ACC Weekly Release
NWCA Division I Coaches Poll - Preseason
InterMat Rankings
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) - Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestling will hit the mat for the first time in the 2023-24 season this week, as all six ACC teams will be in action in the first week of competition, starting on Wednesday, Nov. 1.
Four ACC teams were ranked in the top 25 in the first 2023-24 NWCA Division I Coaches Preseason Poll, which was announced earlier this week. NC State leads the way at No. 3, ahead of Virginia Tech at No. 5, Pittsburgh at No. 16, and North Carolina at No. 25.
Last season, the Wolfpack claimed their fifth consecutive ACC Wrestling Championship. With the conference championship title, NC State became only the second wrestling program to capture at least five consecutive ACC titles and the first since former conference member Maryland won 20 in a row from 1954 through 1973.
Five-time defending ACC Champions NC State will open its 2023-24 slate versus Presbyterian College at the Battle at Fort Liberty on Wednesday, Nov. 1, before a dual match at App State on Friday, Nov. 3.
North Carolina will host Greensboro College, Queens, and Oregon State for the Carolina Duals on Thursday, Nov. 2, with all three bouts being streamed live on ACC Network Extra, while Duke will trek west to face off with Cal Poly and Rutgers in San Louis Obispo, California, on Friday, and then take on future ACC member Stanford in dual meet action on Saturday, Nov. 4.
Both Virginia and Virginia Tech will kick-start their 2023-24 seasons at the Southeast Open in Salem, Virginia, while Pitt will take part in the Clarion Open on Sunday, Nov. 5.
Upcoming Schedule
Wednesday, Nov. 1
#3 NC State vs. Presbyterian | 7 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 2
Queens at #25 North Carolina | 1 p.m. | ACCNX
Greensboro College at #25 North Carolina | 3 p.m. | ACCNX
#20 Oregon State at #25 North Carolina | 5 p.m. | ACCNX
Friday, Nov. 3
#3 NC State at Appalachian State | 7 p.m.
Duke vs. #15 Rutgers | 7 p.m.
Duke at Cal Poly | 9 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 4
#5 Virginia Tech at Southeast Open | All Day
Virginia at Southeast Open | All Day
Duke at Stanford | 7 p.m.
Sunday, Nov.5
#16 Pitt at Clarion Open | All Day
ACC Wrestling Takedowns
• The ACC will launch the 2023-24 wrestling season with four teams among the top 25 of the NWCA Division I Coaches Preseason poll. Five-time defending ACC Champion NC State leads the way at No. 3, followed by No. 5 Virginia Tech, No. 16 Pitt, and No. 25 North Carolina.
• Led by No. 3 Mekhi Lewis of Virginia Tech at 174 pounds, 35 ACC wrestlers are among the top 33 of their respective weight classes in InterMat’s NCAA Division I individual preseason rankings released on Aug. 29. A total of 16 conference wrestlers earned top 10 rankings, including 2022 ACC Champions Kai Orine of NC State (133), Cole Matthews of North Carolina (141), Caleb Henson of Virginia Tech (149), Justin McCoy of Virginia (165), Lewis (174), Trent Hidlay of NC State (197), and Owen Trephan of NC State (285).
• Newcomers to watch this season include several redshirt freshmen who are all ranked in the top 33 of the InterMat individual preseason rankings - Vinnie Santaniello of Pitt at 133 points (No. 33), Jared Keslar of Pitt at 157 points (No. 28), twin brothers Jack and Michael Gioffre of Virginia, who are ranked No. 23 overall at 141 pounds and No. 18 at 149 pounds by InterMat, respectively, Nick Hamilton of Virginia at 165 pounds (No. 25), Dylan Fishback of NC State at 184 pounds (No. 28), and Mac Stout of Pitt at 197 pounds (No. 18).
• Virginia Tech redshirt sophomore Cooper Flynn was impressive overseas in his first international tournament – going 3-0 on the day at the 2023 Poland Open in July 2023. Flynn defeated 2017 NCAA national champion and current Puerto Rican world team member Darian Cruz to capture 57-kilogram gold at the event. Earlier in the summer, he captured gold at 57 kilograms at the 2023 USA Wrestling U23 Nationals in Geneva, Ohio. At the U23 World Championships, VT's Flynn went 1-2 overall at 57 kilograms, while Sonny Santiago of North Carolina went 2-2 overall and reached the bronze medal round at 74 kilograms. His teammate, Cade Lautt went 1-1 overall and fell in the quarterfinals of the 97 kilograms Greco Roman division.
• NC State's Matty Singleton earned a bronze medal at 79 kilograms in defeating Ahmet Yagan of Turkiye, 9-7, at the U20 World Championships in August, while Virginia's Caleb Dorman finished fourth overall at 92 kilograms at the championships.