NC State @ North Carolina

NC State Men's Wrestling edged North Carolina Men's Wrestling 19-16 at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on January 31, 2025. The tight dual came down to bonus points, with three matches producing major team swings that decided the outcome.

At 149 pounds Lachlan McNeil of North Carolina turned in a big result, topping NC State’s Koy Buesgens 11-2 by major decision to add four crucial team points for the Tar Heels. NC State answered at 184 pounds when Dylan Fishback scored a 14-5 major decision over Gavin Kane, delivering four bonus points that kept the Wolfpack within striking distance. Those two majors split the bonus opportunities and kept the score razor close throughout.

The decisive moment arrived in the heavyweight bout where Isaac Trumble of NC State recorded a fall over Nolan Neves, a six-point swing that proved to be the difference in the final score. Trumble’s fall pushed NC State to 19 team points, a margin North Carolina could not overcome despite McNeil’s earlier major. That pin ultimately separated the teams in a dual that stayed competitive until the end.

With bonus points determining the result, the dual emphasized depth and the value of finishes. NC State’s ability to secure a fall, combined with Fishback’s major, overcame North Carolina’s own bonus-point effort and handed the Wolfpack a narrow road victory in Chapel Hill.