University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Rutgers
Carolina Falls to No. 19 Rutgers, 28-6
January 9, 2011 | Wrestling
Jan. 9, 2011
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. - Freshmen Antonio Giorgio and Zac Bennett captured victories for the second consecutive day, but it was not enough as Rutgers, ranked 19th in the NWCA/USA Today Coaches Poll, defeated Carolina 28-6. The Tar Heels fall to .500 with a 4-4 record on the season as the Scarlet Knights cap off a 3-0 weekend and improve to 12-1.
Rutgers earned wins in seven of the nine weight classes that were contested, as Carolina forfeited at heavyweight. The Tar Heels' lone wins came from Giorgio and Bennett at the 184 and 197-pound weight classes.
The Scarlet Knights registered six decisions and one major decisions in the first seven bouts to rush out to a 22-0 lead. Included in that streak were victories by four ranked Rutgers wrestlers.
Giorgio put Carolina on the board with a 9-3 victory at 184 pounds over Dan Rinaldi. The freshman from Lititz, Pa., jumped out to a 5-0 lead after one period with a takedown and near-fall early. Giorgio maintained that lead throughout to record the victory.
In the next match, Bennett defeated Mike Wagner by a 3-1 score. Bennett used a takedown in the first period to grab the lead and the wrestlers traded escapes to end the bout 3-1. The redshirt freshman Johnstown, Pa., product is now 16-9 on the season.
Carolina returns to action Saturday with a home doubleheader against ACC foe No. 12 Virginia Tech and Clarion, beginning at 1 p.m.
Rutgers 28, North Carolina 6
125: Joe Langel (RU) dec. Nick Shields (UNC), 9-2; Rutgers leads, 3-0
133: Mike DeMarco (RU) dec. Pat Owens (UNC), 5-1; Rutgers leads, 6-0
141: Trevor Melde (RU) dec. Danny Lopes (UNC), 4-1; Rutgers leads, 9-0
149: No. 6 Mario Mason (RU) m. dec. Daniel Helena (UNC), 10-2; Rutgers leads, 13-0
157: No. 20 Daryl Cocozzo (RU) dec. Corey Mock (UNC), 5-3; Rutgers leads, 16-0
165: No. 8 Scott Winston (RU) dec Thomas Scotton (UNC), 4-0; Rutgers leads, 19-0
174: No. 18 Alex Caruso (RU) dec. Thomas Ferguson (UNC), 6-2; Rutgers leads, 22-0
184: Antonio Giorgio (UNC) dec. Dan Rinaldi (RU), 9-3; Rutgers leads, 22-3
197: Zac Bennett (UNC) dec. Mike Wagner (RU), 3-1; Rutgers leads, 22-6
285: UNC Forfeits; Rutgers wins, 28-6
Players Mentioned
