Wrestling Welcomes Virginia For ACC Home Opener

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - After winning three-straight dual matches, the No. 26 North Carolina wrestling team (5-6, 1-0 ACC) returns home to Carmichael Arena for the first time in over a month, welcoming Virginia (6-3, 0-1 ACC) to Chapel Hill Friday night. The dual with the Cavaliers serves as Breast Cancer Awareness Night, as the first 150 fans will receive a pink "Take Down Cancer" shirt.

Dual Information
Date/Time: Friday, Jan. 27 - 7 PM
Location: Carmichael Arena - Chapel Hill, N.C.
Watch: ACC Network Extra

Last Time Out
After winning the first eight matches of the night, the Tar Heels cruised last Friday night, defeating Duke 37-6, to kickstart the ACC dual schedule.

Following the Blue Devils' forfeit at 125-pounds, Jace Palmer (133) picked up the lone decision for UNC in the matchup. Zach Sherman (149), Joey Mazzara (165) and No. 14 Gavin Kane (184) collected major decisions for the Tar Heels.

No. 13 Lachlan McNeil (141) and No. 9 Clay Lautt (174) defeated the Blue Devils by way of technical fall, and No. 4 Austin O'Connor (157) picked up the lone pin of the night in the dual.

In the lone extra match of the night, Wil Guida (149) capped off the Tar Heel effort winning by fall.

Scouting The Cavaliers
Virginia enters Friday night with a 6-3 dual record on the year, coming off a 25-6 defeat to Pitt to open ACC action. In the matchup with the Panthers, Neil Antrassian (184) and Jarod Verkleeren (149) picked up decisions for the Cavaliers.

Tar Heels In The Polls
Entering Friday's matchup, the team features six wrestlers ranked in this week's InterMat Wrestling rankings:

125 - Jack Wagner - No. 19
141 - Lachlan McNeil - No. 13
149 - Zach Sherman - No. 25
157 - Austin O'Connor - No. 3
174 - Clay Lautt - No. 9
184 - Gavin Kane - No. 13

Friday Night Probables
No. 26 North Carolina vs. Virginia
125: No. 19 Jack Wagner vs. Patrick McCormick
133: Jace Palmer or Joey Melendez vs. Marlon Yarbrough or Keyveon Roller
141: No. 13 Lachlan McNeil vs. No. 29 Brian Courtney or Dylan Cedeno
149: No. 25 Zach Sherman or Wil Guida vs. No. 28 Jarod Verkleeren
157: No. 3 Austin O'Connor vs. Jake Keating
165: Joey Mazzara or Gino Esposito vs. No. 17 Justin McCoy or Nick Hamilton
174: No. 9 Clay Lautt or Michael Goldfeder vs. Vic Marcelli
184: No. 13 Gavin Kane vs. No. 18 Neil Antrassian
197: Max Shaw or Cade Lautt vs. No. 24 Michael Battista
285: Aydin Guttridge or Brandon Whitman vs. Ethan Weatherspoon or Jessie Knight

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Gino Esposito

Michael Goldfeder

Wil Guida

Aydin Guttridge

Gavin Kane

Cade Lautt

Clay Lautt

Joey Mazzara

Lachlan McNeil

Joey Melendez

Austin O'Connor

Jace Palmer

Max Shaw

Zach Sherman

Jack Wagner

Brandon Whitman