You could make the argument college wrestling is unlike any other sport. You have 10 weight classes, room for 10 starters for your postseason roster. There is no use of a sub at the conference championships or NCAAs, so you must establish your 10 and that is who you roll with striving for a team trophy.

Many programs will see a log jam at a weight class or two each season, making for some tough decisions on who gets that singlet for postseason action.

NC State found itself in that situation as the 2024-25 campaign has gotten underway and has decided to redshirt a pair of 2024 ACC champions this upcoming season in Ryan Jack and Jackson Arrington.

Those lineup decisions were not easy, as Jack was ranked #5 in the preseason at 141 pounds after earning All-American honors last year while Arrington slotted in at #6 at 149 pounds coming off of his sophomore campaign.

“There were a lot of variables that went into those decisions,” said NC State head coach Pat Popoilizio who enters his 13th season at the helm of the program. “You must look at who is returning (on your team), possible weight classes different guys can go, and I think these decisions just opened the door for some talent that we have waiting in the wings to get their opportunity to make a name for themselves. 

“In both the short-term and the long-term, to be able to redshirt those two guys is the best thing for NC State Wrestling.”

It was a domino effect for NC State to get to this point.

2023 and 2024 All-American Kai Orine was not going to make 133 pounds for his final season. Orine already redshirted and is bumping up to 141 pounds, where Jack has been each season while he has been in Raleigh. Jack did not redshirt as a true freshman, and with the ‘free COVID season’, Jack still has one year of eligibility left.

Arrington has been the starter at 149 pounds each of the last two years, but he will be bumping up to 157 pounds and that is where 2023 All-American Ed Scott has reigned and earned All-American honors in 2023 and also won multiple ACC titles. Like Jack, Arrington has yet to take a redshirt, and he will have two years of eligibility remaining.

“The COVID-six-year of eligibility has thrown everybody a bit of a curve ball, and this is the best way to manage it with guys that are retuning and guys that have the ability to redshirt,” Popolizio said.

NC State has had recent success in redshirting non-freshmen recently. In fact, two key members of the Pack’s current lineup found themselves in the same situation as Jack and Arrington last year.

Matt Singleton was thrown into the lineup as a true freshman two years ago at 165 pounds. The weight class was not an ideal fit for him, so he redshirted last season and will be at 174 pounds this year. 

Isaac Trumble was the ACC runner-up and an NCAA qualifier at 197 pounds in each of his first two seasons in Raleigh. But he, too, sat out last year to make the move up to heavyweight this year and is currently ranked #9 nationally.

“I think we are going to be in a good spot, this year and beyond with these decisions,” Popolizio said. “No doubt it would be great to have those guys (Jack and Arrington), but just like we did last year with Matty and Isaac, it is tough sitting them on the bench, but you see both of their developments during their redshirts last year. I know that it is has put them in a great spot to elevate our program heading into this season. 

“I know the same thing will happen with both Ryan and Jackson. They have been putting in a lot of work and time, including wrestling freestyle. They will be ready to compete for a national title when they come back into our lineup. This will get both of those guys one step closer to their ultimate goal.”

NC State will pick and choose how much both Jack and Arrington compete this year, both in open tournaments and even Senior-level freestyle events.

“We will be a bit selective with mat time this year, they don’t need a ton of competition,” Popolizio said. “That is the luxury of redshirting guys that have already had a bunch of matches and have been in our room for years. Those guys already know what they need to do, and that doesn’t always have to be against outside competition.” 

Taking out a pair of top-10 wrestlers from NC State’s lineup will no doubt affect other weight classes, and the Wolfpack will be looking to establish starters throughout the first semester of action at both 133 and 149 pounds where there isn’t much prior collegiate experience.

A New Wave of Talent

With Signing Day next week, NC State will once again bring in one of the top classes in the nation. Among the class NC State is expected to sign is a pair ranked in the top-20 in FloWrestling’s current Pound-for-Pound national rankings: #11 Will Denny from Illinois and #17 Daniel Zepeda from California.

Denny is currently ranked #2 in the nation at 157 pounds going into his senior season after earning a Super 32 title in October. Zepeda is also ranked #2 nationally; he is at 144 pounds. NC State will also sign an additional trio of Big Boarders: Brogan Tucker (#6 at 157), Cason Howel, and Jason Kwaak.

“Recruiting has been great, I think we are in a really good spot with what is about to happen,” Popolizio said. “Momentum is still moving forward, and I think to goes to all the work our staff of Kevin (Jack), Tommy (Gantt) and Zack (Esposito) have been putting in.

“I think the history and tradition of what former athletes have done here has really paved the way for the crop of guys we have been able to bring in over the last few years. We will always try to attract the best guys that fit our mentality and our culture here at NC State.”