Under the leadership of Pat Popolizio, NC State has vaulted itself into the national conversation and asserted control over the ACC. Now back-to-back-to-back conference champions, NC State is poised to add a fourth-straight with their probable 2021-2022 starting lineup.

2021-2022 NC State Projected Lineup Look

125: Jakob Camacho

133: Jarrett Trombley

141: Kai Orrine

149: Tariq Wilson

157: Ed Scott

165: Thomas Bullard

174: Hayden Hidlay

184: Trent Hidlay

197: Isaac Trumble

285: Deonte Wilson

Other Lineup Looks: Iowa | Penn State | Cornell

125: Jakob Camacho, JR

Jakob Camacho has been poised for All-American finishes in his first two seasons at NC State. He beat Jack Mueller in the ACC finals as a freshman and was the six-seed this season. That was until the NCAA Championships were canceled in 2020 and Camacho ran into Killian Cardinale who was on an absolute heater at NCAAs. Now, he’ll be back as a junior for NC State with a record of 30-10 and just two national qualifying seasons. Can he break through in year three?

133: Jarrett Trombley, JR

Jarrett Trombley has a very similar college resume to Camacho so far: junior with a 30-15 record and two national qualifying seasons. There were a few questions about who would be the starter last year between Trombley and freshman Kai Orrine and Ryan Jack, Trombley proved this season that he isn’t going anywhere.

141: Kai Orrine, SO

With Tariq Wilson announcing he’s moving up to 149 next season, I believe sophomore Kai Orrine will step in. He competed at 133 as a redshirt before moving up to 141 last season where he went 6-1 with a win over Gabe Tagg. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ryan Jack move up from 133 and push Orrine for the spot.

149: Tariq Wilson, SR

Tariq Wilson has been a staple of the NC State lineup for the past four years and 2021-22 will be no different. Well, the weight will be different.

Wilson set Cleveland on fire as a freshman going from unseeded to third at 133 lbs. He repeated that performance again this season finishing third in a tough 141 lbs bracket, majoring both Sebastian Rivera and Chad Red. 149 won’t be any easier next season with the top three finishers returning and the possibility of Yianni Diakomihalis and/or Nick Lee moving up. It seems like NCAA Tariq can beat just about anyone, however.

Watch Tariq Wilson major Sebastian Rivera for 3rd place at the NCAA Championships below.

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157: Ed Scott, SO

If there are weights up for grabs, 157 is among them. Hayden Hidlay has done a tremendous job of holding down this spot for the past four years, but he announced he would be moving up to 174 lbs, so his hole needs to be filled. With Wilson moving up, I think that will force the 2021 149 starter, Ed Scott, up to 157. Scott went 6-6 and failed to qualify for the national tournament this season as a true freshman. Scott was a top-20 recruit coming out of high school, so the potential is there. I think he was just thrown into the fire a bit as a true freshman, but the experience will be beneficial heading into his sophomore year.

165: Thomas Bullard, SR

A 4X national qualifier, Thomas Bullard will be using his extra year of eligibility to try one last time to get on the podium in March. He was the 10-seed in 2020 before the NCAA tournament was canceled. The soon-to-be super senior went 2-2 at the 2021 national tournament and 7-7 overall this season.

174: Hayden Hidlay, SR

Hayden Hidlay answered a lot of Wolfpack prayers and surprised a lot of wrestling fans when he announced he would be returning, but up two weight classes at 174 lbs.

🚨 He's BACK 🚨@Hidlaymania announced he will return in the Red & White singlet! Hear him talk about the decision & what went into his thought process on a new #PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast.

🎧 https://t.co/iW3kBTCmr6
💻 https://t.co/2fjeAy8OPC
📰 https://t.co/ZFj16aFk3Z pic.twitter.com/Wcc652Qhjq

— NC State Wrestling 🤼‍♂️ (@PackWrestle) March 25, 2021

Michael Kemerer, who will be one of the main obstacles in Hidlay’s way to a title next season, showed that you can successfully go from 157 to 174 lbs. Having another year of Hayden’s leadership as an athlete will be an immeasurable benefit to NC State. Hayden was the key part of Pat Popolizio’s huge 2016 recruiting class that helped bring NC State wrestling to the forefront. 

184: Trent Hidlay, JR

Back-to-back Hidlay is reason enough to watch NC State wrestling in 2021-22. Trent has just six losses in his career and is coming off of an NCAA finals performance as a sophomore. A very close and winnable one-point NCAA final that came down to a stall call, too. 

Watch Trent Hidlay make the 2021 NCAA finals below.

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197: Isaac Trumble, SO

I know Nick Reenan was awarded the starting 197 lbs spot over Isaac Trumble towards the end of this season, but I’m going with upside here. Trumble was just a true freshman last year wrestling at a man’s weight of 197 lbs, but he still went 6-1 with a win over Nino Bonaccorsi, who would go on to make the finals while Reenan went 0-2 at NCAAs. Another year of college wrestling, training, and improving under his belt and I don’t think Trumble is losing matches to people like Kaden Russell. I think he is fighting for a spot on the podium.

285: Deonte Wilson, SR

The reigning 285 lbs ACC champion, Deonte Wilson went undefeated in the regular season this season. His two best wins of the season were to both Virginia Tech heavies: Hunter Catka and John Borst. After a 1-2 performance at NCAAs, I'm guessing Wilson will be motivated to outperform last season.