University of North Carolina Athletics
Saturday, March 21
Cleveland, Ohio
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NCAA Championships
Photo by: Jenna Miller
Hepner Finishes Seventh at 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships
March 21, 2026 | Wrestling
CLEVELAND, Ohio – North Carolina 165-pounder Bryce Hepner secured a seventh-place finish, Saturday morning at the 2026 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.
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In the seventh-place match, Hepner defeated former high school and college teammate Paddy Gallagher of Ohio State by major decision, 9-1.
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The Avon, Ohio product posted four wins over the three-day event, his first career appearance at the national tournament. Hepner, in his first season with the Tar Heels, becomes the first 165-pound All-America Tar Heel since Ethan Ramos in 2015. Additionally, Hepner helped Carolina post a podium finisher for the eighth-straight national tournament.
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2026 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
March 21, 2026 | Rocket Arena | Cleveland, Ohio
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Session Five (Morning)
Seventh-Place Match
165: No. 9 Bryce Hepner (UNC) over No. 16 Paddy Gallagher (Ohio State): 9-1 MD
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In the seventh-place match, Hepner defeated former high school and college teammate Paddy Gallagher of Ohio State by major decision, 9-1.
Â
The Avon, Ohio product posted four wins over the three-day event, his first career appearance at the national tournament. Hepner, in his first season with the Tar Heels, becomes the first 165-pound All-America Tar Heel since Ethan Ramos in 2015. Additionally, Hepner helped Carolina post a podium finisher for the eighth-straight national tournament.
Â
2026 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
March 21, 2026 | Rocket Arena | Cleveland, Ohio
Â
Session Five (Morning)
Seventh-Place Match
165: No. 9 Bryce Hepner (UNC) over No. 16 Paddy Gallagher (Ohio State): 9-1 MD
Â
Players Mentioned
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