North Carolina State University Athletics
@PackWrestle to Host Wrestle-Offs and Open Practice Saturday
11/1/2017 9:12:00 AM | Wrestling
2017-18 Schedule | Buy Tickets | Pack Starts Season Ranked #8
RALEIGH, N.C. – Before the NC State-Clemson football game this Saturday, the NC State Wrestling team will hold its annual wrestle-offs and an open practice right across the street at the Close-King Indoor Practice Facility.
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Admission is free and doors open at 12:30 p.m. Since this is before a football game, you must have a football parking pass to park around the facility. If you do not have a pass, the NC State Vet School is the closest pay lot.
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"It is going to be a fun afternoon of action leading up to the big football game," said head coach Pat Popolizio. "We will be wrestling some of our weight classes, and our other guys will be working out and having exhibitions.
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"We will have a lot of alums there too, so it's the prefect stop before you head into Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday. We want fans to come out and watch us in action, and also want them to interact both with our coaches and our student-athletes."
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NC State will be contesting three weight classes on the day: 133, 149 and 285 pounds.
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Four wrestlers will be in action for the starting spot at 133 pounds. Among them, a pair will both be seeing their first action in a NC State singlet this year after redshirting last year, redshirt freshmen Tariq Wilson and Kellen Devlin. Wilson was a top-100 recruit out of high school, and went 21-7 last year as a redshirt placing in the top three in five of six tournaments. Devlin was also nationally ranked by two publications, and went 12-11 at 141 as a redshirt. The other two in action at 133 also redshirt last season, redshirt-junior Jamel Morris went 11-9 and redshirt-sophomore Will Clark was 13-9.
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At 149 pounds, four wrestlers will be in action as well. Redshirt-junior Jamal Morris will make the jump from 133 pounds this season, as he was a NCAA qualifier two years in a row at 133, and was 22-11 last year earning All-ACC honors. Redshirt-junior Sam Melikian returns to the lineup after redshirting last year, going 10-3 in open tournaments. Redshirt-senior Robbie Rizzolino saw action in open tournaments at both 133 and 141 last year, and fellow redshirt-senior Jake DeAngelo returns to the Wolfpack squad after not competing last season. Redshirt-senior Beau Donahue will be in the mix as the season progresses, as he is currently out of action.
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At 285 pounds, a pair of former NCAA qualifiers at 197 pounds will be competing for the starting job. Senior Michael Boykin moved up to 285 last season, and went 18-9. Redshirt-junior Malik McDonald was an NCAA qualifier at 197 last year with a 20-11 record, and moves up to 285 this year.
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Seniors Kevin Jack and Pete Renda will be in attendance in the early portion of the open practice, as they will both be leaving to fly to New Jersey to wrestle in the NWCA All-Star Classic on Sunday.
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In addition, former NC State national champion Nick Gwiazdowski will also be on hand on Saturday. This summer, he won Bronze at the World Championships in Paris.
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Representatives from the ticket office will also be there to take orders, as both season tickets and individual duals are currently on sale. You can also buy tickets by clicking HERE.
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RALEIGH, N.C. – Before the NC State-Clemson football game this Saturday, the NC State Wrestling team will hold its annual wrestle-offs and an open practice right across the street at the Close-King Indoor Practice Facility.
Â
Admission is free and doors open at 12:30 p.m. Since this is before a football game, you must have a football parking pass to park around the facility. If you do not have a pass, the NC State Vet School is the closest pay lot.
Â
"It is going to be a fun afternoon of action leading up to the big football game," said head coach Pat Popolizio. "We will be wrestling some of our weight classes, and our other guys will be working out and having exhibitions.
Â
"We will have a lot of alums there too, so it's the prefect stop before you head into Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday. We want fans to come out and watch us in action, and also want them to interact both with our coaches and our student-athletes."
Â
NC State will be contesting three weight classes on the day: 133, 149 and 285 pounds.
Â
Four wrestlers will be in action for the starting spot at 133 pounds. Among them, a pair will both be seeing their first action in a NC State singlet this year after redshirting last year, redshirt freshmen Tariq Wilson and Kellen Devlin. Wilson was a top-100 recruit out of high school, and went 21-7 last year as a redshirt placing in the top three in five of six tournaments. Devlin was also nationally ranked by two publications, and went 12-11 at 141 as a redshirt. The other two in action at 133 also redshirt last season, redshirt-junior Jamel Morris went 11-9 and redshirt-sophomore Will Clark was 13-9.
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At 149 pounds, four wrestlers will be in action as well. Redshirt-junior Jamal Morris will make the jump from 133 pounds this season, as he was a NCAA qualifier two years in a row at 133, and was 22-11 last year earning All-ACC honors. Redshirt-junior Sam Melikian returns to the lineup after redshirting last year, going 10-3 in open tournaments. Redshirt-senior Robbie Rizzolino saw action in open tournaments at both 133 and 141 last year, and fellow redshirt-senior Jake DeAngelo returns to the Wolfpack squad after not competing last season. Redshirt-senior Beau Donahue will be in the mix as the season progresses, as he is currently out of action.
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At 285 pounds, a pair of former NCAA qualifiers at 197 pounds will be competing for the starting job. Senior Michael Boykin moved up to 285 last season, and went 18-9. Redshirt-junior Malik McDonald was an NCAA qualifier at 197 last year with a 20-11 record, and moves up to 285 this year.
Â
Seniors Kevin Jack and Pete Renda will be in attendance in the early portion of the open practice, as they will both be leaving to fly to New Jersey to wrestle in the NWCA All-Star Classic on Sunday.
Â
In addition, former NC State national champion Nick Gwiazdowski will also be on hand on Saturday. This summer, he won Bronze at the World Championships in Paris.
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Representatives from the ticket office will also be there to take orders, as both season tickets and individual duals are currently on sale. You can also buy tickets by clicking HERE.
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