University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
NCAA Championships
Ferguson, Mock Advance To Day Two At NCAAs
March 15, 2012 | Wrestling
March 15, 2012
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Senior Thomas Ferguson and sophomore Corey Mock each went 1-1 on the opening day of the NCAA Championships in St. Louis Thursday as the pair advanced to the second day of competition. Freshman Evan Henderson went 1-2 in his first appearance at the NCAA Championships as his season came to an end.
Corey Mock opened the day by facing a familiar foe in Roger Pena of Oregon State who defeated Mock by a 10-4 margin at the Cliff Keen Invite. Pena got the better of Mock once again on Thursday as Pena claimed a 7-1 decision, sending Mock to the consolation bracket.
The sophomore took on Missouri's Drake Houdashelt in another rematch after Houdashelt claimed a narrow 7-6 decision at the Southern Scuffle in January. Mock bounced back from the opening round defeat and punched his ticket for Friday with a 5-2 decision over Houdashelt.
Mock will take on North Dakota State's Steven Monk who entered the NCAA Championships as the No. 12 seed in 157 pounds. Monk will be Mock's third straight opponent that faced the Tar Heel during the regular season as Monk claimed a pin over Mock at the Cliff Keen Invite.
Thomas Ferguson earned a tough draw to open the NCAA Championships as he had to take on the reigning NCAA Champion at 184 pounds in Penn State's Quentin Wright. Wright lived up to the billing as he notched an 11-0 major decision over Ferguson.
Ferguson fell behind in the opening period of his bout against Ty Vinson of Oregon State but battled back to claim a 7-4 decision and earn a trip to the second day of competition.
The senior will take on Erich Smith of Pennsylvania in the first session of the day on Friday.
Evan Henderson took on returning All-America Zack Kemmerer of Pennsylvania in a pigtail bout to open the NCAA Championships. Kemmerer came out on top with a 6-2 decision over Henderson to send the freshman to the consolation bracket.
Henderson bounced back and claimed a 5-1 decision of his own against Richard Durso of Franklin and Marshall to earn Carolina half a team point for a bracket advancement. Princeton's Adam Krop ended Henderson's run with a 9-5 decision to give the freshman a final record of 28-13 in his first season as a Tar Heel.
Carolina currently sits in 53rd place overall with 2.5 team points.
Action resumes Friday at 11 a.m. ET from the ScottTrade Center in St. Louis with mats 1-4 shown live on ESPN3.
Players Mentioned
