No. 12 North Carolina upsets No. 3 Virginia Tech, 23-10 in Blacksburg
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by North Carolina Athletics and Virginia Tech Athletics
Image of Kennedy Monday courtesy of @UNCWrestling Twitter.
UNC press release
BLACKSBURG, Va. --- Led by No. 17 Kennedy Monday's technical fall win over No. 3 David McFadden, No. 12 North Carolina defeated No. 3 Virginia Tech, 23-10 Friday night at Cassell Coliseum.
Joey Melendez began the dual with a key upset win over No. 11 Joey Prata. In the first period, Melendez turned Prata and scored four back points, a move that would prove to be the difference-maker. He scored another takedown in the third period on a scramble and won, 8-7, to kick off the night for Carolina.
After Virginia Tech won at 133 pounds, Carolina picked up momentum again with wins in back-to-back bouts. Zach Sherman and Austin O'Connor both won with decisions – Sherman's over another ranked opponent (No. 18 Mitch Moore) – to push the team score in UNC's favor, 9-3, after the first four matches.
A.C. Headlee kept the winning rolling for Carolina at 157 pounds with a win over No. 18 B.C. LaPrade. The redshirt senior scored a takedown in the second, the match's only takedown. He held on through the third period and won, 3-2.
The most notable bout in the match was No. 17 Kennedy Monday's 21-6 technical fall win over No. 3 David McFadden. Monday scored early and often in the first, racking up 10 first-period points with a handful of back points. He rolled and never looked back, utilizing a takedown in the third to end the bout and put five team points on the board for Carolina.
Clay Lautt picked up a 4-1 decision over Cody Hughes at 174 pounds, extending the team score lead to 20-3. Virginia Tech's No. 2 Hunter Bolen won with a major decision at 184 pounds over Joey Mazzara, but Brandon Whitman answered with another Carolina win, a 6-4 decision.
Virginia Tech took the bout at heavyweight, but Carolina's early heroics were more than enough to send the Tar Heels home the winners, 23-10.
Carolina returns to the mat next Friday, January 31 against Duke in Carmichael Arena. The match is set for 7:00 p.m.
No. 12 North Carolina 23, No. 3 Virginia Tech 10
125: Joey Melendez (UNC) dec. #11 Joey Prata, 8-7 – Carolina leads, 3-0
133: Colin Gerardi (VT) dec. Jaime Hernandez (UNC), 4-3 – Tied, 3-3
141: #12 Zach Sherman (UNC) dec. #18 Mitch Moore (VT), 5-2 – Carolina leads, 6-3
149: #2 Austin O'Connor (UNC) dec. Bryce Andonian (VT), 10-4 – Carolina leads, 9-3
157: #19 A.C. Headlee (UNC) dec. #18 B.C. LaPrade (VT), 3-2 – Carolina leads, 12-3
165: #17 Kennedy Monday (UNC) tech fall #3 David McFadden (VT), 21-6 – Carolina leads, 17-3
174: Clay Lautt (UNC) dec. Cody Hughes (VT), 4-1 – Carolina leads, 20-3
184: #2 Hunter Bolen (VT) maj. dec. Joey Mazzara (UNC), 13-4 – Carolina leads, 20-7
197: Brandon Whitman (UNC) dec. Stanley Smeltzer (VT), 6-4 – Carolina leads, 23-7
285: #17 John Borst (VT) dec. Andrew Gunning (UNC), 5-2 – Carolina wins, 23-10
Virginia Tech press release
Hokies stumble vs. North Carolina for first loss
BLACKSBURG - Virginia Tech wrestling was upended Friday night in Cassell Coliseum by 12th-ranked North Carolina 23-10 for its first dual meet loss of the 2019-20 season.
The loss snaps a streak of eight-straight dual wins and the No. 3 Hokies fall to 8-1 on the season, 5-1 against ranked opponents. Collin Gerardi, Hunter Bolen and John Borst picked up wins and Bolen scored bonus points, but it was not enough, and the Tar Heels leave Blacksburg with a victory.
MATCH NOTES
• Collin Gerardi won his 11th match of the season and seventh dual match with a 4-3 decision over Jaime Hernandez. Gerardi scored a takedown in the first period which proved to be the difference.
• Despite not getting the result, freshman Bryce Andonian had a scrappy showing against the second-ranked 149-pound wrestler in the country. Andonian had four escapes in the match and Austin O'Connor won it 10-4.
• Hunter Bolen was the only Tech wrestler to pick up bonus points Friday night. Bolen had five takedowns against Joey Mazzara and took the match by major decision. Bolen is now 19-1 on the season and 9-0 in dual matches.
