North Carolina State’s Tariq Wilson (141) battles with Conrad Schiess of Gardner Webb in Sunday’s season-opening match. Wilson by a technical fall., 17-2. (Photo courtesy Sam Janicki/Sjanickiphoto.com)
Sophomore Jakob Camacho had a 13-point win to help the No. 4 North Carolina State wrestling open their season Sunday with a 42-0 shutout victory over Gardner Webb in collegiate action in Boiling Spring, N.C.
Camacho (125 pounds) was one of ten Wolfpack wrestlers to come home with a victory as North Carolina State won their 18th straight dual meet dating back to the 2018-19 season, the longest current winning streak in the nation.
This weekend was the opening weekend in Division I wrestling around the country after concerns with the contagious COVID-19 coronavirus delayed the start of the season. Fans were not allowed to watch Sunday’s match in person although it was streamed on ESPN+.
Camacho was one of three former Danbury High wrestlers to come home with a victory on Sunday. Freshman Ryan Jack and A.J. Kovacs didn’t get into the varsity lineup but they had an opportunity to wrestle Gardner Webb opponents.
Jack (133) beat Joseph Mecham, 12-2 while Kovacs, who finished his scholastic career at Iona Prep, beat Chase McKinney, 9-3 in a bout at 157 pounds.
Camacho, who is ranked No. 7 in the country at 125, blew open his match with a surge in the third period. After an escape, he got four takedowns and a four-point near fall to dominate his match.
The Wolfpack will host their first home dual meet of the season on Friday night when they host Appalachian State at Reynolds Coliseum at 7 p.m. The match will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Burchell wins two for App State
Sophomore Michael Burchell, the former Hand-Madison wrestler, went 2-1 in action on Saturday at 275 pounds for No. 31 Appalachian State in a three-team meet with the No. 27 University of Virginia and The Citadel.
Burchell beat Virginia’s Jessie Knight, 10-5 and Citadel’s Michael McAleavey, 6-1 but lost to nationally-ranked Quinn Miller of Virginia by pin in 3:28. Miller is ranked No. 20 in the country.
Appalachian State is the preseason favorite to win the Southern Conference this season. Gardner Webb and Virginia Military Institute are in the Southern Conference. Sacred Heart opens their season on Saturday with a trip to VMI.
Hofstra pauses team activities due positive COVID test
The Hofstra University wrestling program was ready to begin the 2021 season but has paused all team activities due to a positive COVID-19 test within the program.
No. 33 Hofstra’s match with No. 17 Lehigh in Hempstead, N.Y., on Saturday was cancelled. The positive COVID-19 result is within Hofstra’s Tier 1 personnel, which includes student-athletes, coaches, and essential support staff.
Buffalo open season with a win
The University of Buffalo opened their season on Saturday with a 20-12 win over Ohio University in Mid-American Conference action. Freshman Matt Ryan (141) of Trumbull didn’t wrestle. He is behind two-time NCAA Division I qualifier and team captain Derek Spann (141).
NOTE: Team rankings are from the National Wrestling Coaches Association’s preseason Division I poll.
