“That win was for the team,” said Botwin. “I wanted to beat him. I lost to him earlier and I knew it was going to come down to me when I saw the other two scores before me. Coach [Lanham] said before I went out ‘This is what little kids dream about’ and he’s right. I did that for the team.”
Duke (5-1) got off to a fast start, winning each of the first three bouts for a 9-0 advantage and led by as many as 12, before NC State (7-3) roared back to take a 17-15 lead heading into the final match of the night.
Trailing 15-3 with four bouts remaining, the Wolfpack picked up three straight wins with bonus points to grab its first lead of the night 17-15 heading into the heart-stopping performance from Duke’s Botwin.
“This match was a gut check for everyone,” said head coach Glen Lanham. “Everybody wrestled hard. Win or lose. It was a gut check for our team. I’m going to give them off tomorrow and then we’re going to go back and focus and we have another ACC dual Sunday. Words can’t describe it. Coaches dream about moments like this. It keeps a coach going. I’m five years younger right now.”
Speno, already owning a win on the year against Botwin, used a pair of early takedowns for a 4-1 advantage after the first period. Starting the second period on top, Botwin was able to get the tilt for 3 nearfall points to tie the match. The Chestnut Hill, Pa., native, confident in his ability on top, took a lead on a second stalling call and rode out the final four minutes of the match for the clinching victory.
“After I got the tilt I wasn’t thinking anything, just next points and I have to get back on top and can’t give up any points. I knew it was close and I just drove him back flat. I saw everyone on their feet cheering and that gave me inspiration to do it for them.”
Redshirt freshman Jake Faust joined Botwin in the exciting victories column, upsetting No. 15 Max Rohskopf in a 3-2 decision to cap Duke’s great start out of the gates. Redshirt seniors Marcus Cain and Immanuel Kerr-Brown garnered the first two wins of the night at 149 and 157 pounds, respectively.
Faust, after a fantastic first period, scored on a reversal in the second period for the 2-0 lead. A locking hands penalty on Rohskopf gave Faust the 3-0 lead and the Bellville, Ohio native held off the fellow Ohioan for the victory to cap Duke’s great start out of the gates.
Cain opened the dual at 149 pounds with a hard-fought 5-3 decision over Brian Hamann. Cain grabbed the lead in the first period and never relinquished it en route to his 11th win of the year. Kerr-Brown used a thrilling sequence in the second period to come away with a 4-3 decision. Trailing 3-0 midway through the second stanza, Kerr-Brown escaped and seconds later took down Chad Pyke. Kerr-Brown escaped seconds into the third period and held off Pyke’s shots in the closing 90 seconds for the win.
The Blue Devils nearly took a 12-0 lead as redshirt junior Trey Adamson suffered a heart-breaking 6-5 decision to Pete Renda. After trailing 4-0 in the second period, Adamson rallied to take a 5-4 advantage with an escape and takedown late in the third period. However, a second stalling call against Adamson and an ensuing escape by Renda put the Wolfpack sophomore ahead for NC State’s first win of the night.
Jacob Kasper gave the Blue Devils another three points to make it 12-3 with a 3-2 decision over Nicky Hall. The sophomore used a gutsy third period of riding to build his riding time to over a minute and give him his 16th win of the year and second career ACC victory.
With Duke leading 12-3, All-American Conner Hartmann extended the Blue Devils’ lead to 12, with a 9-4 decision over Michael Boykin before NC State raced into the lead. Hartmann lead 6-2 in the third and looked like he might go for the major decision before Boykin made it interesting when he pulled within two, 6-4. The redshirt junior finished with a takedown in the final 15 seconds to come away with his fourth career ACC win.
The Blue Devils continue their ACC schedule Sunday, Jan. 11 at the Pitt Duals. Duke will wrestle ACC foe Pittsburgh and non-conference opponents Eastern Michigan and Lock Haven.
Results:
149: Marcus Cain (Duke) decision Brian Hamann (NCSU), 5-3 Duke 3, NC State 0
157: Immanuel Kerr-Brown (Duke) decision Chad Pyke (NCSU), 4-3 Duke 6, NC State 0
165: Jake Faust (Duke) decision No. 15 Max Rohskopf (NCSU), 3-2 Duke 9, NC State 0
174: Pete Renda (NCSU) decision Trey Adamson (Duke), 6-5 Duke 9, NC State 3
184: Jacob Kasper (Duke) decision Nicky Hall (NCSU), 3-2 Duke 12, NC State 3
197: No. 5 Conner Hartmann (Duke) decision Michael Boykin (NCSU), 9-4 Duke 15, NC State 3
285: No. 3 Nick Gwiazdowski (NCSU) fall Brendan Walsh (Duke), 1:08 Duke 15, NC State 9
125: Joe DeAngelo (NCSU) major dec. Thayer Atkins (Duke), 14-4 Duke 15, NC State 13
133: Bryce Meredith (NCSU) major dec. Bailey Jack (Duke), 12-1 Duke 15, NC State 17
141: Evan Botwin (Duke) decision No. 17 Sam Speno (NCSU), 6-4 Duke 18, NC State 17
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