Duo Post Runner-Up Efforts, Wrestling Finishes Third At ACC Championships

Sunday, March 10

Chapel Hill, N.C.

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North Carolina

ACC Championships

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

Duo Post Runner-Up Efforts, Wrestling Finishes Third At ACC Championships

March 10, 2024 | Wrestling

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The North Carolina wrestling team posted two finalists and earned five automatic berths to the NCAA Championships, Sunday at the 2024 ACC Wrestling Championships inside Carmichael Arena.

Sonny Santiago (157) and Max Shaw (197) earned runner-up finishes in their respective weight classes.

Santiago began the tournament in the semifinals, defeating Pitt's Jared Keslar by decision. In the final against NC State's Ed Scott, Santiago dropped the title bout by decision.

For Shaw, the Pittsburgh, Pa. native earned a 17-2 technical fall in the quarterfinal, followed by a 5-2 decision against Virginia Tech's Andy Smith in the semifinal. After the semifinal, Shaw medically forfeited the title match.

Joining the duo on the podium with third-place finishes were Spencer Moore (125), Lachlan McNeil (141) and Tyler Eischens (174).

On the day, five Carolina wrestlers punched their ticket to the 2024 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, based off the ACC automatic berth allocations. McNeil (141), Santiago (157), Eischens (174), Gavin Kane (184) and Shaw (197) earned the right to represent the Tar Heels at the national tournament in just under two weeks.

As a team, Carolina finished third at the ACC Championships, the best team finish since 2021. NC State won their sixth-straight title (116), followed by Virginia Tech (86.5), Carolina (54), Pittsburgh (47), Virginia (35) and Duke (4).

2024 Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestling Championships
March 10, 2024 | Carmichael Arena | Chapel Hill, N.C.

125: Spencer Moore
Quarterfinal: Colton Camacho (Pitt) over Moore (UNC): 5-2 TB-1
Consolation Semifinal: Moore (UNC) over Logan Agin (Duke): Fall (6:07)
Third Place Match: Moore (UNC) over Colton Camacho (Pitt): 2-0 Dec

133: Jace Palmer
Quarterfinal: Vinnie Santaniello (Pitt) over Palmer (UNC): 8-3 Dec
Consolation Semifinal: Marlon Yarbrough (UVA) over Palmer (UNC): 11-3 MD

141: Lachlan McNeil
Quarterfinal: McNeil (UNC) over Jack Gioffre (UVA): 12-3 MD
Semifinal: Cole Matthews (Pitt) over McNeil (UNC): 4-1 SV Dec
Consolation Semifinal: McNeil (UNC) over Christian Colman (Duke): 19-4 TF
Third Place Match: McNeil (UNC) over Tom Crook (VT): 12-2 MD

149: Jayden Scott
Quarterfinal: Scott (UNC) over Jarred Papcsy (Duke): 15-3 MD
Semifinal: Jackson Arrington (NC State) over Scott (UNC): 11-2 MD
Consolation Semifinal: Scott (UNC) over Michael Gioffre (UVA): 5-2 SV Dec
Third Place Match: Finn Solomon (Pitt) over Scott (UNC): 5-2 Dec

157: Sonny Santiago
Semifinal: Santiago (UNC) over Jared Keslar (Pitt): 4-2 Dec
Final: Ed Scott (NC State) over Santiago (UNC): 8-2 Dec

165: Isaias Estrada
Quarterfinal: Nick Hamilton (UVA) over Estrada (UNC): 14-2 MD
Consolation Semifinal: Holden Heller (Pitt) over Estrada (UNC): 4-3 Dec

174: Tyler Eischens
Quarterfinal: Eischens (UNC) over Gaetano Console (Duke): 14-0 MD
Semifinal: Justin McCoy (UVA) over Eischens (UNC): 9-6 SV Dec
Consolation Semifinal: Eischens over Luca Augustine (Pitt): Fall (6:28)
Third Place Match: Eischens (UNC) over Alex Faison (NC State): Fall (2:26)

184: Gavin Kane
Quarterfinal: Kane (UNC) over Ethan Weatherspoon (UVA): 8-5 Dec
Semifinal: TJ Stewart (VT) over Kane (UNC): 7-4 SV Dec
Consolation Semifinal: Kane (UNC) over Conor Becker (Duke): 6-1 Dec
Third Place Match: Reece Heller (Pitt) over Kane (UNC): 5-4 Dec

197: Max Shaw
Quarterfinal: Shaw (UNC) over Kwasi Bonsu (Duke): 17-2 TF
Semifinal: Shaw (UNC) over Andy Smith (VT): 5-2 Dec
Final: Trent Hidlay (NC State) over Shaw (UNC): Medical Forfeit

HWT: Cade Lautt
Quarterfinal: Ryan Catka (Virginia) over Lautt (UNC): 14-3 MD
Consolation Semifinal: Dayton Pitzer (Pitt) over Lautt (UNC): Fall (4:40)