University of North Carolina Athletics
Saturday, January 30
Chapel Hill, N.C.
3 PM
North Carolina
9
vs
23
No. 8 Virginia Tech
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
UNC Comes Up Short Versus No. 8 Virginia Tech
January 30, 2021 | Wrestling
CHAPEL HILL – In its second ranked matchup of the weekend, No. 14 North Carolina fell, 23-9, to No. 8 Virginia Tech Saturday afternoon in Carmichael Arena.
The match began at the 125-pound weight class with freshman Wil Guida sporting Carolina Blue. Down 6-2 in the waning seconds of the first period, Guida earned an escape and began the second period down three points. Unable to mount a third-period comeback, Guida fell, 18-7, to No. 10 Sam Latona.
VT's No. 8 Korbin Myers used six first-period points to post a major decision win over No. 11 Jaime Hernandez at 133 pounds, pushing the Hokies lead to 8-0 after to matches.
Facing a 3-0 deficit in the final seconds of the first period at 141 pounds, No. 10 Zach Sherman scored a reversal that cut the Virginia Tech lead to one point to begin the second. A second reversal in the middle of the second period gave Sherman his first lead of the match, 4-3, and the two took that score into the third period. After third-period back-and-forth, the two went into overtime, where Sherman used a takedown and four near fall points, nearly posting a pin, to notch a 12-6 decision.
The nation's top wrester at 149 pounds, No. 1 Austin O'Connor, held a 6-2 advantage at the beginning of the second period against No. 12 Bryce Andonian. O'Connor extended his advantage to 10-4 in the third period before earning the 11-4 decision, which cut the Virginia Tech team lead to 8-6.
Tar Heel senior Josh McClure made the start at 157 pounds against Virginia Tech's Connor Brady. The Virginia Tech redshirt freshman scored steady action throughout the bout, winning, 6-1, over McClure.
In one of the most anticipated matches of the day, No. 8 Kennedy Monday wrestled No. 1 Mekhi Lewis. Lewis earned the first points of the match with a takedown with 40 seconds left in the first period. An escape in the second period led to a 3-0 lead for Lewis. Monday tied up the match at three with a lake takedown, but an escape with 14 seconds in the match earned Lewis the 4-3 decision.
North Carolina's No. 9 Devin Kane wrested back-and-forth with Dakota Howard of Virginia Tech through the first two periods in the 174-pound bout. Tied 6-6 in the third period, Howard posted an 8-7 decision to extend the VT team score to 17-6.
Clay Lautt represented North Carolina in the 184-pound bout against No. 2 Hunter Bolen. Lautt held steady with Bolen throughout, but dropped an 8-3 decision.
Freshman Max Shaw earned the 9-5 decision at 197 pounds over VT's Andy Smith. That marked Shaw's first career Carmichael Arena win.
In the final match of the afternoon at 285 pounds, UNC's Andrew Gunning and No. 15 John Borst were scoreless after the first period. Borst scored the first point of the match with an escape in the second period before Gunning was awarded a point off of an illegal hold. Borst scored a takedown with 30 seconds to go and earned the 3-1 decision to wrap up a 23-9 team score win for the Hokies.
The two teams wrestled five extra matches – results of those matches are posted below.
Carolina is back on the mat at No. 12 Pittsburgh on Feb. 5. The match is slated for a 6 p.m. start.
No. 8 Virginia Tech 23, No. 14 North Carolina 9
125: No. 10 Sam Latona (VT) maj. dec. Wil Guida (UNC), 18-7
133: No. 8 Korbin Myers (VT) maj. dec. No. 11 Jaime Hernandez (UNC), 11-2
141: No. 10 Zach Sherman (UNC) dec. Sam Hillegas (VT), 12-6
149: No. 1 Austin O'Connor (UNC) dec. No. 12 Bryce Andonian (VT), 11-4
157: Connor Brady (VT) dec. Josh McClure (UNC), 6-1
165: No. 1 Mekhi Lewis (VT) dec. No. 8 Kennedy Monday (UNC), 4-3
174: Dakota Howard (VT) dec. No. 9 Devin Kane (UNC), 8-7
184: No. 2 Hunter Bolen (VT) dec. Clay Lautt (UNC), 8-3
197: Max Shaw (UNC) dec. Andy Smith (VT), 9-5
285: No. 15 John Borst (VT) dec. Andrew Gunning (UNC), 3-1
Extra Matches
133: Collin Gerardi (VT) maj. dec. Joe Heilmann (UNC), 9-0
157: Clayton Ulrey (VT) maj. dec. Will MacDonald (UNC), 15-4
174: Gavin Kane (UNC) dec. Sam Fisher (VT), 8-2
197: Stanley Smeltzer (VT) dec. Mark Chaid (UNC), 8-2
285: Hunter Catka (VT) dec. Brandon Whitman (UNC), 4-3
The match began at the 125-pound weight class with freshman Wil Guida sporting Carolina Blue. Down 6-2 in the waning seconds of the first period, Guida earned an escape and began the second period down three points. Unable to mount a third-period comeback, Guida fell, 18-7, to No. 10 Sam Latona.
