Friday, February 21
Charlottesville, Va.
7 p.m.
North Carolina
19
at
18
Virginia
Photo by: Barron Northrup
Tar Heels Wrap Up ACC Schedule With 19-18 Win Over Virginia
February 22, 2020 | Wrestling
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. --- No. 3 Austin O'Connor's second-period pin and Jaime Hernandez's decision over Louie Hayes helped lead No. 8 North Carolina to a 19-18 win over Virginia on Friday night in Memorial Gymnasium.
With the match starting at 141 pounds, No. 12 Zach Sherman began the night with early bonus points for the Tar Heels. He used a late takedown and ride out in the third period to secure an 11-3 major decision, giving the early edge to Carolina.
O'Connor wasted little time locking up his pin over Virginia's Denton Spencer in the second period. Starting down, O'Connor got to his feet for a reversal and sent Spencer to the mat and to his back. The Tar Heel redshirt sophomore locked up the pin, pushing the UNC lead to 10-0.
Virginia took the matches at both 157 and 165 pounds, including Justin McCoy's 3-2 upset over No. 16 A.C. Headlee.
Clay Lautt's 3-1 win over Victor Marcelli helped spark a bit of momentum for the Tar Heels at 174 pounds. Tied 1-1 late, Lautt was able to finish a takedown with short time to advance his season dual meet record to 13-2.
UVA took the next two bouts to tie the match at 13, but Andrew Gunning's win at heavyweight put the Tar Heels ahead going into the final two bouts of the night, 16-13. Virginia's No. 2 Jack Mueller scored a technical fall win over Joey Melendez at 125 pounds to make the 133-pound match the winner-take-all bout of the night – one that Jaime Hernandez capitalized upon.
Against Louie Hayes – who Carolina assistant Gary Wayne Harding defeated 9-0 in Chapel Hill last year – Hernandez scored two early takedowns and never looked back, winning an 8-5 decision. Hernandez's win secured the dramatic road dual win for Carolina, 19-18.
The Tar Heels will be back in action on Sunday in Carmichael Arena against No. 4 Arizona State. The match is set for 2 p.m., with doors opening at 1 p.m. UNC is asking fans to be in their seats by 1:40 for Senior Day ceremonies.
No. 8 North Carolina 19, Virginia 18
141: No. 12 Zach Sherman (UNC) maj. dec. Brian Courtney (UVA), 11-3 – UNC leads, 4-0
149: No. 3 Austin O'Connor (UNC) pinned Denton Spencer (UVA), 3:40 – UNC leads, 10-0
157: Justin McCoy (UVA) dec. No. 16 A.C. Headlee (UNC), 3-2 – UNC leads, 10-3
165: Cam Coy (UVA) dec. Sawyer Davidson (UNC), 6-3 – UNC leads, 10-6
174: Clay Lautt (UNC) dec. Victor Marcelli (UVA), 3-1 – UNC leads, 13-6
184: Michael Battista (UVA) maj. dec. Joey Mazzara (UNC), 12-4 – UNC leads, 13-10
197: No. 8 Jay Aiello (UVA) dec. Brandon Whitman (UNC), 9-3 – Tied, 13-13
285: Andrew Gunning (UNC) dec. Robert Scherer (UVA), 6-2 – UNC leads, 16-13
125: No. 2 Jack Mueller (UVA) tech fall Joey Melendez (UNC), 19-1 – UVA leads, 18-16
133: Jaime Hernandez (UNC) dec. Louie Hayes (UVA), 8-5 – UNC wins, 19-18
With the match starting at 141 pounds, No. 12 Zach Sherman began the night with early bonus points for the Tar Heels. He used a late takedown and ride out in the third period to secure an 11-3 major decision, giving the early edge to Carolina.
O'Connor wasted little time locking up his pin over Virginia's Denton Spencer in the second period. Starting down, O'Connor got to his feet for a reversal and sent Spencer to the mat and to his back. The Tar Heel redshirt sophomore locked up the pin, pushing the UNC lead to 10-0.
Virginia took the matches at both 157 and 165 pounds, including Justin McCoy's 3-2 upset over No. 16 A.C. Headlee.
Clay Lautt's 3-1 win over Victor Marcelli helped spark a bit of momentum for the Tar Heels at 174 pounds. Tied 1-1 late, Lautt was able to finish a takedown with short time to advance his season dual meet record to 13-2.
UVA took the next two bouts to tie the match at 13, but Andrew Gunning's win at heavyweight put the Tar Heels ahead going into the final two bouts of the night, 16-13. Virginia's No. 2 Jack Mueller scored a technical fall win over Joey Melendez at 125 pounds to make the 133-pound match the winner-take-all bout of the night – one that Jaime Hernandez capitalized upon.
Against Louie Hayes – who Carolina assistant Gary Wayne Harding defeated 9-0 in Chapel Hill last year – Hernandez scored two early takedowns and never looked back, winning an 8-5 decision. Hernandez's win secured the dramatic road dual win for Carolina, 19-18.
The Tar Heels will be back in action on Sunday in Carmichael Arena against No. 4 Arizona State. The match is set for 2 p.m., with doors opening at 1 p.m. UNC is asking fans to be in their seats by 1:40 for Senior Day ceremonies.
No. 8 North Carolina 19, Virginia 18
141: No. 12 Zach Sherman (UNC) maj. dec. Brian Courtney (UVA), 11-3 – UNC leads, 4-0
149: No. 3 Austin O'Connor (UNC) pinned Denton Spencer (UVA), 3:40 – UNC leads, 10-0
157: Justin McCoy (UVA) dec. No. 16 A.C. Headlee (UNC), 3-2 – UNC leads, 10-3
165: Cam Coy (UVA) dec. Sawyer Davidson (UNC), 6-3 – UNC leads, 10-6
174: Clay Lautt (UNC) dec. Victor Marcelli (UVA), 3-1 – UNC leads, 13-6
184: Michael Battista (UVA) maj. dec. Joey Mazzara (UNC), 12-4 – UNC leads, 13-10
197: No. 8 Jay Aiello (UVA) dec. Brandon Whitman (UNC), 9-3 – Tied, 13-13
285: Andrew Gunning (UNC) dec. Robert Scherer (UVA), 6-2 – UNC leads, 16-13
125: No. 2 Jack Mueller (UVA) tech fall Joey Melendez (UNC), 19-1 – UVA leads, 18-16
133: Jaime Hernandez (UNC) dec. Louie Hayes (UVA), 8-5 – UNC wins, 19-18
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