No. 8 UNC Drops Friday Dual To No. 3 N.C. State, 19-14

Friday, February 7

Raleigh, N.C.

7 p.m.

North Carolina

NC State

Photo by: Barron Northrup

February 7, 2020 | Wrestling

By: UNC Athletic Communications

RALEIGH, N.C. --- No. 16 Kennedy Monday led the way a technical fall win at 165 pounds, but No. 8 North Carolina fell just short to No. 3 N.C. State on Friday night, dropping a 19-14 dual at Reynolds Coliseum.

After N.C. State opened the dual with a win at 125 pounds, Jaime Hernandez took a tight 1-0 decision over Jarrett Trombley at 133. Hernandez rode Trombley for the full two minutes in the third period, getting the Tar Heels on the board early.

At 141 pounds, No. 11 Tariq Wilson won a 6-0 decision over No. 10 Zach Sherman, but No. 3 Austin O'Connor answered right back for Carolina at 149 pounds with a 6-5 decision over the Wolfpack's Matt Grippi. O'Connor used injury time early in the bout due to leg cramping, but a strong second period turned momentum back in the redshirt sophomore's favor and helped him move to 19-1 on the year.

After N.C. State's No. 2 Hayden Hidlay won a 9-2 decision over No. 15 A.C. Headlee, the Tar Heels earned a surge of momentum from Monday's 20-5 tech fall win over Tyler Barnes. Monday's third technical fall win in three weeks helped UNC take the lead, 11-9.

The Wolfpack took back momentum with wins at 174 and 184, but Brandon Whitman kept UNC's chances alive with a strong 7-0 decision over No. 20 Nick Reenan at 197 pounds.

At heavyweight with the dual meet on the line, N.C. State's Deonte Wilson scored a late takedown in the third period over Andrew Gunning to cap off a 5-2 decision and give N.C. State a 19-14 home win.

North Carolina will wrestle again next Friday against No. 10 Pittsburgh in Carmichael Arena. The dual is set for 7 p.m.

No. 3 N.C. State 19, No. 8 North Carolina 14

125: Jakob Camacho (NCST) dec. Joey Melendez (UNC), 9-4 – N.C. State leads, 3-0
133: Jaime Hernandez (UNC) dec. Jarrett Trombley (NCST), 1-0 – Tied, 3-3
141: #11 Tariq Wilson (NCST) dec. #10 Zach Sherman (UNC), 6-0 – N.C. State leads, 6-3
149: #3 Austin O'Connor (UNC) dec. Matt Grippi (NCST), 6-5 – Tied, 6-6
157: #2 Hayden Hilday (NCST) dec. #15 A.C. Headlee (UNC), 9-2 – N.C. State leads, 9-6
165: #16 Kennedy Monday (UNC) tech fall Tyler Barnes (NCST), 20-5 – UNC leads, 11-9
174: #18 Daniel Bullard (NCST) dec. Clay Lautt (UNC), 8-4 – N.C. State leads, 12-11
184: #3 Trent Hidlay (NCST) maj. dec. Joey Mazzara (UNC), 13-5 – N.C. State leads, 16-11
197: Brandon Whitman (UNC) dec. #20 Nick Reenan (NCST), 7-0 – N.C State leads, 16-14
285: Deonte Wilson (NCST) dec. Andrew Gunning (UNC), 5-2 – N.C. State wins, 19-14