Mueller shines despite close UNC losses

Keegan Mueller answered any questions about his bum shoulder and banged-up knee Saturday.

The senior 165-pounder shined on a dismal day for a Tar Heel team that went 0-3 against Michigan State" Wisconsin and Illinois in the third annual ACC/Big Ten Clash at Eddie Smith Field House.

""You have to learn to wrestle hurt" coach C.D. Mock said. There's not too many wrestlers at the Division I level that — when you go through a season — by the time you get to nationals" you're not hurting somewhere.""

In spite of his pain" Mueller excelled in the event bringing his record to 8-1 in the Clash during the past three years.

He shut out the 14th-ranked 165-pounder in the country Michigan State's Rex Kendle" and dominated Wisconsin's Gabe Stopplemoor to the tune of 15 points and a technical fall in the first period.

""I feel like whenever it's on the line in front of your fans" you love those (matches)" Mueller said. It makes you wrestle your best.""

He gave his best to Illinois' Roger Smith-Bergsrud" but the 13th-ranked wrestler  handed Mueller his only loss in a 3-2 bout.

Close losses proved to be the theme of the day" and North Carolina lost 10 bouts by 2 points or fewer.

""We proved to everybody when we go out there all the time that we're not to be taken lightly"" senior heavyweight Justin Dobies said.

Dobies felt the tinge of tight defeat more than any of his teammates. Twice he fell 3-2 to a wrestler ranked in the top 10 in the country. Those were John Wise of Illinois and Kyle Massey of Wisconsin.

He did manage to defeat MSU's Alan O'Donnell, 3-1, and kept a positive outlook on the day's struggles.

I'm gonna do everything in my power to train" Dobies said. When I get there" they better watch out.""

Senior 197-pounder Daniel Llamas got excited himself. Although he wasn't expected to start" he filled in for injured Dennis Drury and stunned the crowd by defeating No. 8 Patrick Bond from Illinois.

While Mock was happy for Llamas" he was less excited about the turn the day took for his team.

""Some of the guys on the team have fantastic attitudes" but generally I'm a little concerned about this ‘wrestling not to lose' attitude he said.

You don't lose that's just not an option. You go out and you fight for seven minutes" and you don't stop to contemplate the possibility of losing. That's how you win at this sport.""



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