CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Led by individual titles by Kevin Jack, Thomas Gantt, Max Rohdskopf and Nick Gwiazdowski second-ranked NC State claimed its first Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestling Championship since 2007 and 15th overall, as the Wolfpack totaled 90 points in winning the 2016 ACC Wrestling Championship at Virginia's John Paul Jones Arena Sunday night.
Virginia Tech finished second with 81.5 points, followed by North Carolina (56.5), Virginia (44), Duke (33) and Pitt (31).
"An ACC Championship means a lot to this program," said NC State head coach Pat Popolizio. "From coming in last place a year ago, to winning the title this year, its been a long time coming.
"For all of the work that we put in each day, we are seeing the results and looking forward to the NCAAs. We're extremely happy with today's result. It was a total team effort. Guys stepped up to the plate and we won a lot of matches we knew we would have to win to have a chance at the team title today. We were able to do that at 133 and 149 today. Those head-to-head matchups are key and we were able to win them today."
"You forget how good this is because you have two teams who are doing really well right now, but all the teams are so competitive. It's a special day for NC State wrestling."
"We have eight guys, which is big. I think we rival any team in the country with the numbers. I don't know how the other conferences played out, but we can't be far off in that aspect. If we want to make a run at the NCAA Tournament we have to have another total team effort. I'm excited about where we're at coming off the last few dual meets and this tournament."
Gwiazdowski, a senior from Delanson, N.Y., was named the Most Valuable Wrestler of the Championship, continuing his nation's-best unbeaten streak to 84 consecutive matches. He is the No. 1 rated wrestler at 285 and and a two-time national champion. The title for Gwiazdowski was his third straight
"Being recognized by all of the coaches from one of the premier wrestling conferences is really special," said Gwiazdowski. "It is an award for the team, the hard work and the fight we gave out there in bringing home the title."
Jack, a sophomore from Danbury, Conn., defeated Virginia Tech's Solomon Chishko, 3-2, to take the ACC title at 141 pounds. Gannt, a redshirt senior from Cahokia, Ill, claimed the title at 157 pounds, downing Tech's Nick Brascetta, 3-1. Rohskopf, a junior from Kilbuck, Ohio, defeated North Carolina's John Michael Staudenmeyer, 1-0, to capture the 165-pound crown. Rohskopf's win was his second of the year by a 1-0 score over Staudenmeyer.
Virginia's George DiCamillo also captured his third ACC wrestling title at 133 pounds. DiCamillo, a redshirt junior from highland Heights, Ohio, won ACC crowns at 133 in 2013 and 2015, in addition to his win this year.
Virginia Tech's Joey Dance, a redshirt junior from Christiansburg, Virginia, wrestling at 125 pounds, was one of three wrestlers who won their second ACC wrestling title. He was joined by North Carolina's Evan Henderson (149), a junior from New Florence, Pennsylvania, and Duke's Conner Hartmann (197), a senior from Orchard Park, Washington.
North Carolina, which finished third in the team competition, had two ACC titlists with sophomore Ethan Ramos, Joining Henderson. Ramos captured the individual championship at 174 pounds.
Virginia Tech led all ACC teams with seven wrestlers named to the All-ACC Wrestling team, which was composed of all wrestlers who earned a berth in the finals. NC State was second with six All-ACC honorees, followed by North Carolina (3), Duke (2) and Pitt and Virginia with one each.
A total of 34 ACC wrestlers earned automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament, which will be held March 17-19 in Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Earning automatic NCAA bids were:
125: Joey Dance, Virginia Tech, Sean Fausz, NC State; LJ Bentley, Pitt; Nick Herrmann, Virginia.
133: George DiCamillo, Virginia; Dom Forys, Pitt; Jamal Morris, NC State.
141: Kevin Jack, NC State; Solomon Chishko, Virginia Tech, Joey Ward, North Carolina; Zach Finesilver, Duke.
149--Evan Henderson, North Carolina; Mitch Finesilver, Duke
157: Thomas Gantt, NC State; Nick Brascetta, Virginia Tech; Robert Henderson, North Carolina.
165: Max Rohskopf, NC State; john Michael Staudenmeyer, North Carolina; David McFadden, Virginia Tech; Cody Wiercioch, Pitt; Jake Faust, Duke.
174: Ethan Ramos, North Carolina; Zach Epperly, Virginia Tech.
184: Zach Zavatsky, Virginia tech; Pete Renda, NC State; Alex Utley, North Carolina.
197: Conner Hartmann, Duke; Jared Haught, Virginia Tech; Michael Boylkin, NC State; Zach Nye, Virginia; Nick Bonaccorsi, Pitt.
285: Nick Gwiazdowski, NC State; Ty Walz, Virginia Tech; Ryan Solomon, Pitt.
Standings:
NC State 90
Virginia Tech 81.5
North Carolina 56.5
Virginia 44
Duke 33
Pitt 31
Most Valuable Wrestler: Nick Gwiazdwoski, NC State
Finals Results:
125: Joey Dance (Virginia Tech) dec. Sean Fausz (NC State), 5-1
133: George DiCamillo (Virginia) dec. Dom Forys (Pitt), 8-4
141: Kevin Jack (NC State) dec. Solomon Chishko (Virginia Tech), 3-2
149: Evan Henderson (North Carolina) dec. Mitch Finesilver (Duke), 8-3
157--Thomas Gantt (NC State) dec. Nick Brascetta (Virginia Tech), 3-1
165: Max Rohskopf (NC State) dec. John Michael Staudenmeyer (North Carolina), 1-0
174: Ethan Ramos (North Carolina) dec. Zach Epperly (Virginia Tech), 3-2
184: Zack Zavatsky (Virginia Tech) dec. Pete Renda (NC State), 5-2
197: Conner Hartmann (Duke) dec. Jared Haught (Virginia Tech), 4-2
285: Nick Gwiazdowski (NC State) dec. Ty Walz (Virginia Tech), 5-2
2016 All-ACC Wrestling Team:
Joey Dance, Virginia Tech (125)
Sean Fausz, NC State (125)
George DiCamillo, Virginia (133)
Dom Forys, Pitt (133)
Kevin Jack, NC State (141)
Solomon Chishko, Virginia Tech (141)
Mitch Finesilver, Duke (149)
Evan Henderson, North Carolina (149)
Nick Brascetta, Virginia Tech (157)
Thomas Gantt, NC State (157)
Max Rohskopf, NC State (165)
John Michael Staudenmeyer, North Carolina (165)
Ethan Ramos, North Carolina (174)
Zach Epperly, Virginia Tech (174)
Zack Zavatsky, Virginia Tech (184)
Pete Renda, NC State (184)
Jared Haught, Virginia Tech (197)
Conner Hartmann, Duke (197)
Nick Gwiazdowksi, NC State (285)
Ty Walz, Virginia Tech (285)
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