VT's No. 8 Korbin Myers used six first-period points to post a major decision win over No. 11 Jaime Hernandez at 133 pounds, pushing the Hokies lead to 8-0 after to matches.
Facing a 3-0 deficit in the final seconds of the first period at 141 pounds, No. 10 Zach Sherman scored a reversal that cut the Virginia Tech lead to one point to begin the second. A second reversal in the middle of the second period gave Sherman his first lead of the match, 4-3, and the two took that score into the third period. After third-period back-and-forth, the two went into overtime, where Sherman used a takedown and four near fall points, nearly posting a pin, to notch a 12-6 decision.
The nation's top wrester at 149 pounds, No. 1 Austin O'Connor, held a 6-2 advantage at the beginning of the second period against No. 12 Bryce Andonian. O'Connor extended his advantage to 10-4 in the third period before earning the 11-4 decision, which cut the Virginia Tech team lead to 8-6.
Tar Heel senior Josh McClure made the start at 157 pounds against Virginia Tech's Connor Brady. The Virginia Tech redshirt freshman scored steady action throughout the bout, winning, 6-1, over McClure.
In one of the most anticipated matches of the day, No. 8 Kennedy Monday wrestled No. 1 Mekhi Lewis. Lewis earned the first points of the match with a takedown with 40 seconds left in the first period. An escape in the second period led to a 3-0 lead for Lewis. Monday tied up the match at three with a lake takedown, but an escape with 14 seconds in the match earned Lewis the 4-3 decision.
North Carolina's No. 9 Devin Kane wrested back-and-forth with Dakota Howard of Virginia Tech through the first two periods in the 174-pound bout. Tied 6-6 in the third period, Howard posted an 8-7 decision to extend the VT team score to 17-6.
Clay Lautt represented North Carolina in the 184-pound bout against No. 2 Hunter Bolen. Lautt held steady with Bolen throughout, but dropped an 8-3 decision.
Freshman Max Shaw earned the 9-5 decision at 197 pounds over VT's Andy Smith. That marked Shaw's first career Carmichael Arena win.
In the final match of the afternoon at 285 pounds, UNC's Andrew Gunning and No. 15 John Borst were scoreless after the first period. Borst scored the first point of the match with an escape in the second period before Gunning was awarded a point off of an illegal hold. Borst scored a takedown with 30 seconds to go and earned the 3-1 decision to wrap up a 23-9 team score win for the Hokies.
The two teams wrestled five extra matches – results of those matches are posted below.
Carolina is back on the mat at No. 12 Pittsburgh on Feb. 5. The match is slated for a 6 p.m. start.
No. 8 Virginia Tech 23, No. 14 North Carolina 9
125: No. 10 Sam Latona (VT) maj. dec. Wil Guida (UNC), 18-7
133: No. 8 Korbin Myers (VT) maj. dec. No. 11 Jaime Hernandez (UNC), 11-2
141: No. 10 Zach Sherman (UNC) dec. Sam Hillegas (VT), 12-6
149: No. 1 Austin O'Connor (UNC) dec. No. 12 Bryce Andonian (VT), 11-4
157: Connor Brady (VT) dec. Josh McClure (UNC), 6-1
165: No. 1 Mekhi Lewis (VT) dec. No. 8 Kennedy Monday (UNC), 4-3
174: Dakota Howard (VT) dec. No. 9 Devin Kane (UNC), 8-7
184: No. 2 Hunter Bolen (VT) dec. Clay Lautt (UNC), 8-3
197: Max Shaw (UNC) dec. Andy Smith (VT), 9-5
285: No. 15 John Borst (VT) dec. Andrew Gunning (UNC), 3-1
Extra Matches
133: Collin Gerardi (VT) maj. dec. Joe Heilmann (UNC), 9-0
157: Clayton Ulrey (VT) maj. dec. Will MacDonald (UNC), 15-4
174: Gavin Kane (UNC) dec. Sam Fisher (VT), 8-2
197: Stanley Smeltzer (VT) dec. Mark Chaid (UNC), 8-2
285: Hunter Catka (VT) dec. Brandon Whitman (UNC), 4-3
Players Mentioned
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
UNC Women's Soccer: Heels Wrap Regular Season with 1-0 Win vs NC State
Friday, October 31
WBB: Post-South Carolina Press Conference - Oct. 30, 2025
Friday, October 31
Carolina Insider - Olympic Sports Update (Full Segment) - October 30, 2025
Thursday, October 30
Tar Heels in the Community pres. by NC Electric Co-ops - LaxBall 2025 Recap
Thursday, October 30