Previewing the ACC for Sunday and the Collegiate Duals

We have had a couple quieter weeks in the ACC, but the next three days are going to be packed full of high level duals for four squads in the conference. 

We start with Virginia Tech welcoming the Fighting Trees of Stanford into Cassell Coliseum for a non-conference dual that will soon become a conference fixture, when Stanford joins the ACC next season. This has the potential to be a solid dual. We will see two top-10 matchups; at 149 Caleb Henson is 1-0 over Jaden Abas with a win in the dual last year and at 157, Bryce Andonian holds a win over Daniel Cardenas from the CKLV this year. We will also see the return of Sam Latona and Mekhi Lewis who were both injured in the All-Star Classic. The biggest story to watch is the potential return of Cooper Flynn to the lineup at 125; he was pulled from his Olympic Redshirt on Friday. 

#9 Virginia Tech v #23 Stanford

125: Eddie Ventresca OR Cooper Flynn v #4 Nico Provo 

133: #6 Sam Latona v #16 Tyler Knox

141: Mac Church v #27 Jason Miranda

149: #2 Caleb Henson v #10 Jaden Abas

157: #7 Bryce Andonian v #8 Daniel Cardenas

165: #25 Connor Brady v #16 Hunter Garvin

174: #2 Mekhi Lewis v #20 Lorenzo Norman

184: #18 Sam Fisher OR Dakota Howard v Jack Darrah

197: #24 Andy Smith OR Sonny Sasso v #14 Nick Stemmet 

285: #20 Hunter Catka v Peter Ming

North Carolina is coming off a shutout of Morgan State on Saturday and will travel to Boone to face in-state rival Appalachian State on Sunday afternoon. The Tar Heels will look to avenge their upset loss last season to the Mountaineers. Both teams have multiple ranked wrestlers, but none of them will face off against each other in the dual. Lachlan McNeil was in Canada, earning a spot to represent Team Canada for the Olympics, so he will not be available for this dual. 

#26 North Carolina v Appalachian State 

125: #24 Spencer Moore v Chad Bellis

133: Jace Palmer v #20 Ethan Oakley

141: Derek Guanajauto v Kaden Keiser

149: Jayden Scott v #27 Cody Bond

157: Danny Nini v #22 Tommy Askey

165: Isaias Estrada v #32 Will Miller

174: Marcus Murabito v Lucas Uliano

184: #19 Gavin Kane v Thomas Brooker

197: #15 Max Shaw v Hunter Adams

285: Cade Lautt v Jacob Sartorio

Moving into the Collegiate Duals we will see the Panthers in action on Monday and NC State on Tuesday. Pitt will have three solid duals and will face two top-10 dual teams. I’m going to highlight a couple of matches from each dual that will be fun to watch. 

#16 Pitt v #7 Iowa State

Cole Matthews has a chance to build off the momentum from the Ohio State dual against a tough Echemendia. Augustine/Gaitan could have fireworks--both of these guys will let it fly. Dayton Pitzer made noise with an upset of Cohlton Schultz last year; he’ll have another opportunity here against Bastida. 

125: Colton Camacho v #22 Kysen Terukina

133: #23 Vinnie Santaniello v #8 Evan Frost

141: #15 Cole Matthews v #14 Anthony Echemendia

149: #19 Finn Solomon v #7 Casey Swiderski

157: Jared Keslar v #21 Cody Chittum

165: #8 Holden Heller v #4 David Carr

174: #17 Luca Augustine v #22 MJ Gaitan

184: #14 Reece Heller v #5 Will Feldkamp

197: #17 Mac Stout v #25 Julien Broaderson

285: #10 Dayton Pitzer v #3 Yonger Bastida

#16 Pitt v #3 Cornell

I’m keeping a close eye on the Heller brothers against Cornell. Holden faces Julian Ramirez and Reece has Chris Foca. They are both underdogs but I like the style matchups for both of them to have potential upsets. Another upset opportunity is at 197 with Mac Stout facing Jacob Cardenas. I’d love to see Stout open up and show his offensive skill against a stingy Cardenas. 

125: Colton Camacho v #5 Brett Ungar

133: #23 Vinnie Santaniello v #2 Vito Arujau

141: #15 Cole Matthews v #16 Vince Cornella

149: #19 Finn Solomon v Ethan Fernandez

157: Jared Keslar v #15 Meyer Shapiro

165: #8 Holden Heller v #3 Julian Ramirez

174: #17 Luca Augustine v Benny Baker

184: #14 Reece Heller v #9 Chris Foca

197: #17 Mac Stout v #7 Jacob Cardenas

285: #10 Dayton Pitzer v #19 Lewis Fernandes

#16 Pitt v Little Rock

Little Rock is a scrappy squad and they won’t back down from anyone. There will be some fun matches in this one. Santaniello versus Bailey at 133 will be wide open and could see a lot of points on the board. Augustine will have another tough match with an opportunity for an upset over Tyler Brennan. Mac Stout will face his third ranked opponent in Stephen Little who is having a great year so far. 

