University of North Carolina Athletics
Friday, December 17
Boone, N.C.
7 PM
North Carolina
at
Appalachian State
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Wrestling Squares Off With Appalachian State Friday Night
December 16, 2021 | Wrestling
CHAPEL HILL – The No. 20 North Carolina wrestling team hits the road for a non-conference dual with Appalachian State on Friday night in Boone, N.C. The dual is set for a 7:00 p.m. start at Varsity Gym.
Dual Information
Opponent: Appalachian State (0-1; 0-0 SOCON)
Date/Time: Dec. 17, 7 p.m.
Location: Varsity Gym, Boone, N.C.
Watch: Rofkin
Live Stats: Trackwrestling.com
Looking Back
The Tar Heels drooped two road duals against Big Ten foes No. 19 Wisconsin and No. 15 Rutgers, on Nov. 27.
Against Wisconsin, five Tar Heels picked up wins. Jaime Hernandez and Kizhan Clarke earned back-to-back decisions to put North Carolina on the scoreboard early in the match. Austin O'Connor took care of business and picked up the 13-5 major decision. Clay Lautt earned a massive 6-1 win over No. 8 Andrew McNally to make it two straight wins over ranked opponents. Gavin Kane earned the Tar Heel's last three points of the match with an 8-2 decision over No. 14 Chris Weiler.
The Tar Heels had a tougher time in their second match against Rutgers, taking only three matches. O'Connor earned his second win of the night with a 12-6 decision. Joey Mazzara looked solid in a 7-3 decision win, while Clay Lautt wrapped up an impressive night with a 4-0 decision over Connor O'Neil.
Scouting the Mountaineers
North Carolina and Appalachian State have met 21 times in the programs' histories, with the Tar Heels holding a 19-1-1 advantage. UNC's only loss in the series came on Nov. 27, 2016, when they dropped a close 18-16 match in Boone. The teams last faced each other in 2019 when UNC defeated the Mountaineers 19-13. The first meeting between the schools took place in 1980, with the Tar Heels winning 30-10.
Carolina Connection
Appalachian State head coach John Mark Bentley wrestled for North Carolina from 1997-2001. As a Tar Heel, Bentley was twice named team MVP, the 2001 ACC Wrestler of the Year, and a 2000 University Nationals Freestyle All-American. He ranks ninth in UNC single season win percentage with a mark of .919 after he went 31-2 in 2000-01. He finished with 92 career wins, was a three-year member of the UNC Student-Athletic Council and earned a degree in communications in 2001.
Racking Up the Points
Four Tar Heels have racked up 15 or more dual points this season, led by 32 from Austin O'Connor. Four out of six wins by O'Connor have been by way of major decision or fall. Kizhan Clarke currently holds a 6-0 record and has collected 20 dual points. Jaime Hernandez has accumulated 16 points with a 5-0 record. Clay Lautt rounds out the order with 15 dual points.
Closing in on 100
With 93 victories, Austin O'Connor is seven away from 100 for his career.
North Carolina Probables
125: Spencer Moore
133: Joe Heilmann
141: No. 9 Kizhan Clarke
149: No. 17 Zach Sherman
157: No. 7 Austin O'Connor
165: Sonny Santiago
174: No. 9 Clay Lautt
184: No. 21 Gavin Kane
197: No. 30 Max Shaw
285: Brandon Whitman
Tune In
Fans can follow the Tar Heels matchup Friday against Appalachian State with @UNCWrestling on Twitter. The match will be streamed on Rofkin.
Dual Information
Opponent: Appalachian State (0-1; 0-0 SOCON)
Date/Time: Dec. 17, 7 p.m.
Location: Varsity Gym, Boone, N.C.
Watch: Rofkin
Live Stats: Trackwrestling.com
Looking Back
The Tar Heels drooped two road duals against Big Ten foes No. 19 Wisconsin and No. 15 Rutgers, on Nov. 27.
Against Wisconsin, five Tar Heels picked up wins. Jaime Hernandez and Kizhan Clarke earned back-to-back decisions to put North Carolina on the scoreboard early in the match. Austin O'Connor took care of business and picked up the 13-5 major decision. Clay Lautt earned a massive 6-1 win over No. 8 Andrew McNally to make it two straight wins over ranked opponents. Gavin Kane earned the Tar Heel's last three points of the match with an 8-2 decision over No. 14 Chris Weiler.
The Tar Heels had a tougher time in their second match against Rutgers, taking only three matches. O'Connor earned his second win of the night with a 12-6 decision. Joey Mazzara looked solid in a 7-3 decision win, while Clay Lautt wrapped up an impressive night with a 4-0 decision over Connor O'Neil.
Scouting the Mountaineers
North Carolina and Appalachian State have met 21 times in the programs' histories, with the Tar Heels holding a 19-1-1 advantage. UNC's only loss in the series came on Nov. 27, 2016, when they dropped a close 18-16 match in Boone. The teams last faced each other in 2019 when UNC defeated the Mountaineers 19-13. The first meeting between the schools took place in 1980, with the Tar Heels winning 30-10.
Carolina Connection
Appalachian State head coach John Mark Bentley wrestled for North Carolina from 1997-2001. As a Tar Heel, Bentley was twice named team MVP, the 2001 ACC Wrestler of the Year, and a 2000 University Nationals Freestyle All-American. He ranks ninth in UNC single season win percentage with a mark of .919 after he went 31-2 in 2000-01. He finished with 92 career wins, was a three-year member of the UNC Student-Athletic Council and earned a degree in communications in 2001.
Racking Up the Points
Four Tar Heels have racked up 15 or more dual points this season, led by 32 from Austin O'Connor. Four out of six wins by O'Connor have been by way of major decision or fall. Kizhan Clarke currently holds a 6-0 record and has collected 20 dual points. Jaime Hernandez has accumulated 16 points with a 5-0 record. Clay Lautt rounds out the order with 15 dual points.
Closing in on 100
With 93 victories, Austin O'Connor is seven away from 100 for his career.
North Carolina Probables
125: Spencer Moore
133: Joe Heilmann
141: No. 9 Kizhan Clarke
149: No. 17 Zach Sherman
157: No. 7 Austin O'Connor
165: Sonny Santiago
174: No. 9 Clay Lautt
184: No. 21 Gavin Kane
197: No. 30 Max Shaw
285: Brandon Whitman
Tune In
Fans can follow the Tar Heels matchup Friday against Appalachian State with @UNCWrestling on Twitter. The match will be streamed on Rofkin.
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