When inserted into a starting lineup from Day 1, true freshmen often make a splash in collegiate wrestling as the intrigue of an unknown and unproven wrestler on this stage catches a lot of attention.

The focus soon shifts to the “sophomore jump” they hopefully will take going into Year 2.

One NC State wrestler who has seen that jump midway through his second season in the lineup is Jackson Arrington, the Pack’s 149-pound starter.

As a true freshman last season, Arrington went 23-9, facing 13 ranked foes. An NCAA qualifier, Arrington was an ACC finalist in his first campaign.

“I was ready to compete last year,” Arrington said. “If the coaches wanted me to redshirt, I would have done that, but the coaches said I was the guy for 149. I was really happy to do it.

“Last year I learned the most during that season than I probably did my entire time wrestling. You come in from high school, you are ready and excited. But you learn so much just from being in the room with All-Americans and all these ranked teammates. I grew a lot last year.”

While Arrington was pleased with his first season, the way the season ended was bittersweet. He scored a first-round win then fell to eventual national champion Yianni Diakomihalis of Cornell. Battling back in the consolation bracket, Arrington picked up two more victories to reach the blood round.

That proved to be his final bout, however, as a last-second loss to Missouri’s Brock Mauller ended his season just one win shy of All-American honors.

“The most motivating loss you can ever have is losing in the Round of 12 at the NCAAs,” Arrington said. “You know you are so close, and the way my particular match went when I lost in the last few seconds of the blood round. It was fuel and fire in my preparation for this season. In the end, I think it set me on a good path.”

This offseason, Arrington knew the coaches expected a big jump in his performance. This was an important offseason of improvement for himself.

“I really matured mentally this offseason, maybe looking at wrestling a little bit differently,” Arrington said. “Technique-wise, I worked on (getting to my offense) different than an underhook, develop different attacks. Also, develop on top, really work on riding guys out and scoring back points.”

Arrington started the season ranked eighth nationally. With his 12-1 start, including avenging his lone loss of the season to Ohio State’s Dylan D’Emilio, Arrington currently sits #4 entering the start of ACC competition.

“I’m hoping that I will continue to get better as this season goes along, but I do think it has been a very positive jump from my season last year,” he said. “I’m going to have the coaches continue to push me, and my teammates help me work harder in the room.”

Looking at the ACC at 149 pounds, Arrington is one of five wrestlers who are ranked this week. All five are only freshmen and sophomores, so these rivals could face off for many years to come. Standing at the head of the group is returning All-American and #2 Caleb Henson of Virgnia Tech.

“I’m always excited to get on the mat and compete,” Arrington said. “I think facing some of these top guys is only going to get me better.

“I need to stay confident in myself and my abilities. No matter who I wrestle, just know that I can go out and compete with anybody and win any match. Being confident and staying relaxed, but also getting excited to go out there and compete. I just want to go out and let it fly.”

NC State head coach Pat Popolizio and his staff knew what they were getting in Arrington after recruiting him out of Forest Hills High School in Pennsylvania which is just under two hours east of Pittsburgh. Arrington was a three-time state PA champion, and the #16 overall recruit in his class according to FloWrestling.

Arrington was thrown into the Pack’s starting lineup as a true freshman last season, and that experience and success helped pave the way to his early results this year. 

“He has looked really good,” Popolizio said. “He gained a ton of experience as a freshman and then matured a lot in the offseason and put on some size. He has been wrestling really confident and working extremely hard in our room. He has some great guys to train with, and I see big things to come for him this year.

“He is a really offensive wrestler on his feet and can wrestle on top. He is going to be a threat, I expect him to have that breakthrough, hopefully ending with competing on Saturday at the NCAA Championships.”

The middle of the Pack’s lineup is loaded, with a trio of top-10 wrestlers. Arrington has the luxury of a pair of top-10 practice partners in Ryan Jack (#4 at 141 pounds) and Ed Scott (#9 at 157 pounds). 

“I rotate with those two guys quite a bit,” Arrington said.

In addition to improving his skill set on the mat with so many highly ranked teammates, Arrington has picked up a new skill off the mat since his freshman campaign, teaching himself to play the guitar.

“I’ve actually increased my playing, especially over break with no school,” he said. “I just like to unwind by sitting at home and playing. My roommates (Issac Trumble and Owen Trephan) tend to just tune it out now.

“I listen to a lot of rock and metal music, so I just listen to songs and then look things up on YouTube and try to learn as much as I can.”

When Arrington and the Pack take the mat next, it will have been three weeks since the last dual. NC State has been focused on a new training cycle and getting ready for conference action to start.

“We are training hard right now, definitely have some time in the room to work on different things,” Arrington said. “We are at a time right now where it is a final push to March. Everybody in the room is focused on getting better, this is a good time for us to be improving.”

Up Next

NC State will open ACC action on Friday, January 26 by traveling to Pitt. The dual is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET and will be televised on the ACC Network.

The dual has the potential to feature nine ranked-versus-ranked matchups (every weight class but 157 pounds). Feature bouts include: at 133 pounds #5 Kai Orine vs. #14 Vince Santaniello, at 184 pounds #11 Dylan Fishback vs. #12 Reece Heller, and at heavyweight #14 Owen Trephan vs. #10 Dayton Pitzer.

The Wolfpack has claimed at least a share of top honors for the ACC Dual Championship in five of the last six years. Over the last six seasons, NC State is 27-3 in ACC duals.