Wrestling Edges Virginia, 17-16

Friday, January 28

Charlottesville, Va.

7 PM

North Carolina

Virginia

January 28, 2022 | Wrestling

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. – The No. 24 North Carolina wrestling team moved to 7-4 on the season and 2-0 in the ACC with a 17-16 win over Virginia inside Memorial Gym. After 10 matches, the score was tied at 16, but the Tar Heels claimed the match victory on criteria with 53 points scored to 45 for the Cavaliers.

The match started at 133, with Jaime Hernandez returning to action for the first time since November. The match went back and forth as it went to overtime tied at three. Brian Courtney would pick up the takedown to take the 5-3 sudden victory. Kizhan Clarke earned the Tar Heel's first points of the match with a 6-2 decision to stay undefeated on the season. Zach Sherman would give UNC the 6-3 match lead thanks to a 6-2 decision.

Austin O'Connor earned the 6-4 ranked win over No. 28 Jake Keating. At 165, Sonny Santiago fought hard but came up short in a 6-2 loss to No. 15 Justin McCoy. Clay Lautt would get the Tar Heels back in the win column with an 8-2 decision. In the 184 match, Gavin Kane dominated No. 22 Michael Battista en route to a 15-3 major decision.

Max Shaw fell to No. 13 Jay Aiello in a 13-3 major decision. Brandon Whitman tried to battle back but fell short in a 5-2 decision at heavyweight. Spencer Moore fought to the end of the match but narrowly lost to Patrick McCormick in a 3-1 sudden victory.

North Carolina will return to action tomorrow as they compete in the Appalachian Open in Boone, N.C. The action is set to start at 11 a.m., and you can follow the live results on FloArena.

No. 24 North Carolina 17, Virginia 16
Jan. 28, 2022 | Memorial Gym | Charlottesville, Va.
125: Patrick McCormick (UVA) over Spencer Moore (UNC) | 3-1 SV1
133: No. 23 Brian Courtney (UVA) over No. 10 Jaime Hernandez (UNC) | 5-3 SV1
141: No. 7 Kizhan Clarke (UNC) over Dylan Cedeno (UVA) | 6-2 Dec
149: No. 22 Zach Sherman (UNC) over #29 Jarod Verkleeren (UVA) | 6-2 Dec
157: No. 6 Austin O'Connor (UNC) over #28 Jake Keating (UVA) | 6-4 Dec
165: No. 15 Justin McCoy (UVA) over Sonny Santiago (UNC) | 6-2 Dec
174: No. 14 Clay Lautt (UNC) over Justin Phillips (UVA) | 8-2 Dec
184: No. 21 Gavin Kane (UNC) over No. 22 Michael Battista (UVA) | 15-3 MD
197: No. 13 Jay Aiello (UVA) over No. 28 Max Shaw (UNC) | 13-3 MD
HWT: No. 32 Quinn Miller (UVA) over Brandon Whitman (UNC) | 5-2 Dec

Extra Match
133: No. 23 Brian Courtney (UVA) over Joe Heilmann (UNC) | 6-4 SV1