University of North Carolina Athletics
2025-26 Wrestling Roster
Bryce Hepner
- Weight:
- 165
- Class:
- Graduate Student
- Hometown:
- Avon, Ohio
- High School:
- St. Edward
Awards and Accomplishments
2026 NCAA Qualifier
2026 All-America (165 lbs.)
2026 ACC Champion (165 lbs.)
2025-26: Wrestled at 165 pounds during first season in Chapel Hill • Had 19 wins on the season • Made Carolina debut against Northern Colorado (11/9) • Opened the year with four-straight dual victories • Posted back-to-back bonus-point wins in duals versus Davidson (11/21) and West Virginia (12/12) • Collected a top-10 dual victory versus 10th-ranked Ryder Downey of Northern Iowa (12/21) • Posted five wins to secure thw 165-pound title at the two-day Soldier Salute (1/3-1/4) • Won his first ACC dual by decision over Virginia's Michael Murphy (1/16) • Claimed first ranked ACC win versus No. 33 Jared Keslar of Pitt (1/30) • Represented the Tar Heels at the 2026 ACC Championships (3/8) • As the four seed, secured three decisions on the day • Defeated top-seeded Will Denny of NC State in the semifinals and No. 3 Mac Church of Virginia Tech in the finals, avenging regular-season losses • Became Carolina's first ACC champion since 2023 and the Tar Heels' first 165-pound champion in the ACC since 2009 • Qualified for the 2026 NCAA Championships in his hometown of Cleveland, his first NCAA appearance • Earned the No. 9 seed at 165 pounds for the NCAA Championships • Went 4-2 in his first national tournament appearance • Defeated No. 11 Ryder Downey of Northern Iowa in the blood round to earn All-America honors for the first time in his career • Became UNC's first 165-pound All-America since 2015 • Helped Carolina post an All-America for the eighth-straight national tournament • Earned a major decision over No. 16 Paddy Gallagher of Ohio State to finish seventh place at 165 pounds • Earned NWCA Scholar All-America honors
2024-25 (Ohio State): Won the Michigan State Open with five wins • Appeared in one dual during the campaign
2023-24 (Ohio State): Collected 13 wins throughout the seasons • Collected four wins at the Bobby Kaufman Open to collect the 165-pound championship • Earned two wins at the F&M Scramble • Represented Ohio State at the 2024 Big Ten Championships
2022-23 (Ohio State): Earned four wins and won the 165-pound title at the Cleveland State Open
2021-22 (Ohio State): Won eight matches in open events and collected four attached wins during second year in Columbus • Represented Ohio State at the 2022 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, earning one victory
2020-21 (Ohio State): Wrestled in four matches during true freshman campaign
Prep/Personal: Bryce Hepner is the son of Eric and Wendy Hepner • Has two siblings • Brother, Cade, wrestled at Ohio State • Wrestled for coach John Heffernan at St. Edward for four seasons • Reached the state finals in three-straight seasons including back-to-back titles as a sophomore and junior • A three-time freestyle state champion and three-time Ironman placer during prep career
2026 NCAA Qualifier
2026 All-America (165 lbs.)
2026 ACC Champion (165 lbs.)
2025-26: Wrestled at 165 pounds during first season in Chapel Hill • Had 19 wins on the season • Made Carolina debut against Northern Colorado (11/9) • Opened the year with four-straight dual victories • Posted back-to-back bonus-point wins in duals versus Davidson (11/21) and West Virginia (12/12) • Collected a top-10 dual victory versus 10th-ranked Ryder Downey of Northern Iowa (12/21) • Posted five wins to secure thw 165-pound title at the two-day Soldier Salute (1/3-1/4) • Won his first ACC dual by decision over Virginia's Michael Murphy (1/16) • Claimed first ranked ACC win versus No. 33 Jared Keslar of Pitt (1/30) • Represented the Tar Heels at the 2026 ACC Championships (3/8) • As the four seed, secured three decisions on the day • Defeated top-seeded Will Denny of NC State in the semifinals and No. 3 Mac Church of Virginia Tech in the finals, avenging regular-season losses • Became Carolina's first ACC champion since 2023 and the Tar Heels' first 165-pound champion in the ACC since 2009 • Qualified for the 2026 NCAA Championships in his hometown of Cleveland, his first NCAA appearance • Earned the No. 9 seed at 165 pounds for the NCAA Championships • Went 4-2 in his first national tournament appearance • Defeated No. 11 Ryder Downey of Northern Iowa in the blood round to earn All-America honors for the first time in his career • Became UNC's first 165-pound All-America since 2015 • Helped Carolina post an All-America for the eighth-straight national tournament • Earned a major decision over No. 16 Paddy Gallagher of Ohio State to finish seventh place at 165 pounds • Earned NWCA Scholar All-America honors
2024-25 (Ohio State): Won the Michigan State Open with five wins • Appeared in one dual during the campaign
2023-24 (Ohio State): Collected 13 wins throughout the seasons • Collected four wins at the Bobby Kaufman Open to collect the 165-pound championship • Earned two wins at the F&M Scramble • Represented Ohio State at the 2024 Big Ten Championships
2022-23 (Ohio State): Earned four wins and won the 165-pound title at the Cleveland State Open
2021-22 (Ohio State): Won eight matches in open events and collected four attached wins during second year in Columbus • Represented Ohio State at the 2022 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, earning one victory
2020-21 (Ohio State): Wrestled in four matches during true freshman campaign
Prep/Personal: Bryce Hepner is the son of Eric and Wendy Hepner • Has two siblings • Brother, Cade, wrestled at Ohio State • Wrestled for coach John Heffernan at St. Edward for four seasons • Reached the state finals in three-straight seasons including back-to-back titles as a sophomore and junior • A three-time freestyle state champion and three-time Ironman placer during prep career
| Year | Overall | Dual | ACC | MD | TF | Fall |
| 20-21 | 3-1 | - | - | - | - | 2 |
| 21-22 | 12-7 | 1-1 | - | - | 3 | 2 |
| 22-23 | 4-0 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 23-24 | 13-7 | 7-3 | - | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| 24-25 | 5-1 | 0-1 | - | 1 | - | 2 |
| 25-26 | 19-6 | 7-4 | 2-3 | 3 | - | 4 |
| Career | 56-22 | 15-9 | 2-3 | 7 | 6 | 14 |
UNC Softball: Tar Heels Fall to South Carolina in Extras, 16-14
Thursday, April 23
UNC Women's Lacrosse: Felter, Humphrey Send Heels to ACC Semis with Win vs Duke, 15-11
Wednesday, April 22
UNC Baseball: Tar Heels Top High Point, 9-2
Wednesday, April 22
UNC Baseball: Tar Heels Down #2 Georgia Tech in Series Opener, 5-2
Saturday, April 18
