RALEIGH, N.C. — Honoring America’s military will be the theme of the day on Feb. 15 for the NC State wrestling team. The Wolfpack will wrestle The Citadel in a dual match that night at 7 p.m., but the entire day will be Military Appreciation Day for NC State wrestling.

“Having grown up in Virginia Beach surrounded by the military, I’ve always had a great affinity for our men and women of the armed services,” Wolfpack coach Carter Jordan says. “For our program to be able to honor the military this way is a great honor for me.”

Military Appreciation Day will include displays featuring U.S. military plus the NC State ROTC units, a U.S. Army color guard for the playing of the National Anthem, an Army Hummer H3 in the Coliseum parking lot with a game system in back, push-up board and chin-up bars behind the wrestling mat, and a cadre of 20 members of the Wounded Warriors, who will sit matside during the match.

Major General Karl Horst of the United States Joint Forces Command and Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Ratashak of the NC State Army ROTC will serve as honoray captains for the match. There will be a halftime presentation of plaques to Gen. Horst and Lt. Col. Ratashak honoring them for their service to NC State University, college athletics, and Wolfpack wrestling. That presentation will be followed by a performance by the NC State Dance Team. Former Wolfpack wrestlers now serving in the military have been invited back to the event. Those who are able to attend will be honored during the match.

“Gen. Horst and Lt. Col. Ratashak have been most cooperative in helping us put this together,” Jordan says. “I really want to do it up right and show are servicemen and women just how much NC State University and the Wolfpack wrestling program cares about them.”