Mentality Monday

Photos from Campbell & VMI Duals

I finally got caught up on posting photos to the Photos page.  Full albums from the Wolfpack Open, Southern Scuffle, VMI Dual, and Campbell Dual are now linked.  Below is a small collection of photos, in addition to the GoPack press release from last night's victories.

Nereim vs. VMI (157)

Davis vs. VMI (174)

Peltier vs. VMI (184)

Cook vs. VMI (197)

Kosoy vs. VMI (HWT)

Gabriel vs. VMI (165)

Gantt vs. Campbell (149)

Jones vs. Campbell (184)

DeAngelo vs. VMI (125)

Speno vs. Campbell (133)

Hunt vs. VMI (141)

Jan. 9, 2013

Buies Creek, N.C. -

After starting the 2012-13 season with five straight tournaments, the NC State wrestling team competed in its first dual meets of the season Wednesday night. The Pack got the season off to a 2-0 start, first defeated VMI 35-6 and then downing host Campbell 27-13 at Gore Arena in Buies Creek.

In the Pack’s two victories, NC State collected two falls and eight major decisions in winning 16 of the 20 matches on the evening.

NC State (2-0) started its evening winning nine of 10 matches in its 35-6 win over VMI (0-4) . The Pack recorded one fall and five major decision wins in its nine wins for six bonus point victories.

The Pack got off to a fast start against VMI, winning its first four matches and jumping out to an 18-0 lead, with all four matches being controlled by NC State wrestlers from the start.

The meet started at 149 pounds, with sophomore Thomas Gantt getting the scoring started with a fall at 2:36 and giving the Pack a quick 6-0 lead and a lead it would never surrender.

The Pack then recorded three straight major decisions, and five in the next seven matches overall.

2012 NCAA qualified Matt Nereim recorded a 15-5 major decision at 157 pounds, then redshirt-freshman Mardel Gabriel jumped up one weight class to 165 pounds and brought home a 13-4 major decision, followed by freshman Patrick Davis’ 16-5 major decision win at 174 pounds to give the Pack an 18-0 lead.

Redshirt-freshman Bret Peltier, at 184 pounds, suffered the Pack’s first set-back, getting pinned and VMI was on the board at 18-6.

Sophomore Bill Cook got the Pack going again at 197 pounds, winning 7-4 to increase the Pack’s lead to 21-6.

NC State then recorded back-to-back major decisions. Feshman Mike Kosoy earned a 12-2 major decision at 285 pounds, and then junior Joe DeAngelo made his Wolfpack debut with a 16-4 major decision at 125 pounds.

The Pack closed out the win over VMI with freshman Sam Speno winning 8-3 at 133 pounds, and classmate Tyler Hunt also making his Wolfpack debut with a 8-2 win at 141 pounds.

NC State and Campbell (2-5) also opened at 149 pounds, with NC State’s Gantt started the Pack off strong once again with his 15-6 major decision to give the Pack an early 4-0 lead.

Nereim at 157 pounds also picked up his second win of the night, with a 6-4 win pushing the lead up to 7-0 after two bouts.

Campbell got on the board with a major decision at 165 pounds over Gabriel, 14-4 to close the score to 7-4.

The Pack answered with back-to-back wins. Davis also recorded his second win of the night at 174 pounds, a 15-5 major decisions. Junior Nijel Jones jumped up two weight classes to 184 pounds, and won 8-4 to push the Pack’s lead to 14-4 after five bouts.

Campbell would record a fall at 197 pounds over State’s Cook and close the gap to 14-10.

At 285 pounds, Kosoy continued the Pack’s winning ways with a 2-1 win in extra time. After no takedowns in overtime, Kosoy earned an escape to pick up three team points and push the lead up to 17-10.

Campbell answered right back with a 4-3 win at 125 pounds over DeAngelo to bring the score to 17-13.

Speno clinched the match for the Pack with a 14-3 major decision increasing the Pack’s lead to 21-13. NC State closed out the evening just as it start, with Hunt picking up a fall at 4:58 for the decisive score of 27-13.

The Pack will return to action this Saturday, traveling to Gardner-Webb for a dual meet against the Bulldogs at 6:30 p.m.

