Despite losing two dual matches on the road last weekend, the North Carolina wrestling team is starting to find its form.
“Look, Maryland shut us out last year, so to come back in their house with six freshmen and almost take it from them, I’m extremely pleased,” said UNC coach C. D. Mock on his team’s 20-18 loss to the Terrapins. “I’m very pleased with the way the guys are wrestling right now.”
The marks in the loss column can be misleading because individual performances have been improving — like those of freshman 184-pounder Antonio Giorgio.
Giorgio was named ACC Co-Wrestler of the Week after the weekend he had in Maryland. He upset 11th-ranked Luke Rebertus of Navy and Terrapin Corey Peltier. Giorgio pinned Peltier to the mat right before the end of the match.
“He had a great week — he beat two ranked guys. I mean, he did fantastic.” Mock said. “He’s very dangerous when he’s on, we haven’t quite figured out how to turn him on and off.”
Giorgio will look to continue his hot streak this weekend when Edinboro comes to town. Edinboro boasts the second-best 184-pound wrestler in the country, Chris Honeycutt. Giorgio lost to Edinboro’s stud earlier in the season by two points.
“It’s another one that I know that it is a very winnable match,” Giorgio said. “If I just wrestle my match and don’t let outside stuff affect the way I’m going to wrestle.”
Mock believes Giorgio has the ability to be one of the top wrestlers in the country and that Giorgio proved he has that potential last weekend.
UNC freshman phenom Corey Mock did not have the same success as his teammate did in Maryland, dropping both of his bouts to ranked opponents. Even though the back-to-back losses are uncharacteristic of the 157-pounder, Coach Mock does not consider them a setback.
