Hepner Wins UNC’s First 165-Title Since 2009, Wrestling Finishes Fourth At ACCs

Sunday, March 8

Blacksburg, Va.

All Day

North Carolina

ACC Championships

Bryce Hepner 2026 ACC Championship 3.8.26

Photo by: AINSLEY E. FAUTH

March 8, 2026 | Wrestling

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Bryce Hepner was victorious for the North Carolina wrestling team at 165-pounds, Sunday at the 2026 Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestling Championships, hosted at Virginia Tech.

The graduate student earned three-straight decisions for the Tar Heels, collecting the first individual championship for Carolina at the ACC Championships since Austin O'Connor in 2023.

Hepner posted an opening round decision versus Pitt's Jared Keslar, 4-0. In the semifinals, the Avon, Ohio product avenged his regular-season verdict to top-seeded Will Denny of NC State, claiming a 10-3 decision. Late in the period, Hepner secured a takedown with four nearfall points, en route to victory.

In the finals, Hepner earned a riding time point and an escape for the 2-0 decision over third-seeded Mac Church of Virginia Tech. Hepner, who also avenged a regular-season loss to Church, became Carolina's first 165-pound ACC champion since Keegan Mueller in 2009.

The Tar Heels posted runner-up finishes at 141 and 184-pounds, by Luke Simcox and Jake Dailey.

Simcox opened the tournament with a third-period fall over Duke's Raymond Adams, followed by a one-point decision against third-seeded Ryan Jack of NC State in the semifinals, 6-5.

Facing No. 1 Jack Consiglio in the finals, Simcox fell by one in the title bout, 4-3, ending the tournament second place at 141 pounds.

In the first round, Dailey was on the receiving end of a punch thrown by NC State's Don Cates, awarding the redshirt-freshman the victory via disqualification. Dailey defeated top-seeded Chase Kranitz of Pitt in the semifinals, 9-2, earning his spot in the 184-pound finals.

In the finals, Dailey's escape sent the match to sudden victory, tied at one-all with No. 3 Jaden Bullock of Virginia Tech. Bullock secured the title for the Hokies with a takedown in the overtime period, as Dailey finished his first ACC Championship runner-up at 184 pounds.

In addition to the three Tar Heel finalists, Collin Carrigan earned a podium finish, securing third at 174-pounds.

On the day, six Carolina wrestlers secured automatic bids, for the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Cleveland: Kysen Terukina (125), Simcox (141), Laird Root (157), Hepner (165), Carrigan (174) and Dailey (184).

As a team, the Tar Heels finished fourth with 53 points. Virginia Tech won its second-straight ACC title with 103 points, followed by Stanford (84 points) and NC State (57 points) ahead of Carolina.

2026 ACC Wrestling Championships Results
March 8, 2026 | Cassell Coliseum | Blacksburg, Va.

125: Kysen Terukina
First Round: No. 4 Kysen Terukina (UNC) over No. 5 Tyler Chappell (Pitt): 4-3 Dec
Semifinals: No. 1 Eddie Ventresca (VT) over No. 4 Kysen Terukina (UNC): 3-2 TB-1
Consolation Semifinals: No. 4 Kysen Terukina (UNC) over No. 6 Keyveon Roller (UVA): 4-1 SV Dec
Third-Place Match: No. 3 Vincent Robinson (NC State) over No. 4 Kysen Terukina (UNC): 5-4 Dec

133: Ethan Oakley
First Round: No. 4 Evan Tallmadge (Pitt) over No. 5 Ethan Oakley (UNC): 4-1 SV Dec
Consolation Semifinals: No. 3 Zach Redding (NC State) over No. 5 Ethan Oakley (UNC): 8-0 MD

141: Luke Simcox
First Round: No. 2 Luke Simcox (UNC) over Raymond Adams (Duke): Fall (5:58)
Semifinals: No. 2 Luke Simcox (UNC) over No. 3 Ryan Jack (NC State): 6-5 Dec
Finals: No. 1 Jack Consiglio (Stanford) over No. 2 Luke Simcox (UNC): 4-3 Dec

149: Nate Askew
First Round: No. 2 Aden Valencia (Stanford) over No. 7 Nate Askew (UNC): 18-3 TF
Consolation Quarterfinals: No. 6 Dylan Ross (Duke) over No. 7 Nate Askew (UNC): 2-0 Dec

157: Laird Root
First Round: No. 4 Laird Root (UNC) over No. 5 Colton Washleski (UVA): 4-1 TB-1
Semifinals: No. 1 Daniel Cardenas (Stanford) over No. 4 Laird Root (UNC): 8-0 MD
Consolation Semifinals: No. 4 Laird Root (UNC) over No. 7 Mikey Boulanger (Duke): Fall (0:53)
Third-Place Match: No. 5 Colton Washleski (UVA) over No. 4 Laird Root (UNC): 4-2 Dec

165: Bryce Hepner
First Round: No. 4 Bryce Hepner (UNC) over No. 5 Jared Keslar (Pitt): 4-0 Dec
Semifinals: No. 4 Bryce Hepner (UNC) over No. 1 Will Denny (NC State): 10-3 Dec
Finals: No. 4 Bryce Hepner (UNC) over No. 3 Mac Church (VT): 2-0 Dec

174: Collin Carrigan
First Round: No. 6 Collin Carrigan (UNC) over No. 3 Aidan Wallace (Duke): 2-1 Dec
Semifinals: No. 2 Matty Singleton (NC State) over No. 6 Collin Carrigan (UNC): 11-2 MD
Consolation Semifinals: No. 6 Collin Carrigan (UNC) over No. 5 Nick Hamilton (UVA): 4-3 Dec
Third-Place Match: No. 6 Collin Carrigan (UNC) over No. 1 Luca Augustine (Pitt): 4-3 Dec

184: Jake Dailey
First Round: No. 4 Jake Dailey (UNC) over No. 5 Don Cates (NC State): DQ
Semifinals: No. 4 Jake Dailey (UNC) over No. 1 Chase Kranitz (Pitt): 9-2 Dec
Finals: No. 3 Jaden Bullock (VT) over No. 4 Jake Dailey (UNC): 4-1 SV Dec

197: Robert Platt
First Round: No. 5 Robert Platt (UNC) over No. 4 Patrick Brophy (NC State): 14-5 MD
Semifinals: No. 1 Angelo Posada (Stanford) over No. 5 Robert Platt (UNC): 8-5 Dec
Consolation Semifinals: No. 5 Robert Platt (UNC) over No. 6 Steven Burrell (UVA): 11-5 Dec
Third-Place Match: No. 2 Mac Stout (Pitt) over No. 5 Robert Platt (UNC): 5-2 Dec

285: Jacob Levy
First Round: No. 3 Jimmy Mullen (VT) over No. 6 Jacob Levy (UNC): Fall (0:59)
Consolation Quarterfinals: No. 7 Luke Duthie (Stanford) over No. 6 Jacob Levy (UNC): Fall (5:57)