University of North Carolina Athletics

Photo by: AINSLEY E. FAUTH
Seven Wrestlers Make Soldier Salute Semifinals, Tar Heels Third After Day One
January 3, 2026 | Wrestling
CORALVILLE, Iowa – Seven North Carolina wrestlers advanced to the semifinals on day one of Soldier Salute, as 18 different Tar Heels took the mat in Iowa Saturday.Â
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Kysen Terukina (125), Matthew Botello (133), Ethan Oakley (133), Luke Simcox (141), Laird Root (157), Bryce Hepner (165) and Jake Dailey (184) reached tomorrow morning's semifinal bouts.
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In addition to the seven Tar Heel semifinalists, Nick O'Neill (141), Joey Showalter (157), Nicholas Fea (174), Mikey Calcagno (197), Robert Platt (197) and Jacob Levy (285) appeared in Saturday's quarterfinals.
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As a team, Carolina is in third place after day one of the two-day event, with 93.0 points, trailing Missouri (99.0) and Wyoming (94.5).
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Soldier Salute Day One Results
125: Cameron Stinson Jr.
First Round: Ostin Blanchard (North Dakota State) over Cameron Stinson Jr. (UNC): 11-9 Dec
Consolation: Koufax Christensen (Oklahoma) over Cameron Stinson Jr. (UNC): Fall (6:48)
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125: Kysen Terukina
First Round: No. 13 Kysen Terukina (UNC) over Abdi Unle (Nebraska): 11-2 MD
Round of 16: No. 13 Kysen Terukina (UNC) over Nick Treaster (Navy): 7-3 Dec
Quarterfinals: No. 13 Kysen Terukina (UNC) over Hank Benter (Missouri): 21-5 TF
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133: Matthew Botello
Round of 16: Matthew Botello (UNC) over Jace Hedeman (Northern Iowa): 17-2 TF
Quarterfinals: Matthew Botello (UNC) over Carter Pearson (Iowa State): 4-1 SV Dec
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133: Ethan Oakley
Round of 16: No. 17 Ethan Oakley (UNC) over Kenton Cooke (South Dakota State): Fall (1:52)
Quarterfinals: No. 17 Ethan Oakley (UNC) over Sean Garretson (Navy Wrestling Club): 11-0 MD
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141: Nick O'Neill
First Round: Nick O'Neill (UNC) over Liam Neitzel (South Dakota State): 8-0 MD
Round of 16: Nick O'Neill (UNC) over Peyton Moore (North Dakota State): Fall (3:29)
Quarterfinals: No. 10 Nasir Bailey (Iowa) over Nick O'Neill (UNC): 3-1 Dec
Consolation: Nick O'Neill (UNC) over Dyston Dunham (VMI): Fall (3:37)
Consolation: Nick O'Neill (UNC) over No. 23 Zeke Seltzer (Missouri): 10-4 Dec
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141: Luke Simcox
Round of 16: No. 21 Luke Simcox (UNC) over Owen Uhls (Missouri): 4-1 SV Dec
Quarterfinals: No. 21 Luke Simcox (UNC) over Max Brady (Northern Iowa): Fall (3:28)
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149: Nate Askew
Round of 16: Logan Paradice (Northern Iowa) over Nate Askew (UNC): 5-1 Dec
Consolation: Rhett Koenig (Minnesota) over Nate Askew (UNC): 3-1 TB-1
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157: Laird Root
Round of 16: Laird Root (UNC) over Charlie Evans (Navy): 14-2 MD
Quarterfinals: Laird Root (UNC) over Victor Voinovich (Iowa): 4-2 Dec
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157: Joey Showalter
First Round: Joey Showalter (UNC) over No. 26 Jared Hill (Wyoming): 12-3 MD
Round of 16: Joey Showalter (UNC) over Nate Higley (Bellarmine): Fall (4:31)
Quarterfinals: No. 21 J Conway (Missouri) over Joey Showalter (UNC): 12-7 Dec
Consolation: Steven Villalobos (Bellarmine) over Joey Showalter (UNC): 12-8 Dec
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165: Charlie Darracott
First Round: Charlie Darracott (UNC) over Owen Helgeson (Iowa State): 6-2 Dec
Round of 16: Sloan Swan (Wyoming) over Charlie Darracott (UNC): 7-3 Dec
Consolation: Charlie Darracott (UNC) over Clay Giddens (Oklahoma): 4-3 Dec
Consolation: Charlie Darracott (UNC) over Joey Kennedy (Iowa): 12-4 MD
Consolation: Ryan Vigil (VMI) over Charlie Darracott (UNC): 6-4 Dec
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165: Bryce Hepner
First Round: No. 17 Bryce Hepner (UNC) over Dominic Bambinelli (Missouri): 9-0 MD
