NC State wrestling kept six of its seven competitors in contention after the first day of the 2026 NCAA Championships, with freshman Will Denny and sixth-year Isaac Trumble advancing to the quarterfinals on March 20.
The progress of Denny and Trumble is significant for NC State, as both wrestlers continue their runs in the championship bracket. Their advancement helps keep team hopes alive heading into the second day of competition at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
Denny, making his national tournament debut, reached the 165-pound quarterfinal by defeating No. 7 Max Brignola of Lehigh in sudden victory. He is set to face second-seeded Joey Blaze of Purdue in session three. Trumble maintained an undefeated season record at 18-0 by earning bonus point wins over Brenan Morgan of Virginia and Brady Colbert of Army. His next opponent will be seventh-seeded Konner Doucet from Oklahoma State.
Vincent Robinson faced a tough draw against last year’s national finalist Troy Spratley from Oklahoma State in the second round. Despite holding a previous lead in their all-time meetings, Robinson lost 8-5 and moves into the consolation bracket where he will meet Brady Roark of South Dakota State.
As a team, NC State sits in 16th place with 11.5 points—the second-highest total among teams with seven or fewer wrestlers remaining. Zach Redding was forced out due to injury during his first match at 133 pounds, becoming the only Wolfpack wrestler eliminated on day one.
Looking ahead, Denny and Trumble’s continued presence in the championship bracket provides momentum for NC State as they seek further advancement and team points during day two.