North Carolina
Belmont Abbey
Tar Heels Rebound With Largest Victory Since 1998
January 13, 2008 | Wrestling
Jan. 13, 2008
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - After dropping a hard-fought Atlantic Coast Conference opener to No. 21 Maryland, North Carolina rebounded with its largest margin of victory in 10 years in a 48-0 win over Belmont Abbey in wrestling action Sunday at Carmichael Auditorium. The Tar Heels (4-3) built an early lead but could not hold off the Terrapins (9-3) in a 19-17 loss in the day's first dual and followed the shutout win over the Division II Crusaders (2-1).
Junior Keegan Mueller and redshirt freshman Nick Stabile had big days for the Tar Heels, as both recorded a major decision against Maryland and a technical fall against Belmont Abbey at 141 and 165 pounds, respectively. The 13th-ranked Mueller, ran his record to 17-3 overall and 7-0 in duals, while Stabile improved to 14-3 on the season and 6-1 in duals.
Juniors Vincent Ramirez (149) and Justin Dobies (heavyweight) were also unbeaten on the day for Carolina. Both picked up decisions in the loss to the Terps and came back with first-period pins against the Crusaders. Ramirez moves to 10-7 and 4-3 in duals, while the 18th-ranked Dobies is now 18-5 and 7-0 in duals.
After losing to Maryland, Carolina came back with four pins, two technical falls and two major decisions against Belmont Abbey. The 48-point win was the largest for the Tar Heels since a 51-0 victory over The Citadel in 1998, and the shutout was the first for UNC since a 40-0 win over American in 2004.
At 125 against Belmont Abbey, freshman Jason DeLuca posted a late takedown against Chris Neidermeier, the nation's No. 4 Division II 125-pounder, to secure a 4-3 decision, and the Tar Heels never looked back. Ramirez (2:16), freshman Kyle Kiss (2:59), sophomore Dennis Drury (2:35) and Dobies (1:25) each recorded first-period pins. Additionally, Mueller needed just 1:38 to record a 16-0 technical fall against Brennan Ochoa at 165.
A pin by eighth-ranked Hudson Taylor at 197 pounds proved to the difference in the Terrapins' 19-17 victory. The Tar Heels got off to a quick start and took a 14-6 lead after six bouts on the strength of major decisions from Stabile and Mueller. Stabile registered a 10-0 over Charlie Pinto, and Mueller followed with a 12-0 win over Mike McGill for the eight-point UNC lead.
Maryland then reeled off three straight wins by its nationally-ranked wrestlers to take a 19-14 lead. The Terps picked up a 12-3 major decision from No. 7 Mike Letts over Kiss at 174, a 4-0 decision from No. 18 Josh Haines against Nick Tenpenny at 197 and Hudson's third-period pin of Drury at the 6:37 mark.
Dobies closed the match with a 10-3 decision over Patrick Gilmore to cut the lead to the final two-point margin. He nearly picked up a pin in the first period but had to settle for the seven-point victory.
In the first bout of the day, senior Drew Forshey rode a pair of first-period takedowns to a 5-3 decision over Maryland's Brendan Byrne at 125. Stabile's major decision at 141 and a 7-4 victory at 149 for Ramirez pushed the Tar Heels' lead to 10-3, but Maryland then captured four of the next five bouts to grab a lead it would not relinquish.
Carolina concludes its three-match home stand Thursday against rival Duke at 7 p.m. at Fetzer Gymnasium. A point towards the Carlyle Cup, the all-sports competition between the Tar Heels and Blue Devils, will be on the line.
No. 21 Maryland 19, North Carolina 17 Wt. Result Score/Time 125 Drew Forshey (UNC) dec. Brendan Byrne (MD) 5-3 133 Steven Bell (MD) dec. Jeremy Shaw (UNC) 5-2 141 Nick Stabile (UNC) major dec. Charlie Pinto (MD) 10-0 149 Vincent Ramirez (UNC) dec. Eric Medina (MD) 7-4 157 Brian Letters (MD) dec. Ben Fiacco (UNC) 4-3 165 #13 Keegan Mueller major dec. (UNC) Mike McGill (MD) 12-0 174 #7 Mike Letts (MD) major dec. Kyle Kiss (UNC) 12-3 184 #18 Josh Haines (MD) dec. Nick Tenpenny (UNC) 4-0 197 #8 Hudson Taylor (MD) pins Dennis Drury (UNC) 6:37 HWT #18 Justin Dobies (UNC) dec. Patrick Gilmore (MD) 10-3North Carolina 48, Belmont Abbey 0 Wt. Result Score/Time 125 Jason DeLuca (UNC) dec. Chris Neidermeier (BA) 4-3 133 Danny Lopes (UNC) major dec. Reimark Neidermeier (BA) 12-2 141 Nick Stabile (UNC) tech fall Kevin James (BA) 15-0 (5:59) 149 Vincent Ramirez (UNC) pins Isaac Banks (BA) 2:16 157 Thomas Scotton (UNC) dec. Phil Bliss (BA) 8-4 165 #13 Keegan Mueller (UNC) tech fall Brennen Ochoa (BA) 16-0 (1:38) 174 Kyle Kiss (UNC) pins Jerami Bartley (BA) 2:59 184 Nick Tenpenny (UNC) major dec. Joe Kent (BA) 14-5 197 Dennis Drury (UNC) pins Tim Stanton (BA) 2:35 HWT #18 Justin Dobies (UNC) pins Justin Moriarty (BA) 1:25
Players Mentioned
