All three starters who have missed the last handful of matches are in the probables. No. 12 125-pounder Sean Fausz is the only OR, while No. 7 133-pounder Tariq Wilson and No. 3 184-pounder Nick Reenan are both listed as probables by themselves.
It'd be a great match for Fausz, UVA's Mueller is a former All-American and currently ranked fifth nationally. Surprisingly, they have wrestled only once previously, in the 2017 ACC semifinals — when Fausz won 12-5. That season at NCAAs, Fausz went 2-2 while Mueller made the semifinals and finished sixth after having to medically forfeit out following his loss there. Mueller was supposed to redshirt this year, but got pulled out in January and has won all 11 matches by bonus points.
Even though he doesn't have a number next to his name and has been up and down this year, Louie Hayes is a quality guy and dangerous matchup for Tariq Wilson's return as well. Hayes was one round shy of All-America honors as a redshirt freshman last year and was the one that eliminated Sean Fausz from NCAAs last year in OT (Mueller was at 133, Hayes 125, but then they flip-flopped this year).
UVA has some really, really good individuals — Mueller, Hayes and eighth-ranked 197-pounder Jay Aiello (who provides a huge opportunity for another top-10 win for NC State's Malik McDonald) are their stars — and has had some quality wins this year. They have beaten No. 22 Utah Valley, No. 20 Lock Haven and No. 16 Arizona State in duals, and pushed No. 6 Missouri to a narrow 23-21 decision before losing earlier this season. However, they also got smashed by No. 13 Virginia Tech 37-5 and fell to No. 17 UNC last weekend 22-13.
141 is also a pretty even matchup — UVA's Sam Krivus was ranked 19th in the first NCAA coaches panel rankings, while NC State's Jamel Morris checked in at No. 26.
Common opponents for the two schools:
Indiana — NC State beat 24-9, UVA beat 25-12
Wyoming — NC State loss 22-21 on criteria, UVA lost 21-9
Nebraska — NC State beat 18-17 on criteria, UVA lost 21-15
WVU — NC State beat 26-10, UVA beat 26-13
Utah Valley — NC State beat 23-11, UVA beat 26-19
Here are the full probables from this GoPack.com preview: https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/31/wrestling-8-packwrestle-set-for-friday-dual-at-23-virginia.aspx
#8 NC State (13-2, 1-0 ACC) at #23 Virginia (11-7, 0-1 ACC)
125: #12 R-Sr. Sean Fausz (7-1) –OR- R-Fr. Zurich Storm (12-3) vs. # 5 Jr. Jack Mueller (11-0)
133: #7 R-So. Tariq Wilson (12-2) vs. R-So. Louie Hayes (17-8) –OR- So. Sam Book (9-7)
141: R-Sr. Jamel Morris (17-3) vs. R-Jr. Sam Krivus (16-6) –OR- So. Scott Kiyono (3-8)
149: #8 Gr. Justin Oliver (12-3) vs. R-So. Michael Murphy (10-9)
157: #4 R-So. Hayden Hidlay (14-2) vs. So. Jake Keating (15-8)
165: #17 R-So. Thomas Bullard (14-5) vs. R-Fr. Cam Coy (15-11)
174: #20 R-So. Daniel Bullard (15-6) vs. Fr. Robby Patrick (9-13) –OR- So. Drew Peck (9-6)
184: #3 R-So. Nick Reenan (10-1) vs. R-Sr. Chance McClure (4-4)
197: #20 R-Sr. Malik McDonald (13-6) vs. #8 R-So. Jay Aiello (18-5)
285: Fr. Colin Lawler (15-8) –OR- Fr. Deonte Wilson (15-8) vs. R-Jr. Tyler Love (11-6)
It'd be a great match for Fausz, UVA's Mueller is a former All-American and currently ranked fifth nationally. Surprisingly, they have wrestled only once previously, in the 2017 ACC semifinals — when Fausz won 12-5. That season at NCAAs, Fausz went 2-2 while Mueller made the semifinals and finished sixth after having to medically forfeit out following his loss there. Mueller was supposed to redshirt this year, but got pulled out in January and has won all 11 matches by bonus points.
Even though he doesn't have a number next to his name and has been up and down this year, Louie Hayes is a quality guy and dangerous matchup for Tariq Wilson's return as well. Hayes was one round shy of All-America honors as a redshirt freshman last year and was the one that eliminated Sean Fausz from NCAAs last year in OT (Mueller was at 133, Hayes 125, but then they flip-flopped this year).
UVA has some really, really good individuals — Mueller, Hayes and eighth-ranked 197-pounder Jay Aiello (who provides a huge opportunity for another top-10 win for NC State's Malik McDonald) are their stars — and has had some quality wins this year. They have beaten No. 22 Utah Valley, No. 20 Lock Haven and No. 16 Arizona State in duals, and pushed No. 6 Missouri to a narrow 23-21 decision before losing earlier this season. However, they also got smashed by No. 13 Virginia Tech 37-5 and fell to No. 17 UNC last weekend 22-13.
141 is also a pretty even matchup — UVA's Sam Krivus was ranked 19th in the first NCAA coaches panel rankings, while NC State's Jamel Morris checked in at No. 26.
Common opponents for the two schools:
Indiana — NC State beat 24-9, UVA beat 25-12
Wyoming — NC State loss 22-21 on criteria, UVA lost 21-9
Nebraska — NC State beat 18-17 on criteria, UVA lost 21-15
WVU — NC State beat 26-10, UVA beat 26-13
Utah Valley — NC State beat 23-11, UVA beat 26-19
Here are the full probables from this GoPack.com preview: https://gopack.com/news/2019/1/31/wrestling-8-packwrestle-set-for-friday-dual-at-23-virginia.aspx
#8 NC State (13-2, 1-0 ACC) at #23 Virginia (11-7, 0-1 ACC)
125: #12 R-Sr. Sean Fausz (7-1) –OR- R-Fr. Zurich Storm (12-3) vs. # 5 Jr. Jack Mueller (11-0)
133: #7 R-So. Tariq Wilson (12-2) vs. R-So. Louie Hayes (17-8) –OR- So. Sam Book (9-7)
141: R-Sr. Jamel Morris (17-3) vs. R-Jr. Sam Krivus (16-6) –OR- So. Scott Kiyono (3-8)
149: #8 Gr. Justin Oliver (12-3) vs. R-So. Michael Murphy (10-9)
157: #4 R-So. Hayden Hidlay (14-2) vs. So. Jake Keating (15-8)
165: #17 R-So. Thomas Bullard (14-5) vs. R-Fr. Cam Coy (15-11)
174: #20 R-So. Daniel Bullard (15-6) vs. Fr. Robby Patrick (9-13) –OR- So. Drew Peck (9-6)
184: #3 R-So. Nick Reenan (10-1) vs. R-Sr. Chance McClure (4-4)
197: #20 R-Sr. Malik McDonald (13-6) vs. #8 R-So. Jay Aiello (18-5)
285: Fr. Colin Lawler (15-8) –OR- Fr. Deonte Wilson (15-8) vs. R-Jr. Tyler Love (11-6)
