This lineup was a little complicated to sort out with some wrestlers coming back from redshirt seasons and several moving weight classes.
125 – Cox (Jr)
Cox began last season as the starter before giving way to Fausz. He had a 17-7 record (no wins vs top 20 wrestlers).
133 – Fausz (Sr)
A 3-time NCAA qualifier @125 going 1-2 in 2016 and 2-2 in 2017. He was the 5 seed in 2018 @125 and went 1-2 (15-4 season record).
133/141 – Wilson (So)
The biggest surprise of last year’s tournament. Unseeded Wilson (he had a 27-10 season record) defeated #5 Erneste and #4 Brock before taking #1 Gross to the brink in the semis. He did Penn State a solid and defeated Pletcher for 3rd place. It’s crazy to think that this year he may not even make the starting lineup with Fausz moving to 133 and Morris at 141. I don’t know if he can squeeze down to 125.
141 – Morris (Sr)
He went 28-5 in open tournaments last year (mostly @133), including 2 wins against Tariq Wilson. Morris is looking to replace 3-time AA Kevin Jack (6th in 2018, 3rd in 2017, r12 in 2016, 5th in 2015).
149 – Oliver (Sr)
A 3-time qualifier and 1-time AA, Oliver transfers in from Central Michigan taking over for Donahue who went 1-2 at last year’s tournament. Oliver was r12 as the #6 seed last year, r12 in 2017, #7 in 2016.
157 – Hidlay (So)
A great season for Hidlay ending in the final against Nolf. He had a 26-1 season record. I wouldn’t bet against another finals rematch.
165 – Thomas Bullard (So)
A qualifier in 2017 @157 (going 0-2), Bullard returns from his redshirt year to take over for Hamann who did not qualify for the tournament last year.
174 – Daniel Bullard (So)
Daniel qualified for the tournament last year, going 1-2 (17-11 season record).
184 – Reenan (So)
Reenan is also back from a redshirt year after qualifying @174 in 2017 (going 0-2). He went 21-4 in open tournaments last year @184 with some notable wins (Zavatsky, Coleman). He’s replacing 3 time qualifier and 1 time AA Pete Renda.
197 – Johnson (Jr)
Johnson has big shoes to fill as he takes over for NCAA champion Machiavello (22-3 from the 4 seed). NC State has some incoming freshmen at this weight that I know nothing about and perhaps could challenge for the starting spot. Johnson went 9-10 in open tournaments last year.
H – McDonald (Sr)
A qualifier @197 in 2017 (went 0-2), McDonald takes over for 2-time Heavy qualifier Boykin. He went 20-4 last year, including a win against Boykin.
NC State still has a very solid team. However, there is more downside potential (especially at 197) than upside at most weights so its just not likely they will be able to repeat last year's performance (4th/80 points).
125 – Cox (Jr)
Cox began last season as the starter before giving way to Fausz. He had a 17-7 record (no wins vs top 20 wrestlers).
133 – Fausz (Sr)
A 3-time NCAA qualifier @125 going 1-2 in 2016 and 2-2 in 2017. He was the 5 seed in 2018 @125 and went 1-2 (15-4 season record).
133/141 – Wilson (So)
The biggest surprise of last year’s tournament. Unseeded Wilson (he had a 27-10 season record) defeated #5 Erneste and #4 Brock before taking #1 Gross to the brink in the semis. He did Penn State a solid and defeated Pletcher for 3rd place. It’s crazy to think that this year he may not even make the starting lineup with Fausz moving to 133 and Morris at 141. I don’t know if he can squeeze down to 125.
141 – Morris (Sr)
He went 28-5 in open tournaments last year (mostly @133), including 2 wins against Tariq Wilson. Morris is looking to replace 3-time AA Kevin Jack (6th in 2018, 3rd in 2017, r12 in 2016, 5th in 2015).
149 – Oliver (Sr)
A 3-time qualifier and 1-time AA, Oliver transfers in from Central Michigan taking over for Donahue who went 1-2 at last year’s tournament. Oliver was r12 as the #6 seed last year, r12 in 2017, #7 in 2016.
157 – Hidlay (So)
A great season for Hidlay ending in the final against Nolf. He had a 26-1 season record. I wouldn’t bet against another finals rematch.
165 – Thomas Bullard (So)
A qualifier in 2017 @157 (going 0-2), Bullard returns from his redshirt year to take over for Hamann who did not qualify for the tournament last year.
174 – Daniel Bullard (So)
Daniel qualified for the tournament last year, going 1-2 (17-11 season record).
184 – Reenan (So)
Reenan is also back from a redshirt year after qualifying @174 in 2017 (going 0-2). He went 21-4 in open tournaments last year @184 with some notable wins (Zavatsky, Coleman). He’s replacing 3 time qualifier and 1 time AA Pete Renda.
197 – Johnson (Jr)
Johnson has big shoes to fill as he takes over for NCAA champion Machiavello (22-3 from the 4 seed). NC State has some incoming freshmen at this weight that I know nothing about and perhaps could challenge for the starting spot. Johnson went 9-10 in open tournaments last year.
H – McDonald (Sr)
A qualifier @197 in 2017 (went 0-2), McDonald takes over for 2-time Heavy qualifier Boykin. He went 20-4 last year, including a win against Boykin.
NC State still has a very solid team. However, there is more downside potential (especially at 197) than upside at most weights so its just not likely they will be able to repeat last year's performance (4th/80 points).
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