University of North Carolina Athletics
2025-26 Wrestling Roster
Laird Root
- Weight:
- 157
- Class:
- Redshirt Freshman
- Hometown:
- Oceanside, Calif.
- High School:
- Poway
Awards and Accomplishments
2026 NCAA Qualifier
2025-26: Wrestled at 157 pounds during redshirt-freshman season at Carolina • Entering the NCAA Championships, has 16 wins on the year • Opened the season with four bonus-point victories at the Southeast Open (11/2) • Posted two-straight major decisions in dual action against Northern Colorado (11/9) and Navy (11/15) • Secured three wins, including a fall versus No. 26 Jared Hill of Wyoming at the two-day Soldier Salute (1/3-1/4) • Opened ACC duals with two-straight wins, both decisions against No. 30 Colton Washleski of Virginia (1/16) and NC State's Luca Felix (1/23) • Posted a major decision against Duke's Mikey Boulanger (2/6) • Represented the Tar Heels at the 2026 ACC Championships (3/8) • Posted two wins in the conference tournament • Qualified for the 2026 NCAA Championships in Cleveland, his first NCAA appearance • Earned the No. 30 seed at 157 pounds for the NCAA Championships • Went 1-2 in his first national tournament appearance, collecting a decision versus No. 32 Jeb Prechtel of Bellarmine
2024-25: Competed at 157 pounds during true freshman campaign in Chapel Hill • Won eight matches during the season • Made collegiate debut at the Southeast Open with three victories (11/2) • Collected two decisions at the Mountaineer Invitational (11/9) • Defeated Lock Haven's Nick Stampoulos for first college dual win at the Collegiate Wrestling Duals in Nashville (12/21) • Earned two victories at Soldier Salute (12/29-12/30)
Prep/Personal: Laird Root is the son of Aaron and Lesli Root • Has one sibling, Lily • Wrestled for head coach John Meyers at Poway High School • Plans to major in finance
2026 NCAA Qualifier
2025-26: Wrestled at 157 pounds during redshirt-freshman season at Carolina • Entering the NCAA Championships, has 16 wins on the year • Opened the season with four bonus-point victories at the Southeast Open (11/2) • Posted two-straight major decisions in dual action against Northern Colorado (11/9) and Navy (11/15) • Secured three wins, including a fall versus No. 26 Jared Hill of Wyoming at the two-day Soldier Salute (1/3-1/4) • Opened ACC duals with two-straight wins, both decisions against No. 30 Colton Washleski of Virginia (1/16) and NC State's Luca Felix (1/23) • Posted a major decision against Duke's Mikey Boulanger (2/6) • Represented the Tar Heels at the 2026 ACC Championships (3/8) • Posted two wins in the conference tournament • Qualified for the 2026 NCAA Championships in Cleveland, his first NCAA appearance • Earned the No. 30 seed at 157 pounds for the NCAA Championships • Went 1-2 in his first national tournament appearance, collecting a decision versus No. 32 Jeb Prechtel of Bellarmine
2024-25: Competed at 157 pounds during true freshman campaign in Chapel Hill • Won eight matches during the season • Made collegiate debut at the Southeast Open with three victories (11/2) • Collected two decisions at the Mountaineer Invitational (11/9) • Defeated Lock Haven's Nick Stampoulos for first college dual win at the Collegiate Wrestling Duals in Nashville (12/21) • Earned two victories at Soldier Salute (12/29-12/30)
Prep/Personal: Laird Root is the son of Aaron and Lesli Root • Has one sibling, Lily • Wrestled for head coach John Meyers at Poway High School • Plans to major in finance
| Year | Overall | Dual | ACC | MD | TF | Fall |
| 24-25 | 8-7 | 1-2 | - | - | 1 | 2 |
| 25-26 | 17-13 | 6-6 | 3-3 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Career | 25-20 | 7-8 | 3-3 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
UNC Baseball: Dominant Pitching Secures Win vs South Carolina, 9-1
Wednesday, March 25
UNC Softball: Tar Heels Battle, Fall to Stanford, 15-12
Monday, March 23
UNC Baseball: Diamond Heels Take Series vs Louisville with Game 3 Win, 7-6
Sunday, March 22
WBB: Post-Maryland Illinois Press Conference
Sunday, March 22
