Wrestling Cruises Past Lehigh 26-6

Saturday, February 6

Bethlehem, PA

4 PM

North Carolina

Lehigh

February 6, 2021 | Wrestling

By: Aury St. Germain

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - No. 14 North Carolina topped Lehigh, 26-6, on Saturday to finish up a two-win weekend in Pennsylvania. Both Kennedy Monday and Austin O'Connor posted major decision wins to help Carolina to victory.

After Lehigh took the match at 125 pounds, Joe Heilmann scored a 5-3 win at 133 pounds to erase the Lehigh lead in the team score, an edge that the Tar Heels would maintain for the rest of the way.

No. 11 Zach Sherman had a tight match with Lehigh's Brandon Paetzell at 141 pounds, but used a gritty third period to win, 1-0, leading into the match at 149 pounds. There, top-ranked Austin O'Connor posted his second major-decision victory of the weekend. Against Jimmy Hoffman, O'Connor opened up in the second and third periods to win, 16-4.

The Tar Heels continued their run at the middleweights with Josh McClure at 157 pounds. The Tar Heel redshirt senior topped Lehigh's Luca Frinzi, 5-1, to finish up a two-win weekend.

At 165 pounds, Monday worked fast in the first period to open up a lead against Brian Meyer. He shot out to an early lead and never looked back, good for a 10-2 major decision – the second UNC bonus-point win of the night.

Clay Lautt and Devin Kane won via decision in 174 and 184 respectively before Max Shaw notched an impressive win over two-time NCAA qualifier Jake Jakobsen at 197 pounds. The Tar Heel redshirt freshman leaned on two first-period takedowns to wrap up a 5-3 decision.

Lehigh's No. 5 Jordan Wood took the heavyweight bout over Brandon Whitman, 8-2, at heavyweight, but the early UNC dominance proved to be enough, good for a 26-6 win over Lehigh in Bethlehem.

Carolina is back on the mat next Saturday in Carmichael Arena against Virginia to wrap up its dual meet season. Follow @uncwrestling on Twitter for full updates surrounding the team.

No. 14 North Carolina 26, No. 25 Lehigh 6

125 – Jaret Lane (Lehigh) dec. Wil Guida (UNC) 7-4
133 – Joe Heilmann (UNC) dec. Mitch Polito (Lehigh) 5-3
141 – Zach Sherman (UNC) dec. Brandon Paetzell (Lehigh) 1-0
149 – Austin O'Connor (UNC) major dec. Jimmy Hoffman (Lehigh) 16-4
157 – Josh McClure (UNC) dec. Luca Frinzi (Lehigh) 5-1
165 – Kennedy Monday (UNC) major dec. Brian Meyer (Lehigh) 10-2
174 – Clay Lautt (UNC) dec. Jake Logan (Lehigh) 5-3, sv
184 – Devin Kane (UNC) dec. Caden Wright (Lehigh) 6-1
197 – Max Shaw (UNC) dec. Jake Jakobsen (Lehigh) 5-3
285 – Jordan Wood (Lehigh) dec. Brandon Whitman (UNC) 8-2

Extra Matches
133 – Satoshi Abe (Lehigh) dec. Timothy Decatur (UNC) 7-3
141 – Drew Munch (Lehigh) dec. Connor Alexander (UNC) 5-2
149 – Nicholas Lirette (UNC) dec. Paul Watkins (Lehigh) 7-4
157 – Sonny Santiago (UNC) major dec. Tyler Sung (Lehigh) 18-8
165 – Sawyer Davidson (UNC) dec. Sean Kilrain (Lehigh) 6-2
174 – Gavin Kane (UNC) W by DQ Trey Cornish (Lehigh)