Duke Athletics

Wrestling

This Week in ACC Wrestling

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – After an opening weekend that produced 22 bracket and pool titles across three events last week, ACC wrestling returns to the mat this weekend with ranked programs and individual standouts continuing to build early-season momentum. No. 5 Virginia Tech headlines the slate Friday night, traveling to No. 12 Lehigh for a top-15 dual-meet matchup in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, at 7 p.m. ET. The Hokies opened the season with five champions, four runners-up and 12 total podium finishes at the Southeast Open.
 
Saturday and Sunday bring additional action across the Conference, as Duke opens its 2026-27 season at WrangleMania before joining No. 15 NC State at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic on Sunday in Bethlehem. Virginia competes November 7-8 at the Throwdown on the Yorktown event in Charleston, South Carolina, facing Gardner-Webb and Glenville State.
 
The weekend follows an impressive start for the ACC, which has five programs ranked in the latest NWCA Division I Men’s Wrestling Coaches Poll, led by Virginia Tech (No. 5), Stanford (No. 7), NC State (No. 15), North Carolina (No. 16) and Pitt (No. 21).

Upcoming Schedule (All Times Eastern)
Friday, November 6
#5 Virginia Tech at #12 Lehigh | 7 p.m. | FloWrestling
 
Saturday, November 7
Duke at WrangleMania | All Day | FloWrestling
Virginia vs. Gardner-Webb | 1 p.m. | FloWrestling
 
Sunday, November 8
#15 NC State at Journeymen Collegiate Classic | All Day | FloWrestling
Duke at Journeymen Collegiate Classic | All Day | FloWrestling
Virginia vs. Glenville State | 1 p.m. | FloWrestling

Noting ACC Wrestling
  • Five ACC programs were ranked in the latest NWCA Division I Men’s Wrestling Coaches Poll (November 4), with four teams ranked in the top 16: Virginia Tech (No. 5), Stanford (No. 7), NC State (No. 15), North Carolina (No. 16) and Pitt (No. 21).
    • The same five programs are also ranked in both the InterMat Dual Rankings and the WrestleStat Dual Rankings.
  • After the first weekend of competition, the ACC has 50 wrestlers ranked nationally in the most recent InterMat individual rankings, including at least five grapplers in eight of the 10 weight classes.
  • Five ACC programs place multiple wrestlers in the top 10, with 19 in the top 10 and seven ranked in the top five.
  • Six ACC programs have five or more wrestlers ranked in the top 33 of the most recent InterMat individual rankings: Virginia Tech (10), Pitt (10), Stanford (9), North Carolina (8), NC State (8) and Virginia (5).
  • Two NCAA champions return to ACC competition: Stanford’s Aden Valencia, the 2026 NCAA champion at 149 pounds, and Virginia Tech’s Caleb Henson, the 2024 NCAA champion at 149. Virginia Tech’s Aaron Seidel also returns after reaching the NCAA semifinals at 133 pounds in his first season with the Hokies last year.
  • The ACC enters the 2026–27 season looking to build on one of its strongest recent performances at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. Three conference programs finished among the top 12 of the 2026 NCAA team standings, led by Stanford’s sixth-place finish with 67.5 points. NC State placed 10th with 44.5 points, while Virginia Tech finished 11th with 41.5 points.
  • Heading into the 2026–27 season, at least two conference schools have finished among the top 20 in the NCAA team standings in 11 of the last 12 years.
  • For the first time, the ACC Wrestling Championship will be conducted as a two-day event. The 2027 championship is scheduled for Saturday–Sunday, March 6–7, at Victory Heights in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with the University of Pittsburgh serving as host.