• John Borst racked up another decision, winning 4-2 over Andrew Gunning. Borst had a takedown in the first and didn't allow much from Gunning throughout the match. Borst improves to 16-5 this season.
UNC press release
BLACKSBURG, Va. --- Led by No. 17 Kennedy Monday's technical fall win over No. 3 David McFadden, No. 12 North Carolina defeated No. 3 Virginia Tech, 23-10 Friday night at Cassell Coliseum.
Joey Melendez began the dual with a key upset win over No. 11 Joey Prata. In the first period, Melendez turned Prata and scored four back points, a move that would prove to be the difference-maker. He scored another takedown in the third period on a scramble and won, 8-7, to kick off the night for Carolina.
After Virginia Tech won at 133 pounds, Carolina picked up momentum again with wins in back-to-back bouts. Zach Sherman and Austin O'Connor both won with decisions – Sherman's over another ranked opponent (No. 18 Mitch Moore) – to push the team score in UNC's favor, 9-3, after the first four matches.
A.C. Headlee kept the winning rolling for Carolina at 157 pounds with a win over No. 18 B.C. LaPrade. The redshirt senior scored a takedown in the second, the match's only takedown. He held on through the third period and won, 3-2.
The most notable bout in the match was No. 17 Kennedy Monday's 21-6 technical fall win over No. 3 David McFadden. Monday scored early and often in the first, racking up 10 first-period points with a handful of back points. He rolled and never looked back, utilizing a takedown in the third to end the bout and put five team points on the board for Carolina.
Clay Lautt picked up a 4-1 decision over Cody Hughes at 174 pounds, extending the team score lead to 20-3. Virginia Tech's No. 2 Hunter Bolen won with a major decision at 184 pounds over Joey Mazzara, but Brandon Whitman answered with another Carolina win, a 6-4 decision.
Virginia Tech took the bout at heavyweight, but Carolina's early heroics were more than enough to send the Tar Heels home the winners, 23-10.
Carolina returns to the mat next Friday, January 31 against Duke in Carmichael Arena. The match is set for 7:00 p.m.
No. 12 North Carolina 23, No. 3 Virginia Tech 10
125: Joey Melendez (UNC) dec. #11 Joey Prata, 8-7 – Carolina leads, 3-0
133: Colin Gerardi (VT) dec. Jaime Hernandez (UNC), 4-3 – Tied, 3-3
141: #12 Zach Sherman (UNC) dec. #18 Mitch Moore (VT), 5-2 – Carolina leads, 6-3
149: #2 Austin O'Connor (UNC) dec. Bryce Andonian (VT), 10-4 – Carolina leads, 9-3
157: #19 A.C. Headlee (UNC) dec. #18 B.C. LaPrade (VT), 3-2 – Carolina leads, 12-3
165: #17 Kennedy Monday (UNC) tech fall #3 David McFadden (VT), 21-6 – Carolina leads, 17-3
174: Clay Lautt (UNC) dec. Cody Hughes (VT), 4-1 – Carolina leads, 20-3
184: #2 Hunter Bolen (VT) maj. dec. Joey Mazzara (UNC), 13-4 – Carolina leads, 20-7
197: Brandon Whitman (UNC) dec. Stanley Smeltzer (VT), 6-4 – Carolina leads, 23-7
285: #17 John Borst (VT) dec. Andrew Gunning (UNC), 5-2 – Carolina wins, 23-10
Virginia Tech press release
Hokies stumble vs. North Carolina for first loss
BLACKSBURG - Virginia Tech wrestling was upended Friday night in Cassell Coliseum by 12th-ranked North Carolina 23-10 for its first dual meet loss of the 2019-20 season.
The loss snaps a streak of eight-straight dual wins and the No. 3 Hokies fall to 8-1 on the season, 5-1 against ranked opponents. Collin Gerardi, Hunter Bolen and John Borst picked up wins and Bolen scored bonus points, but it was not enough, and the Tar Heels leave Blacksburg with a victory.
MATCH NOTES
• Collin Gerardi won his 11th match of the season and seventh dual match with a 4-3 decision over Jaime Hernandez. Gerardi scored a takedown in the first period which proved to be the difference.
• Despite not getting the result, freshman Bryce Andonian had a scrappy showing against the second-ranked 149-pound wrestler in the country. Andonian had four escapes in the match and Austin O'Connor won it 10-4.
• Hunter Bolen was the only Tech wrestler to pick up bonus points Friday night. Bolen had five takedowns against Joey Mazzara and took the match by major decision. Bolen is now 19-1 on the season and 9-0 in dual matches.
• John Borst racked up another decision, winning 4-2 over Andrew Gunning. Borst had a takedown in the first and didn't allow much from Gunning throughout the match. Borst improves to 16-5 this season.
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