The North Carolina wrestling team (2-2) earned a 22-14 upset win against No. 12 Nebraska on Sunday afternoon. Troy Heilmann and Kennedy Monday led the way for the Tar Heels, as each earned a win over a top-10 opponent.
What happened?
The Tar Heels faced a highly ranked opponent in their first competition since the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational on Dec. 1 and 2. They were missing starter and top-10 wrestler Ethan Ramos in the 174-pound class. Throw in a hostile crowd at the Devaney Center in Lincoln, Neb., and it was apparent that the Tar Heels had their work cut out for them.
But, as the saying goes, many hands make light work. A slew of wins in the early going, punctuated by victories from Heilmann and Monday, showed that the Tar Heels were up for the challenge.
Though the Tar Heels imposed their will at the light-weight classes, Nebraska peeled off three wins in a row in the 165-, 174- and 184-pound bouts. Nebraska’s Beau Breske provided one of those wins at 174, narrowly defeating UNC junior Adis Radoncic on a late reversal in overtime. UNC’s normal starter at 174, No. 9 Ramos, was out with an injury sustained at the Cliff Keen Invitational.
Nebraska picked up another win in overtime at 184, as Taylor Venz took down UNC’s No. 20 Chip Ness. Head coach Coleman Scott was not pleased with those close losses.
“We can always ask for a little bit more,” he said. “We could have blown them out of the water if we win those two overtime matches.”
North Carolina pulled out the victory, however, when Danny Chaid and Cory Daniel both posted wins by decision in the 197 and heavyweight rounds. UNC left Lincoln with a 22-14 win.
“Overall, it’s always good coming along and getting a win on the road against a top fifteen team,” Scott said. “We could have beaten them a little bit worse…but the team did well. They wrestled well and we’re making strides.”
