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Carolina Wrestlers Fall To NC State, 19-16
February 15, 2001 | Wrestling
Feb. 15, 2001
The University of North Carolina wrestling team lost its regular season finale, 19-16, to NC State Thursday night at Carmichael Auditorium. The Tar Heels finish the regular season at 8-5, 4-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, while the Wolfpack are 10-7, 3-1 in ACC.
As the result of a random draw, the matches started at 140 pounds where NC State's Orafeo Brown took a 12-5 decision over Mike Booth. A matchup of the top two 149 pounders in the ACC was next, and Carolina's JohnMark Bentley used an escape at 1:42 of the third period to take a 3-2 decision over Tommy Davis. Bentley finishes the regular season with a 26-1 overall record and has won 17 consecutive matches.
NC State's Pierre Pryor defeated Chris DiGuiseppe, 8-4, at 157 pounds, and Scott Garren was able to decision Tar Heel Jason Wilson, 5-2, at 165 pounds to give the Wolfpack a 3-9 lead after four matches.
Corey Bell got the Tar Heels back to 6-9, however, with a two-overtime decision over Dustin Kawa at 174 pounds. The wrestlers finished regulation and first extra period tied at four, but Bell was able to maintain advantage for the entire second overtime to take the win. Nick Richmond then scored an 11-2 major decision over Jason Gore at 184 to give Carolina a 10-9 lead with four matches remaining.
At 197, Zach Breitenbach defeated Clint Osborn, 4-0. The win placed the Wolfpack back on top, 12-10, but a Matt Kenny pin fall in the heavyweight match put Carolina ahead 16-12. Kenny scored the fall on Ricky Fowler at the 5:45 mark and is Kenny's seventh win by fall this season.
A 13-4 George Cintron major decision over Chris Collins at 125 pounds tied the overall score at 16-16 heading into the evening's final match, where Ryan McCallum was able to score a 5-2 decision over Brad Byers to give the Wolfpack the 19-16 win.
With the victory, NC State avenges a 16-14 loss to the Tar Heels back on Jan. 16. The Tar Heels now prepare for the ACC Tournament on March 3, while the Wolfpack have two matches left, at UNC-Greensboro on Feb. 20 and at Duke on Feb. 22.
NC State 19
North Carolina 16
125 - George Cintron (NCSU) maj. dec. Chris Collins (UNC), 13-4
133 - Ryan McCallum (NCSU) dec. Brad Byers (UNC), 5-2
141 - Orafeo Brown (NCSU) dec. Mike Booth (UNC), 12-5
149 - JohnMark Bentley (UNC) dec. Tommy Davis (NCSU), 3-2
157 - Pierre Pryor (NCSU) dec. Chris DiGuiseppe (UNC), 8-4
165 - Scott Garren (NCSU) dec. Jason Wilson (UNC), 5-2
174 - Corey Bell (UNC) dec. Dustin Kawa (NCSU), 4-4, 2OT
184 - Nick Richmond (UNC) maj. dec. Jason Gore (NCSU), 11-2
197 - Zach Breitenbach (NCSU) dec. Clint Osborn (UNC), 4-0
Hwt. - Matt Kenny (UNC) pinned Ricky Fowler (NCSU), 5:45
