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Steubenville grad Wilson ready for new season at N.C. State

When Tariq Wilson lists his goals for the 2019-20 wrestling season, things like national championship, ACC championship and all-American are there, but they’re not listed directly.

Instead, the Steubenville High School graduate and current N.C. State red-shirt junior has simplified his goals to a point that if he accomplishes them, the more specific opportunities will sort themselves out.

“I want to face all of the high-level competition and make a statement against every opponent,” Wilson said during a recent phone interview. “I want to win every tournament I enter and have the mindset that I am the best (wrestler) each time I step foot on the mat. I do not ever want to have a doubt in my mind about my skill level or talent.”

Wilson has proven over and over again that he belongs. But, the way the 2018-19 season concluded in Pittsburgh hasn’t sat well with Wilson, who has used coming up a victory shy of attaining his second all-American honor as definite motivation.

“I have really worked to fine tune things that needed attention,” Wilson said. “I was that close to being all-American again and I was pretty upset for not achieving that goal.”

A three-time all-Ohio during his prep days, Wilson finished the season with a 17-5 record despite missing almost two months, recovering from an injury he sustained during a dual at Ohio State in early January. All told, Wilson is 44-15 as a collegiate competitor.

“That set me back, but I don’t think it took a big toll on me,” Wilson confessed. “I felt like I was going to win that match and to go from that to having to sit out a month is tough. It was hard, but I realized I had to get healthy to be able to come back and try to help the team achieve its goals.”

Wilson got back in the lineup in February and got back in the lineup in time for the ACC Championships where he advanced to the championship bout, but settled for the runner-up award.

“Another goal is to go undefeated in the ACC and eventually win the (conference) championship,” Wilson said.

Wilson, who has always prided himself on his leadership and work ethic, was recently recognized by the Wolfpack coaching staff by being named one of the team captains for the season.

Last season, Wilson was considered a leader of the squad, but the coaching staff didn’t name official captains.

“I was an unspoken captain last year, but they (formally) announced it this year, so now I have to set an example for the younger guys as well as the older guys,” Wilson said. “I just want to try to do everything right and accomplish me goals.”

N.C. State officially opens its regular season on Nov. 15 in a home match against Old Dominion.

“I can’t wait,” Wilson said. “I’ve been waiting for this particular moment to show off all of my skills and all of the work I put in during the summer.”

Wilson will be wrestling this season at 141 pounds, which is a jump up from the 133 where he competed each of the past two seasons.

“It’s a good weight for me,” Wilson said. “I’ve put on some muscle, but I am still in the adjustment period, too. I have to kind of learn how to use those muscles and carry the extra weight, but both myself and the coaches think it was the best move for me.”

Wilson is on track to graduate in the spring of 2021 with a communications degree.

“It’s really hard to believe how quickly college has gone,” Wilson said. “Time has just flown by. You hit college and it’s almost over in basically a blink of an eye.”

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