North Carolina
Midlands Championships
Holman, Bell And Richmond Lead Tar Heel Wrestlers At Midland Tournament
December 30, 1999 | Wrestling
Dec. 30, 1999
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - University of North Carolina wrestlers Skyler Holman, Corey Bell and Nick Richmond led the way for the Tar Heel wrestling team at the two-day Midlands Millenium Wrestling Tournament at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill. Competition in the 37-year-old tournament was to finish late this evening on the Northwestern University campus.
Wrestling at 125 lbs., Holman was forced to the consolation bracket after two early wins on Wednesday but responded with four consecutive victories to earn a spot in the fifth-place bout, which was scheduled for late this evening in Evanston. Holman earned decisions over Michigan State's Chris Williams (7-0), Michigan's A.J. Grant (7-1), Michigan's Matt Warner (2-1) and Eastern Michigan's Claudell Ruffin (5-1) before falling to third-seeded Tim Demlan of Ohio International in a 2-1 match. Holman's bout with fifth-seeded Jason Gabrielson (Edinboro) was to finish late Thursday night Eastern Time.
Bell and Richmond also each enjoyed success versus the stiff competition at the Midlands. At 174 lbs., Bell followed a 4-2 decision over Northern Illinois' Ben Heizer with a 12-2 major decision win over UNC Greensboro's Bill Kopecky and a 3-2 decision over Cornell's Joe Tucceri. Bell finished the meet 4-2 after losing by fall at 5:49 to seventh-seeded Mark Bybee of Northwestern. Meanwhile, at 184 lbs. Richmond earned three wins at the Midlands, including wins in the consolation bracket over No. 5 seed Rob Rohn (Lehigh, medical forfeit) and David Potter (Northen Illinois, 3-2) before the freshman eventually fell to eighth-seeded Lionel Halsey of Cal. State Bakersfield.
This year's Midlands Tournament boasted 19 of the nation's top 25 wrestling teams and five defending Midlands champions.
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.
