#5 @PackWrestle and #3 Oklahoma State Split 10 Bouts; Bonus Points Push Cowboys to 19-16 Win

Friday, January 5

Naples, Italy

1:30 p.m.

NC State

Oklahoma State

#5 @PackWrestle and #3 Oklahoma State Split 10 Bouts; Bonus Points Push Cowboys to 19-16 Win

1/5/2018 3:47:00 PM | Wrestling

@PackWrestle

Two Pack wrestlers knock off top-3 opponents

NAPLES, ITALY – In the Tussle for the Troops dual that took place over in Naples, Italy, #5 NC State and #3 Oklahoma State battled down to the final bout of the night.

Both the Wolfpack (10-1) and the Cowboys (6-0) won five individual bouts, but Oklahoma State had three bonus point wins compared to one for NC State and came away with a 19-16 win on Friday.

The dual was tied 12-12 with three matches left, as the two teams traded major decisions to make it 16-16 going into the final bout – which turned out to be a Cowboys win for the overall team win.

NC State's Sean Fausz (125 pounds) and Kevin Jack (141) both knocked off the #3 ranked wrestler in their respective weight class, R-Fr. Hayden Hidlay scored a major decision at 157 pounds, and both redshirt-seniors Beau Donahue (149 in OT) and Pete Renda (184) claimed Wolfpack wins.

The dual started at 184 pounds.

#3 Pete Renda scored the first Wolfpack win, as his takedown with less then five seconds left secured a 3-0 decision and a quick 3-0 lead for the Pack.

Pete Renda gets NC State on the board first wth a 3-0 win over Moore. pic.twitter.com/WYqO71MfaY
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) January 5, 2018

Oklahoma State answered with two straight wins. A close 5-4 win at 197 pounds for #4 Preston Weigel over NC State's #7 Michael Macchiavello, with a close reversal for Macchiavello at the end not awarded, and major decision 285 pounds to grab their first lead at 7-3.

NC State answered with its first of two top-three victories. #8 Sean Fausz scored three takedowns in the bout, added a late reversal, and another point for riding time as he upset #3 Nick Piccininni 9-5. The dual was the first of the season for Fausz, as he had previously only competed in two tournaments.

Fausz wins another scramble to take a 4-1 lead on Piccininni after the first period. pic.twitter.com/2cFAJLe21l
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) January 5, 2018

The Cowboys used a technical fall at 133 pounds to increase their lead to 12-6.

NC State roared back with three straight wins, and held a 16-12 lead going into the final two bouts.

The Pack's second top-three win came at 141 pounds between a pair of wrestlers who have already combined for five All-American honors. #4 Kevin Jack scored a takedown in the final 15 seconds to come away with a 4-3 win over two-time defending national champion #3 Dean Heil.

KEVIN JACK! Jack with a takedown in the final 15 seconds to knock off Dean Heil. 4-3! pic.twitter.com/WiZyHIOmiM
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) January 5, 2018

#17 Beau Donahue scored a takedown with 30 seconds left and then 25 seconds into overtime to come away with a 6-4 win and even the dual at 12-12 with three bouts left.

Donahue with a takedown in OT and NC State ties the dual at 12 heading into 157. pic.twitter.com/XAlVVHbE6O
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) January 5, 2018

#3 Hayden Hidlay scored bonus points at 157 pounds, as he improved to a perfect 14-0 on the season with a 12-4 major decision that gave NC State a 16-12.

Hidlay with a takedown in the final 10 seconds to take a 7-2 lead into the 3rd period. pic.twitter.com/ilC34knDEt
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) January 5, 2018

A pair of Oklahoma State top-10 wrestlers closed out the dual, first with a major decision at 165 to even it 16-16, then a 7-2 decision to win the dual at 174 pounds.

Up Next: The Wolfpack will return to the mat with the start of ACC action on Friday, Jan. 19, as NC State will travel to Duke.

#3 Oklahoma State 19, #5 NC State 16
184: #3 Pete Renda (NCSU) dec. Keegan Moore; 3-0 – 3-0
197: #4 Preston Weigel (OKST) dec. #7 Michael Macchiavello; 5-4 – 3-3
285: #8 Derek White (OKST) major dec. Malik McDonald; 8-0 – 3-7
125: #8 Sean Fausz (NCSU) dec. #3 Nick Piccininni; 9-5 – 6-7
133: #5 Kaid Brock (OKST) tech fall Tariq Wilson; 16-1 – 6-12
141: #4 Kevin Jack (NCSU) dec. #3 Dean Heil; 4-3 – 9-12
149: #17 Beau Donahue (NCSU) dec. Boo Lewallen; 6-4 (SV1) – 12-12
157: #3 Hayden Hidlay (NCSU) major dec. Jonce Blaylock; 12-4 – 16-12
165: #8 Chandler Rogers (OKST) major dec. Brian Hamann; 13-1 – 16-16
174: #10 Jacobe Smith (OKST) dec. Daniel Bullard; 7-2 – 16-19