The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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JULY 2016 ■ 129 a team, the best standing since 1993. Popo‑ lizio also signed the top‑ranked recruiting class in the country. For all that, he was named the National Coach of the Year by FloWrestling.com. ■ Individual Male Performance Of The Year Nick Gwiazdowski's national champion‑ ship wrestling match against Ohio State's Kyle Snyder was billed as one of the most heavily anticipated heavyweight bouts in history. It lived up to the hype. Gwiazdowski ultimately fell short, losing 7‑5 in overtime to Snyder, but it was Snyder who had to rally to force the extra time. Gwiazdowski led 3‑1 entering the third pe‑ riod, and he scored a takedown to lead 5‑3 with less than a minute left. Snyder, though, landed his own takedown with just 20 seconds remaining, and he was able to desperately hold onto Gwiazdows‑ ki's ankle as the final seconds ticked off, preventing the NCSU Star from getting an escape point that would have won the title. Gwiazdowski still became just the fourth Wolfpack wrestler ever to win three All‑ America honors. ■ Individual Female Performance Of The Year Alexis Perry's final meet of her NC State career was a history‑making event. She fin‑ ished fourth at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the long jump to earn first‑team All‑America honors. The school record holder in the long jump leaped 20‑8.50 at the NCAA Championships to become just the second first‑team All‑Amer‑ ican in that event in school history, joining Karimah Shepherd (2013). The same day she capped her long jump‑ ing career, Perry advanced to the finals of the 100‑meter hurdles that was held two Head wrestling coach Pat Popolizio led his squad to the ACC title and a No. 11 finish at nationals, and then he inked the No. 1 recruit- ing class in the country. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP Gardner Marsh Gas Equipment Company, Inc. 8209 Brownleigh Drive 2119 Jody Road Raleigh, NC 27617 Florence, SC 29501 Ph: 919 787 8214 Ph: 843 669 3136 Ph: 800 334 9245 Ph: 800 868 8988 Fax: 800 400 2596 Fax: 843 661 5236 Web: www.gardnermarsh.com 2400 Reliance Ave, Apex, NC • 919.362.5959