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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Atlantic Coast Conference dual-match action starts this week with the ACC Friday Night Duals on Friday, Jan. 26, when No. 8 NC State travels to No. 19 Pitt at 7 p.m. on ACC Network. Nearly 20 additional ACC wrestling events will also be streamed this season on ACCNX, including North Carolina at No. 12 Virginia Tech and Virginia at Duke this Friday night.
 
Virginia and North Carolina will also be in action on Sunday, Jan. 28, as the Cavaliers will travel to American for a 1 p.m. start time on ESPN+, while the Tar Heels will host No. 23 Navy at 3 p.m. on ACCNX.
 
NC State and Pitt have both faced multiple top-25 nationally-ranked opponents this season and will continue that trend in their ACC opener, as the Wolfpack are 10-2 overall with 10 ranked wrestlers, while the Panthers are 7-5 with ranked wins over currently ranked teams Lehigh, Maryland, Illinois, Ohio State, and Little Rock.
 
Like NC State, Virginia Tech’s lineup is solid from top to bottom with 10 ranked grapplers as the Hokies enter their ACC opener versus North Carolina off a 28-10 win over nationally-ranked App State two weeks ago. Under veteran head coach Rob Koll, the Tar Heels will look to get back on the right track in their first ACC contest, having dropped three of their last five dual meets following a 5-1 start to the season.
 
The Cavaliers continue their season, which has yet to have a home match thus far, having gone 5-2 overall with six matches at neutral sites and one road bout at App State on Dec. 17. Virginia has continued to improve throughout the season and will look for a strong start to the conference slate against a Duke squad that has also been road warriors in dual-match action this season and has faced five top-30 dual teams to date. Like the Cavaliers, the Blue Devils have continued to improve up and down the lineup as the season has progressed and will look for a win at home to start conference competition.

Upcoming Schedule
Friday, January 26
#8 NC State at #19 Pitt, 7 p.m. | ACC Network
North Carolina at #12 Virginia Tech, 7 p.m. | ACCNX
Virginia at Duke, 7 p.m. | ACCNX
 
Sunday, January 28
Virginia at American, 1 p.m. | ESPN+
#23 Navy at North Carolina, 3 p.m. | ACCNX
 
Friday, February 2
#19 Pitt at Duke, 7 p.m.  | ACCNX
#12 Virginia Tech at Virginia, 7 p.m. | ACCNX
North Carolina at #8 NC State, 8:30 p.m. | ACC Network
 
Friday, February 9
#19 Pitt at North Carolina, 7 p.m.
Virginia at #8 NC State, 7 p.m. | ACCNX
Duke at #12 Virginia Tech, 7 p.m. | ACC Network

Saturday, February 10
George Mason at #12 Virginia Tech, 3 p.m. | ACCNX
 
ACC Wrestling Takedowns
• The ACC has three teams ranked in the latest NWCA Division I Men's Wrestling Coaches Poll (Jan. 23), led by NC State at No. 8 overall. Virginia Tech remained at No. 12, while Pitt came in at No. 19.
 
• A total of 36 ACC wrestlers were ranked in the NCAA’s first coaches’ ranking for the 2024 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships this week. NC State’s Trent Hidlay was ranked No. 1 at 197 pounds, while Virginia Tech’s Caleb Henson came in at No. 2 at 149 pounds. Overall, the ACC has 12 grapplers ranked in the top 10 in their respective weight classes.
 
• ACC Friday Night Duals returns this Friday, Jan. 26, when No. 8 NC State travels to No. 19 Pitt at 7 p.m. on ACC Network. Nearly 20 additional ACC wrestling events will also be streamed this season on ACCNX, including North Carolina at No. 12 Virginia Tech and Virginia at Duke on that same night.
 
• NC State enters ACC competition with one of the strongest lineups in the nation, with all 10 wrestlers ranked - No. 5 Kai Orine, No. 4 Ryan Jack, No. 3 Jackson Arrington, No. 7 Ed Scott, No. 6 Dylan Fishback, and No. 4 Trent Hidlay all earning top-10 honors. NC State began the year with nine straight dual victories before dropping a tight dual to No. 7 Ohio State at the National Collegiate Duals and a home bout to No. 4 Oklahoma State.
 
• The Pitt Panthers had an incredible non-conference schedule that is arguably one of the toughest in the country, which included wins over Maryland, No. 15 Lehigh, No. 27 Illinois, and No. 7 Ohio State. Their losses have come to No. 4 Oklahoma State, No. 5 Iowa State, No. 9 Cornell, No. 23 Arizona State, and No. 24 Navy. The Panthers have been led by the strength of their upper weights, as No. 14 Holden Heller, No. 15 Luca Augustine, No. 12 Reece Heller, No. 13 Mac Stout, and No. 12 Dayton Pitzer have been key in their dual success thus far this season.
 
• With three losses coming to No. 3 Missouri, No. 7 Ohio State, and No. 9 Cornell in dual-match action, as well as several starters competing at the CKLV, Keystone Classic, and Midlands, the Virginia Tech Hokies will be more than ready coming into ACC competition. Like NC State, all 10 starters are ranked for the Hokies, led by No. 2 Caleb Henson, No. 2 Mekhi Lewis, No. 6 Cooper Flynn, and No. 8 Bryce Andonian all in the top 10, while No. 11 Sam Latona is sitting just outside.
 
• North Carolina is in a transition year with new head coach Rob Koll taking over the program early this fall and has used a very young lineup for much of the season, having graduated over half of their starters from a year ago. The Tar Heels have taken on five top-25 dual teams, going 1-4 in the process with a big win over Arizona State. The Heels are led by No. 5 Lachlan McNeil, No. 29 Spencer Moore, and No. 18 Max Shaw.
 
• Virginia has had a season full of ups and downs and marred by several injuries. They have had several stellar individual performances this season, and if their starters can come back to full strength heading into conference competition, the Cavaliers can put together a dangerous lineup led by No. 14 Justin McCoy, No. 28 Dylan Cedeno, and No. 33 Ryan Catka.
 
• The Duke Blue Devils have been road warriors in dual-match action this season and have faced five top-30 dual teams thus far. Although just 4-8 on the season, the Blue Devils have performed well against similarly ranked teams with victories over Cleveland State, Kent State, and Davidson. Improving throughout the lineup as the season has gone on, the Blue Devils have been led by Gaetano Console and Connor Barket at 165 and 285 pounds, respectively, while both Logan Agin at 125 and Logan Ferrero at 157 have picked up big wins in duals this year.

2023-24 ACC Wrestlers of the Week
Nov. 7 – Caleb Henson, Virginia Tech | Mac Stout, Pitt
Nov. 14 – Jakob Camacho, NC State
Nov. 21 – Dayton Pitzer, Pitt
Nov. 28 – No competition
Dec. 5 – Kai Orine, NC State
Dec. 12 – Cole Matthews, Pitt
Dec. 20 – Cooper Flynn, Virginia Tech | Ed Scott, NC State
Dec. 26 – No competition
Jan. 2 – Justin McCoy, Virginia
Jan. 9 – Cooper Flynn, Virginia Tech
Jan. 16 – Lachlan McNeil, North Carolina
Jan. 23 – Connor Barket, Duke