March 22, 2007

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Atlantic Coast Conference announced the recipients of its postseason wrestling awards today, as voted on by the league's six head coaches. After winning the 2007 championship, NC State swept the awards. Darrion Caldwell claimed both Wrestler and Freshman of the Year honors, while Wolfpack head coach Carter Jordan garnered Coach of the Year accolades.

Darrion Caldwell is the first wrestler to sweep conference awards, after winning the 141-pound weight class and finishing the ACC regular season 5-0. The Rahway, N.J., native won the ACC title with a pin and a major decision in his three victories. He is the first NC State wrestler to garner Wrestler of the Year honors since 1993.

Unseeded in the NCAA Championship but ranked 17th in nation, Caldwell opened the tournament with a pin of the number nine seeds and advanced on an injury default by the number eight seed after holding a strong advantage early. He fell to the top seed in the quarterfinals before being eliminated in the wrestlebacks to go 2-2 in the NCAA tournament. He finished the season 20-6 overall and 12-2 in dual matches. He led the team with a Wolfpack freshman record 10 pins and posted a 4-2 mark against ranked opponents.

Carter Jordan's Wolfpack won the 2007 ACC title when a school-record tying eight wrestlers advanced to the finals. It is the school's first ACC title since 2004 and the 14th overall. Five Wolfpack wrestlers won their weight classes and participated in the NCAA Championship, giving the team a tie for 38th nationally. NC State finished the regular season 13-7 overall and 4-2 in the ACC, winning its last six matches including a 22-18 victory at #18 Indiana. In his three years at NC State, Jordan is 32-20-1 overall and 11-6-1 in the ACC.

-ACC-