University of North Carolina Athletics
A.C. Headlee returns after making his NCAA debut in 2018.
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
2018-19 Weight Class Previews: Lightweights
October 17, 2018 | Wrestling
With the 2018-19 season less than a month away, the North Carolina wrestling program has begun preparations for what figures to be another great season. After finishing in the top 20 at the NCAA Championships for the first time since 1995 last spring, the Tar Heels are looking to keep the positive momentum going with a talented roster featuring veteran standouts and talented youngsters poised for a breakout.Â
Today we begin the 2018-19 weight class previews with UNC's potential wrestlers at 125, 133 and 141 pounds.
125
There is plenty of room for growth at 125 for Carolina in 2018-19, a year after injuries plagued the weight and the Tar Heels were unable to send a representative to the ACC Championships. A trio of true freshmen will compete for a spot in the lineup - Jeremiah Derby, Joe Heilmann and Joey Melendez.Â
With open competition entering the preseason, head coach Coleman Scott is looking for someone to emerge. "We're looking to win matches at this weight and set up things for the future. Whoever ends up in the lineup, it'll be a new face and a young guy who will be eager to prove himself."
133
Zach Sherman did yeoman's work at this weight as a true freshman last season, weathering some midseason setbacks to qualify for his first national tournament. With Sherman likely to redshirt in 2018-19, a pair of veterans will be in the mix.
Senior James Szymanski returns for his final season in Chapel Hill. The Shoreham, New York, product has competed at both 125 and 133 as a Tar Heel, winning six times in duals last season at 125. He'll face tough competition from Oklahoma State transfer Gary Wayne Harding, who is a two-time NCAA qualifier. Harding saw limited dual action last season, but did place second at the Southern Scuffle.
"Two veteran guys at this weight, and whoever comes out of the room will be prepared to compete at a very high level," Scott said. "James has wrestled a lot of matches for us and Gary has already established himself as a guy who loves competition and wants to be a leader for this team."
141
One year after A.C. Headlee made his NCAA Championships debut in Cleveland, 141 pounds figures to be one of the deepest weights for the Tar Heels. In addition to Headlee, who went 15-15 last season, junior Nick Lirette and redshirt freshmen Taylor Day and Jaime Hernandez are in the mix. Lirette won four times in duals at 133 as a true freshman in 2016-17, including a win over No. 17 Jamal Morris of NC State. Hernandez was the runner-up at 141 at last year's Wolfpack Open.
"A.C. took the entire workload at this weight last year, but he will be pushed by these guys," Scott said. "It's a scenario that we want to have, that the best programs have, where guys have to up their game to get in the lineup. Whoever we put in the lineup at 141 will have proven themselves in the room and will be prepared to complete at a very high level."
Today we begin the 2018-19 weight class previews with UNC's potential wrestlers at 125, 133 and 141 pounds.
125
There is plenty of room for growth at 125 for Carolina in 2018-19, a year after injuries plagued the weight and the Tar Heels were unable to send a representative to the ACC Championships. A trio of true freshmen will compete for a spot in the lineup - Jeremiah Derby, Joe Heilmann and Joey Melendez.Â
With open competition entering the preseason, head coach Coleman Scott is looking for someone to emerge. "We're looking to win matches at this weight and set up things for the future. Whoever ends up in the lineup, it'll be a new face and a young guy who will be eager to prove himself."
133
Zach Sherman did yeoman's work at this weight as a true freshman last season, weathering some midseason setbacks to qualify for his first national tournament. With Sherman likely to redshirt in 2018-19, a pair of veterans will be in the mix.
Senior James Szymanski returns for his final season in Chapel Hill. The Shoreham, New York, product has competed at both 125 and 133 as a Tar Heel, winning six times in duals last season at 125. He'll face tough competition from Oklahoma State transfer Gary Wayne Harding, who is a two-time NCAA qualifier. Harding saw limited dual action last season, but did place second at the Southern Scuffle.
"Two veteran guys at this weight, and whoever comes out of the room will be prepared to compete at a very high level," Scott said. "James has wrestled a lot of matches for us and Gary has already established himself as a guy who loves competition and wants to be a leader for this team."
141
One year after A.C. Headlee made his NCAA Championships debut in Cleveland, 141 pounds figures to be one of the deepest weights for the Tar Heels. In addition to Headlee, who went 15-15 last season, junior Nick Lirette and redshirt freshmen Taylor Day and Jaime Hernandez are in the mix. Lirette won four times in duals at 133 as a true freshman in 2016-17, including a win over No. 17 Jamal Morris of NC State. Hernandez was the runner-up at 141 at last year's Wolfpack Open.
"A.C. took the entire workload at this weight last year, but he will be pushed by these guys," Scott said. "It's a scenario that we want to have, that the best programs have, where guys have to up their game to get in the lineup. Whoever we put in the lineup at 141 will have proven themselves in the room and will be prepared to complete at a very high level."
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