2025 ACC Championships Finals Preview

It has been a busy day in Durham and the ACC Championships have been wild as usual. The team race has separated a bit but isn’t out of reach with Virginia Tech holding a 18 point lead over NC State. We will start the matches at 157 and end the night with the returning NCAA Champ Caleb Henson facing two-time All-American Lachlan McNeil.

Team Scores:

Virginia Tech: 75.5

NC State: 57.5

Pittsburgh: 53.5

Stanford: 40

North Carolina: 34.5

Virginia: 33.5

Duke: 1.5

157

Finalists:Rafael Hipolito, Virginia Tech v Ed Scott, North Carolina State

3rd/4th:Sonny Santiago, North Carolina v Dylan Evans, Pittsburgh

Hipolito won their dual matchup in an uncommonly low scoring bout for both wrestlers, 3-2. Scott and Hipolito both have dynamic offenses and this could be an incredible way to kick off the finals. 

165

Finalists:Nick Hamilton, Virginia v Hunter Garvin, Stanford

3rd/4th:Derek Fields, North Carolina State v Mac Church, Virginia Tech

The final will feature the reigning ACC Champion in Nick Hamilton against All-American Hunter Garvin who is looking for the first ACC title for Stanford. They are both very technically sound wrestlers and this should be a tight bout.

174

Finalists: Matty Singleton, North Carolina State v Luca Augustine, Pittsburgh

3rd/4th: Lennox Wolak, Virginia Tech v Josh Ogunsanya, North Carolina

Not only do we have one surprise finalist here, we have two! Matty Singleton entered as the 4 seed, taking out returning All-American Lennox Wolak and 1-seed Josh Ogunsanya to reach his first ACC finals. Luca Augustine came from the 3 seed and took out 2 seed Lorenzo Norman for his first finals appearance. 

184

Finalists: Reece Heller, Pittsburgh v Dylan Fishback, North Carolina State

3rd/4th: Gavin Kane, North Carolina v TJ Stewart, Virginia Tech

Heller won a close decision in the dual, but Fishback has been wrestling his best the past few weeks. This should be a good one. 

197

Finalists: Mac Stout, Pittsburgh v Nick Stemmet, Stanford

3rd/4th: Andy Smith, Virginia Tech v Stephen Burrell, Jr. Virginia 

Mac Stout has been on an absolute tear since mid-November and is looking to continue that momentum all the way to an ACC title. Stemmet has looked tough all day and this match should be an absolute scrap. 

285

Finalists: Jimmy Mullen, Virginia Tech v Dayton Pitzer, Pittsburgh

3rd/4th: Peter Ming, Stanford v Nolan Neves, North Carolina

Mullen has looked fantastic all ACC season, his lone loss was to Isaac Trumble. Most people expected a rematch there but Dayton Pitzer was able to upset Trumble in the semis to get his shot at a title. Not to take anything away from PItzer, he has looked solid all day, but Trumble injury defaulted out of the tournament following that match. 

125

Finalists: Eddie Ventresca, Virginia Tech v Vince Robinson, North Carolina State

3rd/4th: Nick Babin, Pittsburgh v Keyveon Roller, Virginia

This should be another gem of a match. Round one was won on a late takedown from Ventresca and both of them have looked fantastic today. Both of them are very quick and can attack from anywhere. This has the makings of an NCAA medal match. 

133

Finalists: Conor McGonagle, Virginia Tech v Kai Orine, North Carolina State

3rd/4th: Tyler Knox, Stanford v Ethan Oakley, North Carolina (3 Allocations)

Kai Orine went from a 4 seed and not earning an allocation to his 3rd straight ACC final. McGonagle was the two seed and battled through a couple tight bouts to make his first ACC title bout. McGonagle took a decision win in the dual a couple weeks ago, but it was a battle, and I expect the same tonight. 

141

Finalists: Sam Latona, Virginia Tech v Dylan Cedeno, Virginia

3rd/4th: Briar Priest, Pittsburgh v Jason Miranda, Stanford

Latona has showcased his defense all day but will need to open up his offense to take round two against Dylan Cedeno. Latona is making his fourth ACC final appearance and has one ACC title. Cedeno only has one loss on the year--to Latona--and is looking to avenge it for his first ACC title. 

149

Finalists: Caleb Henson, Virginia Tech v Lachlan McNeil, North Carolina

3rd/4th: Koy Buesgens, North Carolina State v Jack Gioffre, Virginia

They made the right choice putting this match last. These two have been on a collision course for this match all season. We haven’t seen this match this year, Henson was out with an injury during the opening week of ACC competition when they squared off. Both are two-time All-Americans, Henson at 149 and McNeil at 141. Get the popcorn ready for this one.