University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Michigan State
Carolina Drops Tough Match At No. 7 Michigan State
February 14, 2003 | Wrestling
Feb. 14, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The University of North Carolina wrestling team pushed No. 7 Michigan State to the limit tonight as they fell 22-15 in a non-conference match in East Lansing, Mich. UNC led 12-10 half way through, but the Spartans rallied off 10 straight points to seal the victory. Carolina falls to 8-5, while MSU improves to 8-5.
North Carolina was led by sophomores Chris Rodrigues (Marietta, Ga.) and Evan Sola (Wernersville, Pa.). Rodrigues pinned No. 6 Nick Simmons in just 1:09 and Sola won his 10th straight match with a 4-3 decision over Shane Martin. < p="">No. 20 Rashad Evans (Sr., Niagara Falls, N.Y.) began the dual at 174 pounds with an entertaining 12-10 decision over Mark Canty (Gahanna, Ohio). Evans and Canty traded points throughout the match until Evans scored near-fall points at the end of the second period to take an 8-4 lead. Evans then went up 10-4, but Canty stormed back with a takedown and near-fall points to tie the match at 10-10. Evans escaped from Canty, however, and tacked on a riding-time point for the 12-10 win.
In the 184-pound match, Jeff Clemens (R-Fr., Bellbrook, Ohio) defeated Dustin Heist (Meadville, Pa.), 5-1. Clemens scored all of his points in the third period, scoring on a reversal and a takedown while adding a riding-time point at the end of the match.
MSU jumped out to a 10-0 lead as sixth-ranked Nik Fekete extended his winning streak to 11 matches with a 24-12 major decision over David Dashiell at 197 pounds. Fekete - who trailed 3-2 after the first period - dominated the rest of the match, recording nine takedowns in the final two periods.
North Carolina got on the board as Ryan Adams (Rock Hill, S.C.) took down Mike Keenan (Jr., Columbus, Ohio) as time expired in the heavyweight match. With the score tied at four apiece, Adams barely beat the buzzer, but scored the two points for the victory.
The Tar Heels leaped right back into the dual as No. 18 Chris Rodrigues pinned sixth-ranked Nick Simmons (R-Fr., Williamston) in just 1:09 in the 125-pound bout. The fall put UNC down only one point at 10-9 heading into intermission.
UNC took the lead 12-10 on No. 18 Evan Sola's 4-3 decision over Shane Martin (So., DeWitt) at 141 pounds.
The Spartans regained the lead after the 141-pound match as Ryan L'Amoreaux (Jr., Clarkston) defeated Brent Baglio, 8-7. L'Amoreaux led for the entire match and had a four-point lead at 8-4 before Baglio recorded a late takedown to make the final 8-7.
No. 16 Karl Nadolsky put the Spartans up 17-12 with a four-point technical fall victory at 149 pounds. Nadolsky controlled Chris DiGuiseppe for the entire match, defeating the Tar Heel 22-7.
Big Ten Wrestler of Week and fifth-ranked Gray Maynard took care of business as he recorded MSU's second consecutive technical fall win with a 17-2 victory in the 157-pound bout. Maynard got the five-point tech fall 4:38 into the match.
Jimmy O'Conner (Woodbine, Md.) topped Charles Sageman (Sr., Saginaw), 4-2, in the final match of the night at 165 pounds.
North Carolina will wrestle Eastern Michigan tomorrow, Feb. 15 in Ypsilanti, Mich. The match will begin at 11 a.m.
MATCH SUMMARY:
174 No. 20 Rashad Evans (MSU) dec. Mark Canty (UNC), 12-10 MSU, 3-0
184 Jeff Clemens (MSU) dec. Dustin Heist (UNC), 5-1 MSU, 6-0
197 No. 6 Nik Fekete (MSU) major dec. David Dashiell (UNC), 24-12 MSU, 10-0
285 Ryan Adams (UNC) dec. Mike Keenan (MSU), 6-4 MSU, 10-3
125 No. 18 Chris Rodrigues (UNC) pinned No. 6 Nick Simmons (MSU), 1:09 MSU, 10-9
133 No. 18 Evan Sola (UNC) dec. Shane Martin (MSU), 4-3 UNC, 12-10
141 Ryan L'Amoreaux (MSU) dec. Brent Baglio (UNC), 8-7 MSU, 13-12
149 No. 16 Karl Nadolsky (MSU) tech. fall Chris DiGuiseppe (UNC), 22-7 MSU, 17-12
157 No. 5 Gray Maynard (MSU) tech. fall Garrett Atkinson (UNC), 17-2 (4:38) MSU, 22-12
165 Jimmy O'Conner (UNC) dec. Charles Sageman (MSU), 4-2 MSU, 22-15
PLEASE NOTE: Team rankings according to the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Individual rankings according to InterMat Wrestling.
Players Mentioned
