Suffice it to say, Kai Orine might not by your typical college wrestler.

Off the mat, Orine is a very talented artist who has worked on designing different graphics and art for the NC State Athletics Department. His undergrad program was Art and Design, and he spent the summer in Prague to fulfill a class requirement.

Orine also serves as the in-house barber and tattoo artist for the Wolfpack wrestling team, as he has done all of his own tattoos as well.

“I’m very comfortable with how I’ve matured into my position on this team,” said the Imperial, Missouri native. “I’ve been around long enough where I’m very comfortable with being honest with myself about where I am on and off the mat here in Raleigh.” 

On the mat, Orine has been a huge part of the success NC State has had over the last few years as a starter each of the last three years.

But due to Covid, the 2024-25 season will serve as a ‘bonus year’ for Orine.

“I think this is the most different year thus far,” Orine said. “I think that is because I’ve basically gone through everything there is to go through already in my time here. 

“Being here so long, there is not that much that will surprise me now.”

One surprise for Wolfpack fans during the preseason, was the weight class Orine will be at this year.

After earning All-American honors and winning an ACC championship each of the last two years at 133 pounds, Orine will be spending his final season in Raleigh at 141. 

It is not unfamiliar territory for Orine. After redshirting the 2019-20 campaign, Orine was at 141 in the shortened Covid season of 2021. The weight cut was tough on Orine to get to 133 pounds in his sixth season, and the move up to 141 allows the Pack the option to redshirt 2024 All-American Ryan Jack before his final season of eligibility.

“This year is going to be about doing the most right things and to get the most out of my final year,” Orine said. “I’m just going to try to get the most wrestling out of me that I can in this final campaign.”

Known for his unique style on the mat, Orine’s previous experience will help ease the transition up a weight class for his final campaign.

“Mat wrestling might be the hardest part about moving up a weight class,” NC State head coach Pat Popolizio said. “But that is where Kai has been really good, as he had a lot of leverage at 133 (pounds). We have to see that, and we have to utilize that up a weight this year. 

“When you go up a weight class, you have to be able to utilize that leverage. There are always a lot of unknowns, that is why we have to get a lot of matches this first semester and see where we are at.”

So far now at 141, Orine is off to a 7-1 start with five bonus-point wins and is currently ranked #5.

“He looks good right now, and he is certainly going to be tested with our early schedule,” Popolizio said. “Where Kai has been at (during his career) and where he is now, he has vastly improved.”

Family Matters

It was not expected when he came to Raleigh back in the summer of 2019, but Orine and his younger brother, Draegen, will be competing on the same wrestling team for Kai’s final campaign. They did not have that experience in high school due to the age difference, and because of the ‘free Covid year’ for Kai, they now have that chance.

“I get to take on a different kind of role with my younger brother being here now,” Kai said. “This is really a once-in-a-lifetime position this year with both of us in the room for a year. My role with him being here is a bit different now as I get to see him start his career and mine is ending. 

“It is really cool to be able to see his transition into this with me still here. The stars just aligned to allow me and my brother to wrestle for a year. Me being the older brother, I definitely take a lot of pride in this situation we have found ourselves in this year.”

Draegen was a top-100 recruit after winning a 2024 Missouri state title. He is currently 5-3 on the season at 133 pounds, having started the first dual of the season against Campbell.

“Since he has arrived, he has only skyrocketed with his training and skills,” Kai said. “I feel like he is a bit of a different breed as a workhorse, he’s a freak. I can’t remember a time I was able to ever do some of the things he is already doing now.

“If he stays on the path he is on right now, he is going to blow past me. Even as the little brother, he really pushes me and inspires me to do better.”

It is too early to tell if Draegen will redshirt this season or continue to compete for the starting spot. He has used two of the available five competition dates, and there is no clear leader for the 133-pound starting spot for NC State during this first month of the season.

“(133 pounds) is a weight where somebody has to step up and take ownership of that spot,” Popolizio said. “Right now, we are not ruling out any options at 133. For every weight class, we are going to make sure the best guy will be wrestling in March. Guys are going to have to stay hungry, and they are going to have to continue to improve.”

Lineup Updates

NC State’s starter at 197 pounds, sixth-year graduate student Christian Knop, was forced to injury default in the Pack’s recent dual win against Appalachian State after sustaining an apparent ankle injury. He did not travel with the team later that weekend to New Jersey and missed ranked matches against both Princeton and Rutgers.

The X-rays taken came back negative, and it is believed that Knop suffered a sprain. No timetable is available for his return right now.

NC State’s backup at 197 pounds, sophomore Chase Horne, has also been battling an injury after having to injury default the previous weekend down at The Citadel, so NC State wrestled sophomore Andrew Macchiavello, younger brother of NCAA champion Michael Macchiavello, in the dual wins over Princeton and Rutgers.

NC State also had a recent change at 125 pounds, as freshman Vince Robinson started all three duals this past weekend instead of seventh-year grad student Jakob Camacho. Sitting at a perfect 9-0 now on the season, Robinson checks in at #16 in the national rankings this week.

Robinson’s top win-to-date came in the dual against Rutgers against then-#7 Dean Peterson. The win was technically by injury default, but Robinson held an 11-4 lead, with 1:36 of riding time, when Peterson was forced to injury default due to a concussion in the second period.

Over the last two weekends, Robinson has amassed a perfect 4-0 record against ranked foes (#7, #14, #20, and #23), while Camacho did not weigh in for any of the three duals this past weekend.