Photo Courtesy/N.C. STATE ATHLETICS N.C. STATE senior Tariq Wilson -- who is a Steubenville High School graduate -- wrestles North Carolina’s Zach Sherman Sunday evening during the annual Atlantic Coast Conference championship tournament held in Raleigh. Wilson was the top seed in the event and posted a 10-1 major decision.

By KIM NORTH

Times Leader Sports Writer

RALEIGH, N.C. — The third time was definitely a charm for Tariq Wilson.

After placing second at the ACC Wrestling Tournament the past two seasons, Wilson, a Steubenville High School graduate, made it to the top step of the awards podium Sunday night following a convincing, 10-1, major decision of North Carolina’s second-seeded Zach Sherman in the 141 pound finals.

“It was a bittersweet victory,” Wilson admitted during a telephone interview Monday afternoon. “Going into the match I was thinking about the loss last year and the fact that the NCAA Championships were canceled due to COVID-19.”

What made the win even more special was the fact that Wilson got it done in front of the home fans as the one-day tournament was held inside James T. Valvano Arena at William Neal Reynolds Coliseum.

“It was big to have family and friends in attendance,” he admitted. “It was good to hear your name announced as the champion and the crowd going wild.”

Following a scoreless three-minute first period, the Wolfpack’s redshirt senior erupted for seven points in the second period to take command.

“We’ve wrestled each other so many times over the last five years and we’ve adapted to each other’s strengths,” he said of his finals matchup with Sherman. “The first period was more of a feeling out by each of us. Each of us was waiting on the other to react first or make a mistake.”

Wilson chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped for a 1-0 lead. He then recorded a takedown and put Sherman on his back for a two-point nearfall and a 5-0 lead. He later got two more back points as the period ended with him leading 7-0. Wilson secured his championship with another takedown in the third period and added on a point for riding time. Sherman’s lone point came when Wilson was called for stalling late in the match.

The No. 1 seed, Wilson, who was a four-time Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Ron Mauck Tournament champion during his prep days at Big Red, received a first-round bye before taking out Pitt’s No. 4 seeded Cole Matthews, 7-2, in the semifinals.

“I’m going to enjoy today before getting back in the office (wrestling room) on Tuesday. There are some things that I need to work on before the nationals.”

Wilson was one of five N.C. State individuals to claim titles as the Wolfpack three-peated its team championship. The hosts amassed 89.5 points which was two dozen ahead of runnerup, Virginia Tech.

“We came in here with a chip on our shoulders after losing the dual meet title (to Virginia Tech), so this feels really good,” he said of the team crown.

With his individual medal around his neck, Wilson, now 10-0, will now turn his attention to the NCAA Championships on March 18-20 inside Enterprise Center in St. Louis.

He was an All-American as a freshman, placing third at 133 pounds when he stunned the field by upsetting the fourth- and fifth-seeds en route to the semifinals. However, he dropped a tough overtime nod to top-seeded Daniel Gross of South Dakota State, who was the eventual titlist. After losing in the semifinals, he bounced back with a pair of major decisions in the consolation bracket, including 17-8 verdict over Ohio State’s third-seeded Luke Pletcher to finish with the bronze medal.

“There aren’t too many curveballs that can be thrown at me that I haven’t seen,” he admitted. “Having experience in that type of atmosphere and environment won’t affect me. I’ll be ready to wrestle.”

Over the duration of his career, both in high school and college, he has shown that to be true.