Round of 16: No. 17 Bryce Hepner (UNC) over Luke Leclerc (Bellarmine): Fall (2:35)
Quarterfinals: No. 17 Bryce Hepner (UNC) over Ryan Vigil (VMI): Fall (3:23)
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174: Nicholas Fea
First Round: Nicholas Fea (UNC) over Ethan DeLeon (Nebraska): 10-2 MD
Round of 16: Nicholas Fea (UNC) over Cole Walton (Bellarmine): Fall (3:42)
Quarterfinals: Tyler Eise (Nebraska) over Nicholas Fea (UNC): 11-2 MD
Consolation: Nicholas Fea (UNC) over Cade Tenold (UNC): 10-2 MD
Consolation: Nicholas Fea (UNC) over Melton Powe (Iowa State): 6-4 Dec
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174: Cade Tenold
Round of 16: Lane Foard (Wyoming) over Cade Tenold (UNC): Fall (0:55)
Consolation: Cade Tenold (UNC) over Peyton Westpfahl (Missouri): 9-0 MD
Consolation: Nicholas Fea (UNC) over Cade Tenold (UNC): 10-2 MD
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184: Jake Dailey
Round of 16: No. 23 Jake Dailey (UNC) over Andrew Barford (VMI): 16-0 TF
Quarterfinals: No. 23 Jake Dailey (UNC) over Keenan Sheridan (South Dakota State): 11-1 MD
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184: Aidan Schlett
Round of 16: Shane McConville (South Dakota State) over Aidan Schlett (UNC): 4-1 SV Dec
Consolation: Jarrett Wadsen (South Dakota State) over Aidan Schlett (UNC): 18-5 MD
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197: Mikey Calcano
Round of 16: Mikey Calcagno (UNC) over Brody Sampson (Iowa): 2-1 Dec
Quarterfinals: No. 5 Joey Novak (Wyoming) over Mikey Calcagno (UNC): 7-2 Dec
Consolation: Mikey Calcagno (UNC) over Drew Fox (Northern Iowa): Fall (5:50)
Consolation: Mikey Calcagno (UNC) over Toby Schoffstall (VMI): 17-2 TF
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197: Robert Platt
Quarterfinals: Zyan Hall (Navy) over Robert Platt (UNC): 8-1 Dec
Consolation: Robert Platt (UNC) over Brody Sampson (Iowa): 17-2 TF
Consolation: Robert Platt (UNC) over Gunner Henry (Wyoming): 14-3 MD
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285: Jacob Levy
Round of 16: Jacob Levy (UNC) over Cole Will (VMI): 13-3 MD
Quarterfinals: No. 16 Spencer Lanosga (Navy) over Jacob Levy (UNC): 13-4 MD
Consolation: Bradley Hill (Oklahoma) over Jacob Levy (UNC): 6-3 Dec
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Kysen Terukina (125), Matthew Botello (133), Ethan Oakley (133), Luke Simcox (141), Laird Root (157), Bryce Hepner (165) and Jake Dailey (184) reached tomorrow morning's semifinal bouts.
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In addition to the seven Tar Heel semifinalists, Nick O'Neill (141), Joey Showalter (157), Nicholas Fea (174), Mikey Calcagno (197), Robert Platt (197) and Jacob Levy (285) appeared in Saturday's quarterfinals.
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As a team, Carolina is in third place after day one of the two-day event, with 93.0 points, trailing Missouri (99.0) and Wyoming (94.5).
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Soldier Salute Day One Results
125: Cameron Stinson Jr.
First Round: Ostin Blanchard (North Dakota State) over Cameron Stinson Jr. (UNC): 11-9 Dec
Consolation: Koufax Christensen (Oklahoma) over Cameron Stinson Jr. (UNC): Fall (6:48)
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125: Kysen Terukina
First Round: No. 13 Kysen Terukina (UNC) over Abdi Unle (Nebraska): 11-2 MD
Round of 16: No. 13 Kysen Terukina (UNC) over Nick Treaster (Navy): 7-3 Dec
Quarterfinals: No. 13 Kysen Terukina (UNC) over Hank Benter (Missouri): 21-5 TF
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133: Matthew Botello
Round of 16: Matthew Botello (UNC) over Jace Hedeman (Northern Iowa): 17-2 TF
Quarterfinals: Matthew Botello (UNC) over Carter Pearson (Iowa State): 4-1 SV Dec
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133: Ethan Oakley
Round of 16: No. 17 Ethan Oakley (UNC) over Kenton Cooke (South Dakota State): Fall (1:52)
Quarterfinals: No. 17 Ethan Oakley (UNC) over Sean Garretson (Navy Wrestling Club): 11-0 MD
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141: Nick O'Neill
First Round: Nick O'Neill (UNC) over Liam Neitzel (South Dakota State): 8-0 MD
