As somebody who enjoys coding while majoring in computer science, NC State sophomore Koy Buesgens has a knack for solving problems by turning ideas into step-by-step instructions that a computer can understand and execute.

That ideology correlates perfectly with a wrestling mat, where learning from your mistakes and continually thinking of ways to make constant improvement is key.

After a rookie campaign that saw him earn a podium finish at the 2025 ACC Championships and advance to the NCAA Championships, Buesgens has taken the next step and transitioned this year into a top-10 wrestler at 149 pounds. 

“Being in the lineup after facing so many top guys was not only a huge jump from high school, but it was also a huge jump from my redshirt season,” Buesgens said. “At NC State, you know you are walking in, and you've got top-level guys that are just ready to scrap with you.

“It was a big switch, and I feel good now. I feel acclimated. Last year was a great opportunity to continue to acclimate to it and really get in there and find where I was among those top guys in the country.”

Buesgens was known as being a tough wrestler to score on last year, and over the summer the NC State coaches challenged him to work on his offense and find more attacks from neutral.

“I worked a lot on my offense and a big part of creating offense was the ability to pressure and keep pressure on my opponent,” Buesgens said. “I've been feeling really good about it recently. I was able to open up on some guys, create a lot of offense on the feet.”

He has opened the season with a 10-1 start. The first weekend of the season, he brought home the title at the Southeast Open after a top-10 win in the final. He then continued with three ranked wins at the National Duals Invitational.

“He's made some huge gains mentally and physically, and we always knew that he could wrestle, and he has the technique behind it and the mindset to be great,” NC State coach Pat Popolizio said. “It's tough. Anytime you're a freshman in our lineup, expectations are there. It's a tough challenge, but once you get a year under your belt, you know what's at stake, you know what needs to be done.”

Buesgens grew up in New Prague, Minnesota, and trained at the Pinnacle Wrestling Academy. Jared Lawrence — one of his coaches at Pinnacle — had a Utah-based connection with former NC State assistant Adam Hall. Buesgens was sold on coming to Raleigh and joining the Pack after a home visit and a trip onto campus.

“I knew a lot of the guys on the team at the time or heard of them as well as the incoming class, and knew it was going to be a great team,” Buesgens said. “It was exactly what I was looking for in a program.”

While the early-season results have been positive for Buesgens, the season is long and the competition this year at 149 pounds will feature many more ranked-versus-ranked matchups.

“He's so skilled and has a really good style for college,” Popolizio said. “He's really good on top. He's explosive. He's in great shape. And he's a smart kid.

“He's going to have a great opportunity all year to wrestle some of the best guys in the country.”

Competition At 133 Pounds

As the calendar turns to the second semester, it appears the Pack rolls into January with some competition for the starting spot at 133 pounds.

Two-time All-American Kai Orine used up his eligibility and is now an assistant coach at Little Rock. To fill his vacated spot, the Pack has turned to both an in-house candidate and added a piece from the transfer portal.

So far, transfer Zach Redding and junior Troy Hohman have been battling it out for the spot.

“Any time you have two really good guys at the same weight it motivates both guys to continue to get better,” Popolizio said. “It's a long season, and I just feel like, in time, someone is going to separate themselves.

Redding transferred to the Pack for his final season after spending the previous five years at Iowa State. A N.Y., native, he was an NCAA qualifier in both 2021 and 2023, reaching the blood round in 2023.

“Zach coming here and having the experiences that he does, I think, is going to bring a lot to the table,” Popolizio said. “He's shown that he can win against the best guys in the country. He's had a lot of success in the lineup. and going far into the NCAA tournament.”

Hohman is back down to his natural weight this year. Late last year, he was asked to bump up to 141 pounds for the final month of the season and came within a win at the ACC Championship of earning an NCAA bid despite only being at the weight for two duals.

“I really like where we are at with Troy; he has been wrestling hard, and you see that in his results,” Popolizio said. “He is where he needs to be right now as far as his weight, but he has been a tremendous teammate over the last couple of years doing what we have asked of him.”

Redding’s highlight win thus far was a 5-2 overtime decision over #12 Julian Farber of Northern Iowa at the National Duals. Hohman improved his resume recently with a ranked win over Javaan Yarbrough of Morgan State (12-5).

“We’ve got to let those guys figure it out and give them equal opportunities,” Popolizio said. “That's our goal. At the end of the day, we have to make NC State Wrestling the best team we possibly can.”