125: Colton Camacho v Jeremiah Reno

133: #23 Vinnie Santaniello v #21 Nasir Bailey

141: #15 Cole Matthews v Brennan Van Hoecke

149: #19 Finn Solomon v Kyle Dutton

157: Jared Keslar v #28 Matty Bianchi

165: #8 Holden Heller v Bilal Bailey

174: #17 Luca Augustine v #15 Tyler Brennan

184: #14 Reece Heller v Tristan Wills

197: #17 Mac Stout v #13 Stephen Little

285: #10 Dayton Pitzer v #27 Josiah Hill

#2 NC State v #8 Ohio State

This is one of the marquee matchups of the Collegiate Duals and will have some very entertaining matches. The Buckeyes are coming off an upset loss to Pitt and will be looking to cement their spot in the top-10 against a deep Wolfpack squad. Orine versus Bouzakis could be a high-scoring match; both of them have a high pace and are constantly on the attack. Ryan Jack and Jesse Mendez is a style clash; Jack will be looking to slow down the dangerous Mendez who is coming off a loss to Cole Matthews. Arrington versus D’Emilio will also be a high-paced match with two very evenly matched wrestlers. I’m very interested in watching Fishback against Hoffman. It pits youth versus experience with the freshman against the sixth-year senior; Hoffman is also a very large 184, so I’m watching to see how Fishback handles that. 

125: #1Jakob Camacho v #26 Brendan McCrone

133: #5 Kai Orine v #12 Nic Bouzakis

141: #4 Ryan Jack v #3 Jesse Mendez

149: #5 Jackson Arrington v #4 Dylan D’Emilio

157: #6 Ed Scott v #13 Paddy Gallagher

165: AJ Kovacs v #21 Isaac Wilcox

174: #23 Alex Faison v #9 Carson Kharchla

184: #15 Dylan Fishback v #16 Gavin Hoffman

197: #4 Trent Hidlay v #23 Luke Geog

285: #17 Owen Trephan v #18 Nick Feldman

#2 NC State v # 21 Northern Iowa

The Panthers are coming off an upset loss to Columbia and will be looking to make a statement at the Collegiate Duals. They have a lot of talent in the lineup and are always a scrappy team who will go hard for the full seven minutes. There are a few matches to keep your eye on here. Ryan Jack will have another tough matchup against Cael Happel who is coming off an upset loss. Ed Scott has a lot of positive momentum after a slower start to the year, he will face a dangerous Ryder Downey. Dylan Fishback will have a huge test, facing #1 Parker Keckeisen; this will be a great measuring stick to see where Fishback stacks up against the best in the weight.

125: #1 Jakob Camacho v #32 Trever Anderson

133: #5 Kai Orine v #17 Julian Farber

141: #4 Ryan Jack v #9 Cael Happel

149: #5 Jackson Arrington v Adam Allard

157: #6 Ed Scott v #12 Ryder Downey

165: AJ Kovacs v Jack Thomsen

174: #23 Alex Faison v #32 Lance Runyon

184: #15 Dylan Fishback v #1 Parker Keckeisen

197: #4 Trent Hidlay v #19 Wyatt Voelker

285: #17 Owen Trephan v #9 Tyrell Gordon

#2 NC State v Lock Haven

There is really only one matchup that everyone will be looking forward to in this dual. #1 Jakob Camacho against #2 Anthony Noto. They are former teammates, with Noto transferring two years ago. They know each other well and will both be coming out ready to scrap. This dual got chippy last year at one of the Journeymen events, and I expect that the Wolfpack will be looking to make a statement win here. 

125: #1 Jakob Camacho v #2 Anthony Noto

133: #5 Kai Orine v Gable Strickland

141: #4 Ryan Jack v Zack Zeamer

149: #5 Jackson Arrington v Nick Stonecheck

157: #6 Ed Scott v Connor Eck

165: AJ Kovacs v Eric Alderfer

174: #23 Alex Faison v Tyler Stolzfus

184: #15 Dylan Fishback v Colin Fegey

197: #4 Trent Hidlay v Brad Morrison

285: #17 Owen Trephan v Ethan Miller