NC State Wrestling: September 2013

9.30.2013

Flowrestling catches up with Coach Beasley

Check out the Flowrestling videos below from the Journeymen Classic. The first is an interview with Coach Beasley, and the second is a feature on Coach Popolizio & his high school alma mater, Niskayuna High School.

Watch more video of Journeymen Classic on flowrestling.org

Watch more video of Journeymen Classic on flowrestling.org

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.

9.26.2013

#PackMentality Rewind: Sylvester Terkay

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.

9.19.2013

#PackMentality Rewind: 2005 Victory over UNC

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.

9.17.2013

Pat's Pop Ins

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

#PackMentality Rewind: Matt Reiss

Today we're introducing a new segment, #PackMentality Rewind. These videos will highlight the careers of former Wolfpack Wrestlers.

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

9.10.2013

Pat's Pop Ins

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

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!