University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
East Stroudsburg Open
Three UNC Wrestlers Win Titles At East Stroudsburg Open
November 20, 1999 | Wrestling
Nov. 20, 1999
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Skyler Holman, a red-shirt freshman from Sallisaw, Okla., took first place at 125 lbs. and was named Outstanding Wrestler of the 33rd annual East Stroudsburg Open in East Stroudsburg, Pa. Brad Byers (133 lbs.) and Jason LaMotta (141 lbs.) also took top honors in their weight classes as Carolina wrestled for the first time against outside competition in the young 1999-2000 season.
Carolina's projected starter this season at 125 lbs., Holman defeated Jeremy Sluyter (unattached) 3-2 to take first place after opening the tournament with a win over Joel Lim (T.C. N.J.) by fall and over Ronald Comacho (unattached) by major decision, 11-0. Holman won his next two bouts 5-1 and 3-1 before topping Sluyter in the first-place bout.
The Tar Heels dominated at 133 lbs., as Byers and Chuckie Connor worked their way through the field to meet in the finals. Connor, the 1998 ACC Wrestler of the Year and two-time conference champion, had won two straight East Stroudsburg titles (118 lbs. in 1997 and 125 lbs. in 1998) before falling by medical forfeit to Byers in the first-place bout at ESU.
Jason LaMotta, a senior who has returned to the Tar Heels in 1999 after missing last season, defeated Josh Geary (Gloucester) 10-3 to win the 141-pound title. He won two matches by fall in a combined 3:01 en route to the win.
Also finishing with strong showings were Jamie Groudle (165 lbs) and Matt Kenny (Hwt.), both of whom placed second in their weight classes. Groudle fell 8-3 to Harvard's Joey Killar in their first-place bout, while Kenny dropped a 5-2 decision to Steve Mocco (Blair) for the heavyweight title. Kenny was credited with the most falls in the tournament with four in a combined 4:35.
In other finishes of note, freshman Nick Richmond took third place at 184 lbs. and Corey Bell (174 lbs.) and Clint Osborn (197 lbs.) had fourth-place showings.
UNC is back in action next weekend when it hosts the Carolina Open on Saturday, Nov. 27. NC State comes to Chapel Hill on Jan. 11 for Carolina's first home dual meet of the season.
