North Carolina
Midlands Championships
Tar Heel Wrestling Completes First Day Of Competition At Midlands Tournament
December 29, 1999 | Wrestling
Dec. 29, 1999
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The University of North Carolina wrestling team completed its first day of competition at the Midlands Millenium Wrestling Tournament today at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill. Carolina, which won the prestigious tournament in 1986, had solid Day One showings from Skyler Holman, Corey Bell and Nick Richmond.
Holman, who has been outstanding thus far in 1999 for UNC, got off to a quick start at 125 pounds with a pin of Robert Potashnick (Northwestern) at :50. He won his next bout over Cornell's Aaron Taylor 4-2 before falling to third-seeded Tim Dernlan (Wildcat WC). Holman is slated to face No. 8 seed Chris Williams of Michigan State in the consolation bracket on Thursday.
Bell won a 7-4 decision over Ben Uker (Hawkeye WC) in his first match of the day at 174 lbs. as well as a 4-2 decision over Northern Illinois' Ben Heizer to advance in the consolation bracket.
Richmond, Carolina's starter at 184 pounds, earned a win by fall over Iowa's David Spangler at 4:12 before falling to second-seeded Nate Patrick (Illinois) 20-5 (5:40). Meanwhile, Andrew Slack (141 lbs.), Dennis Landin (157 lbs.), Jamie Groudle (165 lbs.) and Jason Wilson (165 lbs.) also scored wins in today's action.
Iowa (39 points) leads the team competition after the first session, while Edinboro (27 points) stands in second place and Central Michigan (26 points) is in third.
The Tar Heels will be back in action at the two-day event on Thursday. In its 37th year, this year's Midlands Tournament boasts 19 of the nation's top 25 wrestling teams and five individual champions from 1998 have returned to defend their crowns.
The Carolina wrestling team is next in action Jan. 7-8 at the Virginia Duals in Hampton, Va. NC State comes to Chapel Hill on Jan. 11 for Carolina's first home dual meet of the season.
