Completed Event: Wrestling versus NCAA Championship on March 20, 2025 , , NTS
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Final
Wrestling
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Blue Devil Grapplers Will Close Out Regular Season At NC State
2/23/2005 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 23, 2005
On Wednesday night, the Duke wrestling team will travel to Raleigh to face the N.C. State Wolfpack in the Blue Devils' final dual match of the year. Duke looks to avenge its lone ACC loss from 2004 and secure its second straight season with a winning conference record. Duke enters the match with a record of 9-4 (2-2 ACC), while N.C. State stands at 7-8 (3-2) on the season. If Duke wins, it will mark the squad's second 10-win season in the last three years.
The dual meet will feature several key match-ups, with the two squads fairly evenly matched on paper. At the 141-pound weight class, freshman Wes Kuser will look to continue his four-match winning streak as he is expected to face State's Jeff Breese, a fellow Pennsylvania native. The following weight class, 149 pounds, will see Antwone Floyd for Duke and senior Alex Hernandez for the Wolfpack. Floyd, who has returned to the Duke lineup with marked success, is coming off one of the bigger victories of his career, a 6-3 overtime victory over Paul Dunstan of Virginia, clinching the dual for Duke. Dunstan had handed Hernandez his only ACC loss of the season only a week before.
At 174, defending ACC champion Levi Craig looks to rebound from a close loss in the UVA match and will face Kevin Gabrielson. Gabrielson is undefeated in the ACC and Craig has only one loss, so this bout could potentially decide the top seed at the ACC tournament. At 197 pounds, Mark Thompson will face fellow New Jersey native Zach Garren. Garren was an NCAA qualifier in 2004, but Thompson has been extremely consistent this season and should give Garren a run.
"A team win would be great for confidence," said Duke Head Coach Clar Anderson. "But the individual wins are most important for seeding at the ACC Tournament. N.C. State is probably considered the favorite, but we could surprise them like we did Virginia. We're still battling sickness and some nagging injuries, but I still believe we can win enough individual matches to take the dual."
The match will begin at 7:30 in Reynolds Coliseum at Raleigh. In last year's tilt in Durham, the Wolfpack picked up the 18-12 win, with Hernandez supplying a key comeback win to open the match and lead the Wolfpack to the victory, en route to the ACC tournament title.
Players Mentioned
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/ WrestlingConnor Barket Post ACC Championship
Monday, March 10
Season Opener Video
Friday, November 01
Duke Athletics: A Tour of Campus
Saturday, October 19
Welcome to Duke
Saturday, October 19
