University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Hokie Open
Tar Heel Wrestlers Compete in Hokie Open
November 7, 2010 | Wrestling
Nov. 7, 2010
SALEM, VA. - The University of North Carolina wrestling team kicked off its 2010-11 campaign Sunday as the Tar Heels competed in the Hokie Open in Salem, Va. Mike Rappo and Zac Bennett led the Tar Heels with fourth-place finishes at 133 and 197 pounds, respectively.
Rappo won his first three matches convincingly, tallying victories by scores of 17-3, 20-5 and 4-0 in advancing to the semifinals. However, an injury forced him to default against Virginia Tech's Devin Carter and forfeit the third-place bout, so Rappo earned fourth-place honors.
Bennett, competing in his first tournament as a Tar Heel after a successful year wrestling unattached, went 2-2 on the day to finish fourth at 197 pounds. The redshirt freshman picked up two victories to begin the tournament, including a 19-4 technical fall win over Phil Hawes of Iowa State, before falling to third-ranked Dustin Kilgore of Kent State in the semifinals. In the third-place bout, Bennett dropped a decision to No. 16 Erik Schuth of Ohio.
No. 12 Thomas Scotton was the tournament's top seed at 165 pounds, but the senior went 2-2 and did not place, falling in the quarterfinals. 2010 ACC runner-up Thomas Ferguson wrestled to the same record at 174 pounds.
Several other Tar Heels posted solid performances Sunday. Rocco Wellek was 3-2 at 141 pounds, including two pins, one of which ended in only 0:54 against Mike Bell of Duke. Freshman 157-pounder Corey Mock earned five victories, but came up one point short of placing when he was beaten 10-9 by Josh Demas of Ohio State.
Two newcomers to the Tar Heel program placed in Sunday's tournament wrestling unattached. Freshman Antonio Giorgio registered four consecutive wins in reaching the finals at 184 pounds, including a third-period pin of Joe Budi of Old Dominion at 5:13 in the semifinals. Giorgio fell to 11th-ranked Tommy Spellman of Virginia Tech in the finals by a 9-2 score. Transfer Brock LiVorio, previously of Virginia Tech, lost his first contest but rattled off five straight victories to finish fifth at 133 pounds. Livorio's streak included dominating victories by scores of 12-2, 17-2 and 12-3.
Tar Heel regulars Nick Shields (125 pounds), No. 17 Nick Stabile (149) and Kyle Kiss (157) did not compete as they are injured to begin the season.
Carolina will be back in action Saturday as they travel to Hershey, Pa. for the Hershey Duals, which includes matches against Drexel, Lock Haven and Old Dominion.
Players Mentioned
