ACC Quick Thoughts After Pre-Seed Release: 2021

 The ACC's growth over the years has been phenomenal and to give testimony to the toughness that the conference has become, I honestly can see as many as 41 qualifiers this season.  That's 68% of the available varsity starters of the ACC's six programs advancing to the NCAA tournament.  


125 lbs 

The NCAA has allotted two spots here and I think that is pretty fair.   The final should be Sam Latona of Virginia Tech with a comfortable victory over Joe Camacho of North Carolina state as he's defeated him 7-4 & 10-5 in previous meetings. 


133 lbs 

Both #1 Mickey Phillippi & #2 Korbin Myers of Virginia Tech are undefeated this season, as the nod properly went to Phillippi who over all is 3-1 in matches with Myers.  They have all been close.  2-0, 3-2, 2-1 tiebreaker in favor of Phillippi and 5-3 in favor of Myers.  This should prove to be an exciting, to the wire finals. 

As the NCAA has allotted the top three here, North Carolina's #3 Joe Heilmann will have to fight to earn to earn his spot.  This year he defeated #4 Louie Hayes of Virginia 2-0. He hasn't faced #5 Jarrett Trombley of North Carolina State yet this year, but in the past, it was Trombley who won a 10-2 major decision.   As to Hayes and Trombley, the two have split with Hayes winning a 5-3 tiebreaker and Trombley winning a 4-2 decision.   The battle for third here, is real. 


141 lbs 

#1 Tariq Wilson of North Carolina State defeated #2 Zach Sherman of North Carolina 9-6 in a previous meeting this season.  #3 Brian Courtney of Virginia defeated #4 Cole Matthews of Pittsburgh 3-1 in a previous meeting this season.  If things work out as they do on paper, both the championship final and the consolation final should prove to be good matches. 

However, there's a chance that things don't work that way.  The semi-final between Wilson and Matthews will prove to be good.  Matthews took Wilson into the tiebreakers earlier this year and while Wilson has won two other meetings, Matthews has defeated him in the past.   The other semi-final putting Sherman against Courtney should also prove to be good.  Sherman won their meeting 4-3 earlier this season.   


149 lbs 

Things here are pretty cut and dry.  #1 Austin O'Connor of North Carolina was dominant in his 11-4 meeting with #2 Bryce Andonian of Virginia earlier this season. #3  Ed Scott of North Carolina State sharp 12-6 over Duke's #4 Josh Finesilver.  


157 lbs 

As was 149 lbs, 157 is rather cut and dry.  I think things do point to things ending as they do on paper.  #1 Hayden Hidlay of North Carolina State comfortably defeated #2 Justin McCoy of Virginia 6-3.  ## Connor Brady of Virginia Tech a comfortable win over #4 Josh McClure of North Carolina 6-1. 


165 lbs 

This is perhaps the Atlantic Coast Conference's most interesting weight class.  Pittsburgh's Jake Wentzel takes the #1 seed over #2 Mekhi Lewis of Virginia Tech due to an injury default.  Which leads me to believe that if Lewis is still suffering from that injury, even though he owns an 8-2 victory over #3 Jake Keating of Virginia, that could now prove to be a better semi-final than anticipated.  At 100%, I'd easily give the nod to Lewis.  However, if he's wrestling conservatively because of an injury, this bodes well for Keating.  Keating is relentless in his attacks and has one of the best gas tanks in NCAA Division I wrestling today.  You're not going to beat him playing defense.  

Then to look at the other semi-final.  #1 Wentzel Vs #4 Kennedy Monday of North Carolina.  Wentzel won 10-6 in this year's meeting, as he also owns a 3-2 victory over Monday.  Monday has defeated Wentzel 8-5 in the past. 

If that's not enough, take into consideration that Wentzel's only loss this season is to #5 Thomas Bullard of North Carolina State 4-3.   Bullard lost close matches to Keating as well as Monday, 4-3 and 4-2 respectively.  

A LOT could happen here. 


174 lbs 

#1 Daniel Bullard of North Carolina State and #2 Clay Lautt of North Carolina should give us another exciting final between the two in state rivals.  They're 1-1 against one another with Bullard winning 6-4 and Lautt winning 4-3.   While I can't see #3 Victor Marcelli of Virginia defeating either one, if he holds his position, that should put him in great shape for an at large bid. 


184 lbs 

#1 Hunter Bolen of Virginia Tech has been able to hold off #2 Trent Hidlay of North Carolina State in two 2-1 nail bitters.  It'll be an interesting final.  

#3 Devin Kane of North Carolina looks to be in pretty good shape, as he is 3-0 against #5 Gregg Harvey of Pittsburgh and he has yet to face #4 Michael Battista of Virginia.   Battista defeated Harvey 3-2 earlier this season. 


197 lbs 

#1 Nino Bonaccorsi of Pittsburgh defeated #2 Jay Aiello of Virginia 7-5 earlier this season, and this will for sure prove to be another great match between the two.   I think spots 3 through 5 are up for grabs between #3 Max Shaw of North Carolina, #4 Nick Reenan of North Carolina State & #5 Stan Smeltzer of Virginia Tech.  If they finish in order, I can see only four being sent here.  However, if Smeltzer can upset his way to either third or fourth place, look for all five to receive bids to the NCAA tournament. 


HWT 

I think things will work out as they have on paper here.  #1 Deonte Wilson of North Carolina State defeated #2 Quinn Miller of Virginia 2-0 earlier this year.  The score making the match seem closer than the control Wilson displayed.  #3 Jon Borst of Virginia Tech defeating #4 Andrew Gunning of North Carolina 3-1, as he's defeated him three other times in his career.   

Give it a slight probability that Borst may be able to knock off Miller in the semi-finals.  Miller won a tight 6-4 decision earlier this season.