Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

N.C. State Set to Compete at U.S. Open in Las Vegas

RALEIGH – Between current members of the Pack and graduated alumni, 11 wrestlers are set to compete across various freestyle divisions and weight classes at the 2026 U.S. Open in Las Vegas, starting Wednesday, April 22.
With the collegiate season all wrapped up, freestyle season is officially upon us and kicking off with the U.S. Open in Las Vegas. The tournament at The Expo at World Market Center will run from Wednesday, April 22 to Sunday, April 26.
The full schedule for the event and streaming options can be found on FloWrestling here.
Nine wrestlers are representatives of the Wolfpack RTC right here in Raleigh, guided by RTC coach Jamil Kelly as well as NC State wrestling staff: Pat Popolizio, Zack Esposito, Hayden Hidlay, and Malik McDonald.
In the U-20 division, the rising freshman class of Brogan Tucker, Will Denny, Jason Kwaak, and Cason Howle will represent the Wolfpack RTC. Denny, coming off an impressive collegiate debut in the Wolfpack’s lineup, placed third at 74 kg at the U.S. Open last year. 
The senior division features notable names of the NC State lineup – Koy Buesgens, Matty Singleton, and Patrick Brophy, who are also representing the in-house RTC program in Raleigh. … more at … https://gopack.com/news/2026/4/20/wrestling-wrestlers-set-to-compete-at-us-open-in-las-vegas

April 28, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

New Girls Post-Season Wrestling Rankings Shake Up After Women’s Nationals Results

With post-season performances reshaping the landscape, High School On SI’s latest rankings reveal rising stars, tough calls and why every match—win or loss—matters.
This update contains everything since the high school season ended up through the Women’s Nationals. That took us well over a week to go over and led to new candidates emerging and farther research, which led to other shifting in the weight classes.
No Formulas, No Bias—Just Results on the Mat
A few things we want to point out are next. They are procedural and address our approach to the rankings. There is no formula. We don’t have any numerical system. Our rankings are 100% based off the results on the mats. We keep detailed sheets for every wrestler and use ALL matches, not just one result.
Why Losses Matter More Than You Think
You can’t cherry pick and your losses count too. If you have four to five “bad” or losses to unranked girls, one or two, heck sometimes three wins can’t negate those. You will certainly move up but might be behind someone you have a win over because you have losses that outweigh that one win.
Recency Rules: The Weight of Fresh Results
We typically honor the most recent wins over older results. The old results are still there but their importance fades over time as new date takes precedence. Sometimes the only meeting between two wrestlers is an old one, and we will use it. Why not? It’s a data point to be used in the analysis process.
95-Pound Division Still Taking Shape
The 95-pound weight class is growing (up to 17 now). We will not speculate to fill the slots. Eventually, the results on the mat will give us the other candidates. Girls who have been 95 pounds in the past may have grown out of the weight, so we are taking a wait and see approach.
Who’s Eligible—and Who Has to Wait
The last big thing to point out is we are “High School On SI”, so therefore, only high school wrestlers will appear in our rankings unless you reside in a state that allows middle school grapplers to compete with the high school squad. … more at … https://www.si.com/high-school/wrestling/new-girls-post-season-wrestling-rankings-shake-up-after-women-s-nationals-results-01kpv3x5xhca

April 28, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | , | Leave a comment