NC State Wrestling Closes 2025 With Dominant Triple-Header Sweep
NC State wrestling wrapped up its 2025 calendar in style, delivering a clean sweep in Raleigh with decisive wins over The Citadel, George Mason, and Buffalo. The No. 9-ranked Wolfpack didn’t just win - they controlled the mat from start to finish, flashing depth, dominance, and a little bit of revenge along the way.
“We’ve wrestled a pretty demanding schedule up to this point,” head coach Pat Popolizio said post-meet. “So to see some new teams, I thought it was beneficial to these guys.”
That demanding schedule clearly paid off. The Pack looked sharp and energized, and it didn’t take long for their stars to shine.
As he’s done all season, No. 1 redshirt sophomore Vince Robinson set the early tone. He only wrestled in two of the three duals but made both count, picking up tech fall wins over The Citadel and Buffalo.
Robinson sat out the George Mason match, but his performance was a reminder of why he’s sitting atop the national rankings - fast, technical, and relentless.
But if Robinson set the tone, it was sixth-year senior Isaac Trumble who stole the show. Ranked No. 2 nationally, Trumble put together a clinic, racking up two first-period pins and a tech fall in his three matches. His ability to control position and finish with authority was on full display.
“I got to my dominant positions,” Trumble said. “I love the leg turk.
Trent Hidlay always looks for his underhook, and [the leg turk is] a position I always look for. I’m trying to always look for that.”
That kind of positional awareness - knowing your bread-and-butter move and executing it with confidence - is what separates elite wrestlers from the rest. Trumble’s dominance wasn’t just about scoring points; it was about imposing his will.
Another standout was freshman Will Denny, who continues to prove he’s not just a promising name for the future - he’s making noise right now. Ranked No.
15, Denny opened his day with a major decision over No. 30 Thomas Snipes of The Citadel, then followed it up with two more wins to go 3-0 on the day.
For a true freshman to handle a ranked opponent with that kind of poise speaks volumes.
“The guys we expected to win, won,” Popolizio said. “Will Denny did it in dominant fashion, and that’s what we like to see out of our true freshmen.”
Not every match went NC State’s way, though. Redshirt freshman Pete Winterstein stepped into a new weight class at 174 pounds and made his dual debut this season.
He dropped both of his matches - one to Braxton Russell (The Citadel) and another to Rafael Knapp (Buffalo), the latter being NC State’s only loss in that dual. But even in defeat, Winterstein earned praise from his coach for his effort and fight.
“We threw some guys in there in new weights, and I always like to see how those guys compete,” Popolizio said. “Even though he didn’t win his matches, Pete Winterstein wrestled really hard.”
The most feel-good moment of the day? That belonged to redshirt sophomore Patrick Brophy.
Wrestling in his first match for the Wolfpack, Brophy went 3-0 - joining Trumble, Denny, and sixth-year Zach Redding as the only NC State wrestlers to sweep their matches. One of those wins came against his former team, The Citadel, adding a little personal edge to an already memorable debut.
With the non-conference slate nearly wrapped and the ACC schedule just around the corner, NC State is hitting its stride at the right time. The team looks deep, disciplined, and driven - and they’ll need to be, because things are about to get a lot more intense.
“I’m excited to get back and compete in the ACC,” Trumble said. “I know there are some matches that we need to get back. I lost earlier in the year and last year, and I think there’s some that I’m excited to get back one last time.”
That next test comes January 9th, when NC State hosts Virginia in its ACC opener. If Sunday’s performance was any indication, the Wolfpack is more than ready to make a statement in conference play.