Round of 16: Nick O'Neill (UNC) over Peyton Moore (North Dakota State): Fall (3:29)
Quarterfinals: No. 10 Nasir Bailey (Iowa) over Nick O'Neill (UNC): 3-1 Dec
Consolation: Nick O'Neill (UNC) over Dyston Dunham (VMI): Fall (3:37)
Consolation: Nick O'Neill (UNC) over No. 23 Zeke Seltzer (Missouri): 10-4 Dec
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141: Luke Simcox
Round of 16: No. 21 Luke Simcox (UNC) over Owen Uhls (Missouri): 4-1 SV Dec
Quarterfinals: No. 21 Luke Simcox (UNC) over Max Brady (Northern Iowa): Fall (3:28)
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149: Nate Askew
Round of 16: Logan Paradice (Northern Iowa) over Nate Askew (UNC): 5-1 Dec
Consolation: Rhett Koenig (Minnesota) over Nate Askew (UNC): 3-1 TB-1
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157: Laird Root
Round of 16: Laird Root (UNC) over Charlie Evans (Navy): 14-2 MD
Quarterfinals: Laird Root (UNC) over Victor Voinovich (Iowa): 4-2 Dec
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157: Joey Showalter
First Round: Joey Showalter (UNC) over No. 26 Jared Hill (Wyoming): 12-3 MD
Round of 16: Joey Showalter (UNC) over Nate Higley (Bellarmine): Fall (4:31)
Quarterfinals: No. 21 J Conway (Missouri) over Joey Showalter (UNC): 12-7 Dec
Consolation: Steven Villalobos (Bellarmine) over Joey Showalter (UNC): 12-8 Dec
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165: Charlie Darracott
First Round: Charlie Darracott (UNC) over Owen Helgeson (Iowa State): 6-2 Dec
Round of 16: Sloan Swan (Wyoming) over Charlie Darracott (UNC): 7-3 Dec
Consolation: Charlie Darracott (UNC) over Clay Giddens (Oklahoma): 4-3 Dec
Consolation: Charlie Darracott (UNC) over Joey Kennedy (Iowa): 12-4 MD
Consolation: Ryan Vigil (VMI) over Charlie Darracott (UNC): 6-4 Dec
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165: Bryce Hepner
First Round: No. 17 Bryce Hepner (UNC) over Dominic Bambinelli (Missouri): 9-0 MD
Round of 16: No. 17 Bryce Hepner (UNC) over Luke Leclerc (Bellarmine): Fall (2:35)
Quarterfinals: No. 17 Bryce Hepner (UNC) over Ryan Vigil (VMI): Fall (3:23)
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174: Nicholas Fea
First Round: Nicholas Fea (UNC) over Ethan DeLeon (Nebraska): 10-2 MD
Round of 16: Nicholas Fea (UNC) over Cole Walton (Bellarmine): Fall (3:42)
Quarterfinals: Tyler Eise (Nebraska) over Nicholas Fea (UNC): 11-2 MD
Consolation: Nicholas Fea (UNC) over Cade Tenold (UNC): 10-2 MD
Consolation: Nicholas Fea (UNC) over Melton Powe (Iowa State): 6-4 Dec
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174: Cade Tenold
Round of 16: Lane Foard (Wyoming) over Cade Tenold (UNC): Fall (0:55)
Consolation: Cade Tenold (UNC) over Peyton Westpfahl (Missouri): 9-0 MD
Consolation: Nicholas Fea (UNC) over Cade Tenold (UNC): 10-2 MD
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184: Jake Dailey
Round of 16: No. 23 Jake Dailey (UNC) over Andrew Barford (VMI): 16-0 TF
Quarterfinals: No. 23 Jake Dailey (UNC) over Keenan Sheridan (South Dakota State): 11-1 MD
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184: Aidan Schlett
Round of 16: Shane McConville (South Dakota State) over Aidan Schlett (UNC): 4-1 SV Dec
Consolation: Jarrett Wadsen (South Dakota State) over Aidan Schlett (UNC): 18-5 MD
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197: Mikey Calcano
Round of 16: Mikey Calcagno (UNC) over Brody Sampson (Iowa): 2-1 Dec
Quarterfinals: No. 5 Joey Novak (Wyoming) over Mikey Calcagno (UNC): 7-2 Dec
Consolation: Mikey Calcagno (UNC) over Drew Fox (Northern Iowa): Fall (5:50)
Consolation: Mikey Calcagno (UNC) over Toby Schoffstall (VMI): 17-2 TF
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197: Robert Platt
Quarterfinals: Zyan Hall (Navy) over Robert Platt (UNC): 8-1 Dec
Consolation: Robert Platt (UNC) over Brody Sampson (Iowa): 17-2 TF
Consolation: Robert Platt (UNC) over Gunner Henry (Wyoming): 14-3 MD
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285: Jacob Levy
Round of 16: Jacob Levy (UNC) over Cole Will (VMI): 13-3 MD
Quarterfinals: No. 16 Spencer Lanosga (Navy) over Jacob Levy (UNC): 13-4 MD
Consolation: Bradley Hill (Oklahoma) over Jacob Levy (UNC): 6-3 Dec
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