North Carolina
NC State
Bentley Injured as N.C. State Wrestlers Edge UNC, 18-17
June 21, 1999 | Wrestling
February 18, 1999
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- N.C. State won four of the first six individual bouts of the evening and held on to defeat No. 21 North Carolina, 18-17, Thursday evening at Carmichael Auditorium. In the process, Tar Heel sophomore JohnMark Bentley, ranked No. 5 in the country at 149 lbs., suffered a badly sprained right ankle that forced him to default to Wolfpack redshirt freshman John Carreon, who had entered the match with a record of 1-9 this season.
The victory is N.C. State's second in a row over UNC in Chapel Hill. Carolina has now lost just two of its last 34 matches against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents, with both of the losses coming at home to N.C. State in the last two seasons.
In a random draw, the 149 lb. bout was chosen to be the first match of the evening. Bentley, who had won 17 of his last 18 matches entering Thursday's action, was a heavy favorite to defeat the inexperienced Carreron. But Bentley rolled his right ankle 1:39 into the first period and could not continue, giving the Wolfpack a 6-0 lead. Bentley was taken to UNC Student Health Services for x-rays shortly thereafter. The x-rays were negative, but Bentley's status for the ACC Championships March 6 is questionable, according to UNC team physician Mario Ciocca.
After Carreon staked N.C. State to a 6-0 lead, Pierre Pryor decisioned Pat Cadwallader to give the Wolfpack a 9-0 lead in team points after two matches.
UNC pulled to within 9-7 as Dan Calhoun decisioned John Grochowski at 165 lbs. and Jamie Groudle major decisioned Joel Dramis at 174 lbs. N.C. State got wins from Kevin Boross (184 lbs.) and Zach Breitenbach (197 lbs.) in the next two matches to take a 15-7 lead entering the heavyweight match.
At heavyweight, UNC redshirt freshman Matt Kenny nearly pinned Billy Noble but had to settle for a 9-0 major decision win that cut the State lead to 15-11. After sixth-ranked Chuckie Connor (125 lbs.) and Brad Byers (133 lbs.) each earned decisions, Carolina held a tenuous, 17-15 lead heading into the final match of the evening. Wolfpack sophomore Tommy Davis, ranked No. 15 in the nation at 141 lbs., was too much for Josh Cowley, however, and held Cowley scoreless for a 6-0 victory that ensured the Wolfpack win.
The win improved N.C. State to 8-7, 2-2 in the ACC. Carolina fell to 11-5, 4-1. The Tar Heels return to action in two weeks at the ACC Championships in Charlottesville, Va., on March 6.
N.C. State 18, No. 21 North Carolina 17
149 lbs. John Carreon (NCSU) defeats #5 JohnMark Bentley by injury default, 1:21 157 lbs. Pierre Pryor (NCSU) dec. Pat Cadwallader, 7-2 165 lbs. Dan Calhoun (UNC) dec. John Grochowski, 4-1 174 lbs. Jamie Groudle (UNC) major dec. Joel Dramis, 13-3 184 lbs. Kevin Boross (NCSU) dec. Corey Bell, 6-3 197 lbs. Zach Breitenbach (NCSU) dec. Ty Roofner, 4-2 Hwt. Matt Kenny (UNC) major dec. Billy Noble, 9-0 125 lbs. #6 Chuckie Connor (UNC) dec. Lee Carroll, 6-3 133 lbs. Brad Byers (UNC) dec. Greg Bauer, 7-5 141 lbs. #15 Tommy Davis (NCSU) dec. Josh Cowley, 6-0
