College wrestling long has resembled a one-sided tug-of-war with varying programs on the fringe attempting to pull the epicenter of the sport away from the Midwest. The lopsidedness of the fight is reflected in the fact that only six national championships have been won by programs outside the nation’s corn belt.
Monday evening’s match between N.C. State and North Carolina perhaps signals the latest attempt by another region of the country to wrestle – pardon the pun – dominance from the Oklahoma States and Iowas of the sport.
The recent emergence of N.C. State and UNC on the national scene represents a groundswell of quality programs in the southeast, primarily in the ACC and in North Carolina.