NCSU 35, VMI 6
149: Gantt (NCSU) pin Stewart; 2:36
157: Nereim (NCSU) MD Gottwald; 15-5 
165: Gabriel (NCSU) MD Darr; 13-4
174: Davis (NCSU) MD Dommert; 16-5
184: Jones (VMI) pin Peltier; 3:29 
197: Cook (NCSU) dec. Garcia; 7-4 
285: Kosoy (NCSU) MD LaPrade; 12-2
125: DeAngelo (NCSU) MD Herrera; 16-4
133: Speno (NCSU) dec. Onufruyenko; 8-3
141: Hunt (NCSU) dec. Goodsell; 8-2

NCSU 27, Campbell 13
149: Gantt (NCSU) MD Jorge; 15-6
157: Nereim (NCSU) dec. Rex; 6-4
165: Duggan (Cam) MD Gabriel; 14-4
174: Davis (NCSU) MD Cox; 15-5
184: Jones (NCSU) dec. McGiffen’ 8-4
197: Merickel (Cam) pin Cook; 1:04
285: Kosoy (NCSU) SV3 Nolan, 2-1
125: Montoya (Cam) dec. DeAngelo; 5-4
133: Speno (NCSU) MD Bidelspach; 14-3
141: Hunt (NCSU) pin Dahlstrom; 4:58

Ranking Roundup

Check out this week's Ranking Roundup!

Amateur Wrestling News 12.11.12 
#20 Nijel Jones (165)

Amateur Wrestling News Redshirt/Non-Starter Rankings 12.06.12
#1 Nick Gwiazdowski (Hwt)

Wrestling Report 12.10.12
#26 Nijel Jones (165)

Wrestling Report Atlantic Rankings 12.12.12
#22 Sam Speno (133)
#21 Matt Nereim (157)
#13 Nijel Jones (165)
#25 Patrick Davis (174)

Ranking Roundup

Not much movement from the preseason rankings to this week, since most of the Pack (non-redshirts) has yet to compete. Check out this week's Ranking Roundup...

D1 College Wrestling ACC Rankings
10.31.2012
#6 NC State
#2 157lbs. Matt Nereim
#4 165lbs. Nijel Jones
#3 285lbs. Eloheim Palma


WIN Tournament Power Index (TPI)
10.30.2012
#35 NC State (tie with Navy)

WIN Individual Ranking
10.30.2012
#8 HWT Nick Gwiazdowski (Redshirting 2012-2013 season)

Atlantic Regional DI Rankings
10.13.2012
#15 157 Matt Nereim
#19 165 Nijel Jones
#18 HWT Eloheim Palma

Ranking Roundup

This initial Ranking Roundup may have fewer polls than Roundups in the future.  Many ranking services have prepared preseason rankings, but others are waiting until the season gets going to begin the greuling task of ranking our sport's best teams and individuals.  In addition, we expect to see many more Wolfpackers in the rankings in the near future!

WIN Preseason Tournament Power Index (TPI)
09.13.2012
#35 NC State (tie with Navy)

WIN Preseason Individual Ranking
09.13.2012
#8 HWT Nick Gwiazdowski (Redshirting 2012-2013 season)

Atlantic Regional DI Rankings
10.13.2012
#15 157 Matt Nereim
#19 165 Nijel Jones
#18 HWT Eloheim Palma

Wrestling Report NCAA DI Ranking
09.29.2012
#33 157 Matt Nereim

Pride of the PACK: Matt Nereim

Matt Nereim - 157 lbs. (JR)

Winter Springs High School (Winter Springs, FL)

Q: Why did you choose to come to NCSU? 

A: I chose to come to NCSU for the great weather and chance to wrestle Division I.

Q: What is the best class you've had at NCSU?

A: Acting class I took my freshman year.

Q: What is your favorite moment/memory at NCSU? 

A: My favorite moment so far was pinning Jon Burns in our home dual against UNC.

Q: What is your greatest/proudest athletic achievement?

A: Getting to be in Sports Illustrated March Madness edition.

Q: Who is/are your wrestling role model(s)?
A: My wrestling role model is my older brother, although he did not have the greatest career, he had more heart than anyone I've ever seen wrestle.

Q:What is your favorite place to eat one campus?

A: The Atrium

Q: What is your favorite thing to do on the weekends?

A: Kick it with my roommate & relax.

Q: How do you unwind after a tough workout?

A:  I enjoy going home and taking a nap before I have to head off to study hall.

Q: What song gets you pumped up before a big match?

A: Roscoe Dash - he's always got something upbeat and catchy

Q: What is your favorite professional sports team?

A: Miami Lebron's.. I mean, Miami Heat.

To see Matt's GoPack biography, click here.