdowski comes in at #41 on the list, which is comprised of athletes across all weight classes.

         #41 Nick Gwiazdowski (NC State)
                                                       
                                












               2012 NCAA 8th Place
              2012-13 Redshirt Season
              2012 CAA Champ


9.05.2013

GoPack.com: Pack Wrestling Announces 2013-14 Schedule

Sep 5, 2013
Head coach Pat Popolizio

RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State head coach Pat Popolizio has announced the 2013-14 wrestling schedule, his second season at the helm of the program.



“We are very excited about this upcoming season,” said Popolizio. “Our schedule features three of the most prestigious tournaments in the country. Additionally, we have a dual schedule that will allow us to see some of the best teams in the NCAA.

“Our goal every year is to prepare our athletes to be NCAA Champions and All-Americans. The competition we will face this season will achieve that.”

The Wolfpack opens its campaign hosting the annual Wolfpack Open on November 17, followed by the Wolfpack Duals against Gardner-Webb and UNC Pembroke on November 24.

NC State will then head to a pair of the top tournaments in the country, the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Dec. 6-7) and the Southern Scuffle (Jan. 1-2).

In dual meets at home this season, the Pack will entertain Campbell (Jan. 24), Virginia Tech (Jan. 26), North Carolina (Jan. 31), and Virginia (Feb. 9).

The Pack will also be facing three nationally ranked non-conference teams in dual meets, against Illinois (finished ninth last year) at the Northeast Duals, at Kent State (24th last year) on Jan. 19, and facing Northwestern (17th last year) in Durham on Feb. 22.

The ACC Championships will be held March 8 at Virginia Tech, and the 2014 NCAA Championships take place March 20-22 in Oklahoma City, Okla.

For the complete 2013-14 schedule, click here.



9.04.2013

Season Premiere: Pat's Pop Ins

Our weekly segment with Head Coach Pat Popolizio returns for the 2013-2014 season.  Check out the premiere below, and meet new Volunteer Assistant Matt Kaylor!


In addition, here are a few photos from Packapalooza where the wrestling team spent some time signing autographs.