In its most demanding dual of the season so far, No. 10 NC State wrestling ran into a buzzsaw in Columbus, falling 26-10 to a loaded Ohio State squad that’s showing every bit of its No. 2 national ranking.
The Buckeyes (8-0) didn’t just win-they flexed their depth and star power across the board. With nine of their ten starters ranked inside the top 15 nationally, Ohio State presented an uphill battle in nearly every weight class. NC State (5-3) managed to take three of the ten bouts, but the momentum was firmly in the Buckeyes’ corner from the early goings.
Still, there were a few bright spots for the Wolfpack-most notably at heavyweight, where sixth-year standout Isaac Trumble reminded everyone why he’s one of the nation’s elite. In just his second match back from a knee injury, the No. 2-ranked Trumble looked sharp, composed, and dominant in a statement win over No.
3 Nick Feldman, a 2024 All-American. Trumble’s control throughout the bout sent a message: he’s back, and he’s not easing into the season-he’s attacking it.
At 165 pounds, true freshman Will Denny delivered a breakout moment of his own. Facing off against No.
11 Paddy Gallagher, a two-time NCAA qualifier, Denny showed the kind of poise you don’t often see from a first-year wrestler. After pushing the match into sudden victory, Denny capitalized in overtime to walk away with a 6-5 upset win.
It’s the latest in what’s shaping up to be a promising debut season for the No. 19-ranked freshman.
The Wolfpack’s third win came at the very beginning of the dual, when No. 1 Vince Robinson opened things up at 125 pounds with a major decision.
The redshirt sophomore continues to roll, and his performance gave NC State an early 4-0 lead. But that momentum didn’t last long.
Ohio State stormed back by taking the next four bouts, flipping the scoreboard to 15-4 and seizing control of the dual. One of those wins came from a familiar face-former NC State star Dylan Fishback, now ranked No. 6 at 184 pounds.
Fishback transferred to Ohio State in the offseason and made his return to the mat against his old team with a major decision over sixth-year Don Cates. It was a reminder of the talent NC State had, and the depth Ohio State now enjoys.
At 141 pounds, Koy Buesgens suffered his first loss of the season in a tightly contested 4-3 decision against No. 6 Ethan Stiles.
Buesgens, ranked No. 7, showed grit late-trailing 4-1 in the final period, he fought back with a reversal but couldn’t close the gap. It’s the kind of loss that stings, but also offers valuable lessons as the season progresses.
Another unbeaten streak was snapped at 174, where No. 3 Matty Singleton dropped an 8-4 decision to No.
5 Carson Kharchla. After a scoreless first period, Kharchla took control with a pair of takedowns and a reversal.
Singleton’s points all came via escapes, and he never quite found an opening to turn the tide.
In the remaining four bouts, NC State couldn’t find much traction. The Pack was outmatched, giving up a tech fall, two major decisions, and one regular decision.
The most competitive of those came at 133 pounds, where sixth-year veteran Zach Redding fell 7-1 to No. 2 Ben Davino.
Davino struck early and often, building a 7-0 cushion through two periods and never letting Redding get into the match.
Now sitting at 5-3 on the season, NC State will look to regroup at home with a quad meet on Dec. 21, hosting George Mason, The Citadel, and Buffalo. With matches scheduled at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m., it’s a full day of wrestling-and the final tune-up before ACC play begins on Jan. 9 with a dual meet against Virginia.
Plenty of season left, and for NC State, this loss to a national powerhouse like Ohio State offers more than just a reality check-it’s a measuring stick. The Pack has talent.
They’ve got upside. But to hang with the best in the country, they’ll need to turn flashes of brilliance into consistent, top-to-bottom execution.