Brunswick's Derek Fields to become part of Wolfpack

BRUNSWICK — Save the nametag. Derek Fields doesn't need one.The Brunswick standout could have wrestled pretty much wherever he wanted after a fantastic summer. He had North Carolina, Cleveland State, Bucknell and Edinboro after his services, but North Carolina State felt like home.The sophomore has been visiting there quite a bit with his brother, Matt, already wrestling for the Atlantic Coast Conference champion Wolfpack.Having watched his brother go through the recruiting process, Fields got to know coach Pat Popolizio and his staff. He got to know the wrestlers and see the program from the inside out."I'm going to be with my brother, and I like the campus a lot," Fields said. "I think it's the best place for me. I like where the program is going. We're going to be very good in a couple years."Familiarity helped a lot, because I knew what they were all about. They want to be champions. That's what I want to be surrounded by. All the guys on the team are all really cool to me. Knowing the older kids, that will help me grow as a wrestler."The 138-pounder qualified for the Division I state tournament as a freshman and was a Fargo All-American in Cadet freestyle. He won the Solon Comet Classic, Bill Dies and Greater Cleveland Conference last season and is 58-11 in two seasons with the Blue Devils.When Fields wasn't able to compete in the postseason last winter, he turned his eyes to summer wrestling and already has won the Southeast Regional and finished second at the United World Wrestling Nationals in Akron. He'll head to Fargo on July 11 with the Junior freestyle team.Fields, who carries a 3.0 grade-point average, wants to major in medicine."I want it super bad," he said. "I want to be starting as soon as I get down here. I'm just going to have to work harder and get after it in the practice room. This has been the summer I envisioned. I've been doing really well. It's just bringing me up, helping me out a lot and showing me who I am."Fields knows he's headed to a program that is flourishing under Popolizio.Popolizio was named the 2018 Dan Gable Co-NCAA Coach of the Year. Over the last six seasons, NC State has had three national champions and 12 All-Americans. The Wolfpack also has produced four of the last six ACC Wrestlers of the Year and six top-20 finishes at the NCAA Championships.Popolizio has had 49 NCAA qualifiers in his seven seasons and has qualified 36 of his 40 starters in the last four years. The Wolfpack has also posted a 67-8 dual record."I do what I have to do," Fields said. "I work hard and never quit not even when I'm down low. I'm always trying to score those points and always working hard in the classroom."Contact Brad Bournival at bournival929@gmail.com.