University of North Carolina Athletics
Friday, January 21
Chapel Hill, N.C.
7 PM
North Carolina
vs
Duke
Wrestling Hosts Rival Duke In ACC Opener
January 20, 2022 | Wrestling
CHAPEL HILL – The No. 22 North Carolina wrestling team will open its conference season with a dual against rival Duke inside Carmichael Arena at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 21. The Tar Heels will also host the Little Rock Trojans on Sunday at 3 p.m.
Dual Information
Opponent: Duke (6-5, 0-0 ACC)
Date/Time: Jan. 21, 7 p.m.
Location: Carmichael Arena, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Watch: ACC Network
Opponent: Little Rock (1-6, 0-2 Pac-12)
Date/Time: Jan. 23, 3 p.m.
Location: Carmichael Arena, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Watch: ACC Network Extra
Looking Back
The Tar Heels opened the new year, winning two titles at the David H. Lehman F&M Open on Jan. 7. Eleven Tar Heels combined for eight bonus-point wins and a 20-18 record.
No. 7 Kizhan Clarke improved his unbeaten record to 12-0 in an impressive outing. He earned four straight decisions before wrapping the tournament with a convincing 11-2 major decision to take the title. No. 27 Max Shaw dominated early with two technical fall wins before notching the 197 title with two decisions at the end.
Scouting the Blue Devils
The Tar Heels and the Blue Devils have a history that dates back to the 1973-74 season when the teams met for the first time in Chapel Hill, advantage North Carolina in a 23-14 victory. The two teams have faced each other 48 straight years, and in that time, UNC holds a 46-2 record against Duke. Last season the Tar Heels picked up the 29-9 win in Durham on Jan. 22.
Scouting the Trojans
North Carolina and Little Rock have only met one time in the programs' histories. On Dec. 20, 2019, the teams faced each other when UNC took the match 35-6 at Little Rock.
Two North Carolina Wins Would
• Move the Tar Heels to 6-4 on the season
• Extend UNC's home dual win streak to six dating back to last season
• Give Coleman Scott six straight wins over the Blue Devils
• Advance Scott's career coaching record to 66-38
Closing in on 100
With 94 victories, Austin O'Connor is six away from 100 for his career.
Tar Heels in the Polls
Entering the Tar Heels matchup with the Blue Devils, the team features seven wrestlers ranked in the InterMat individual polls.
133 – Jaime Hernandez - #10
141 – Kizhan Clarke - #7
149 – Zach Sherman - #20
157 – Austin O'Connor - #6
174 – Clay Lautt - #16
184 – Gavin Kane - #22
197 – Max Shaw - #28
What to Watch
Two Tar Heels are slated to have ranked matchups on Friday. At 149, Zach Sherman will defend his No. 20 ranking against Duke's No. 13 Josh Finesliver. No. 16 Clay Lautt is slated for a top-25 bout with Blue Devils No. 13 Matt Finesliver.
North Carolina Probables
125: Spencer Moore
133: No. 10 Jaime Hernandez or Josh Heilmann
141: No. 7 Kizhan Clarke
149: No. 20 Zach Sherman
157: No. 6 Austin O'Connor
165: Sonny Santiago or Michael Goldfeder
174: No. 16 Clay Lautt
184: No. 24 Gavin Kane
197: No. 27 Max Shaw
HWT: Brandon Whitman
Tune In
Fans can follow the Tar Heels with @UNCWrestling on Twitter and watch the Duke dual on ACC Network and the Little Rock dual on ACC Network Extra on the ESPN App.
Dual Information
Opponent: Duke (6-5, 0-0 ACC)
Date/Time: Jan. 21, 7 p.m.
Location: Carmichael Arena, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Watch: ACC Network
Opponent: Little Rock (1-6, 0-2 Pac-12)
Date/Time: Jan. 23, 3 p.m.
Location: Carmichael Arena, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Watch: ACC Network Extra
Looking Back
The Tar Heels opened the new year, winning two titles at the David H. Lehman F&M Open on Jan. 7. Eleven Tar Heels combined for eight bonus-point wins and a 20-18 record.
No. 7 Kizhan Clarke improved his unbeaten record to 12-0 in an impressive outing. He earned four straight decisions before wrapping the tournament with a convincing 11-2 major decision to take the title. No. 27 Max Shaw dominated early with two technical fall wins before notching the 197 title with two decisions at the end.
Scouting the Blue Devils
The Tar Heels and the Blue Devils have a history that dates back to the 1973-74 season when the teams met for the first time in Chapel Hill, advantage North Carolina in a 23-14 victory. The two teams have faced each other 48 straight years, and in that time, UNC holds a 46-2 record against Duke. Last season the Tar Heels picked up the 29-9 win in Durham on Jan. 22.
Scouting the Trojans
North Carolina and Little Rock have only met one time in the programs' histories. On Dec. 20, 2019, the teams faced each other when UNC took the match 35-6 at Little Rock.
Two North Carolina Wins Would
• Move the Tar Heels to 6-4 on the season
• Extend UNC's home dual win streak to six dating back to last season
• Give Coleman Scott six straight wins over the Blue Devils
• Advance Scott's career coaching record to 66-38
Closing in on 100
With 94 victories, Austin O'Connor is six away from 100 for his career.
Tar Heels in the Polls
Entering the Tar Heels matchup with the Blue Devils, the team features seven wrestlers ranked in the InterMat individual polls.
133 – Jaime Hernandez - #10
141 – Kizhan Clarke - #7
149 – Zach Sherman - #20
157 – Austin O'Connor - #6
174 – Clay Lautt - #16
184 – Gavin Kane - #22
197 – Max Shaw - #28
What to Watch
Two Tar Heels are slated to have ranked matchups on Friday. At 149, Zach Sherman will defend his No. 20 ranking against Duke's No. 13 Josh Finesliver. No. 16 Clay Lautt is slated for a top-25 bout with Blue Devils No. 13 Matt Finesliver.
North Carolina Probables
125: Spencer Moore
133: No. 10 Jaime Hernandez or Josh Heilmann
141: No. 7 Kizhan Clarke
149: No. 20 Zach Sherman
157: No. 6 Austin O'Connor
165: Sonny Santiago or Michael Goldfeder
174: No. 16 Clay Lautt
184: No. 24 Gavin Kane
197: No. 27 Max Shaw
HWT: Brandon Whitman
Tune In
Fans can follow the Tar Heels with @UNCWrestling on Twitter and watch the Duke dual on ACC Network and the Little Rock dual on ACC Network Extra on the ESPN App.
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