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(12/07/09 6:11am)
After a three-meet trip to upstate New York failed to yield a win for the North Carolina wrestling team, the Tar Heels returned home Friday night with hopes of righting the ship in their ACC opener against Maryland.But the meet proved to be anything but a homecoming, as the No. 7 Terrapins dominated the UNC grapplers from start to finish en route to a 41-0 shutout victory at Fetzer Gym.UNC 141-pounder Mike Rappo appeared to be on his way to the team’s first victory in the third bout of the evening after his takedown of No. 11 Alex Krom put Rappo ahead 4-3 inside the final minute of regulation.But Krom sent the bout to overtime by earning an escape as time expired, ultimately pulling out the victory with a takedown early in the extra period.Though coach C.D. Mock said he was happy with Rappo’s effort against a ranked opponent, the rest of his team’s effort left him decidedly displeased.“Other than Rappo and (Dennis) Drury, I thought the whole rest of the team just stunk the place up,” Mock said. “I’m embarrassed for them. These guys work way too hard to be dominated in the fashion that we were tonight. I don’t think I’ve ever been part of a team that has been dominated that badly.”Drury, the other wrestler to earn a pass from Mock, was pinned at 1:24 into the second period by No. 3 Hudson Taylor in the only bout to feature two ranked wrestlers.Drury spent most of the bout’s first minute on one shoulder as he defended against an early near fall from Taylor. Though he was eventually able to roll to his stomach, the energy Drury exerted during the first period left him susceptible to the second-round fall.Taylor was one of five ranked competitors in the Maryland lineup Friday night. Though Mock praised his opponents, even going as far as to call the Terrapins the best team the ACC has had in fifteen years, he still felt his team needed to do better.“They’re ranked sixth in the nation. They’ve beaten some good teams. They’ve got four returning All-Americans on that team,” he said. “They’re good. They’re not that good.”Though Maryland’s hand-blocking defenses repeatedly prevented UNC wrestlers from mounting an attack, Mock blamed a lack of willpower for the team’s poor performance.“I don’t have a whole lot of confidence in technical crap,” he said. “You gotta have some heart and get it done. We didn’t demonstrate that tonight.”The UNC wrestlers refused to comment after the match.Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(11/16/09 6:15am)
The North Carolina wrestling team came into Sunday’s ACC Challenge missing three starters. Still, the Tar Heels managed to win dual meets against Gardner-Webb and No. 16 American University, and just barely missed a clean sweep against Bucknell in the finale.“I’m extremely pleased with the way my guys wrestled,” coach C.D. Mock said.The Tar Heels suffered injuries to Nick Shields and Nick Stabile at the Hokie Open on Nov. 8. Shields broke his jaw in two places and is likely out for the season while Stabile tore a ligament in his thumb and will return in two weeks. “Although the guys wrestled exceedingly well, we got physically hammered,” Mock said.In the wounded’s absence, the Tar Heels were led by returning NCAA qualifiers Thomas Scotton and Dennis Drury, who won three matches each at 157 and 197 pounds, respectively.“I think I’m at a good place at this early in the season,” Drury said. “I think I wrestled well.”Redshirt sophomores Kyle Kiss and Nick Tenpenny also turned in strong performances.Kiss went 1-1 on the day, defeating American’s Tanner Shaffer and dropping a close decision to No. 6 Andy Rendos of Bucknell at 165. Tenpenny pulled off the upset of the day, scoring a major decision — a win by eight or more points — against Bucknell’s David Thompson in the 184-pound weight class.“Those two guys came out as freshmen, and we threw them to the wolves, and they took some licks as freshmen,” Mock said.“We feel like they have improved dramatically since last year.”Fellow sophomore Thomas Ferguson was similarly impressive, winning two matches in two different weight classes. Normally a 157-pounder, Ferguson, who won at 165 and 174 on Sunday, has been putting on weight in order to find a spot in the lineup.“I told him if I find him anywhere on campus and he doesn’t have food in his hands, I’m gonna kick him,” Mock said.“What we want to do is get him as big as we possibly can, because as a 65- or 70-pounder he can be Fergalicious.”Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(03/02/09 5:00am)
Athletic renovations can be seen all around campus whether it's the construction on Carmichael Auditorium or the opening of the baseball season at the newly renovated Boshamer Stadium.But one project that's had a hard time getting completed — or even started for that matter — has been an improved wrestling practice facility.Coach C.D. Mock began looking into a new facility when he arrived as an assistant coach back in 2000 and the process began in about 2003. And though there is now a renovation plan for the existing wrestling room in Fetzer Gym" it's been a trying process.""We're frustrated because we were ahead of the Carmichael renovation" we were ahead of Boshamer we were ahead of the sports medicine facility Mock said.And all these facilities are moving along" they've broken ground — we haven't even put a shovel in the ground.""UNC's current wrestling room in Fetzer is too small to fit the entire team" so Mock splits the practice up between the higher and lower weight classes.The team also does not have an area for weight training" a lounge or a locker room (though it does have its own changing space in Fetzer).""We don't have a locker room. We have never had a locker room. UNC wrestling has never had a locker room"" Mock said.Senior Associate Athletic Director for Facilities Willie Scroggs said the planning and development process for such projects is always an extensive task. He also mentioned designs, financial approvals and other construction in the area of the proposed renovation.This one has taken a little bit more than maybe some others"" he said. You just can't start to do something before you've got all that stuff in place.""But it has been — I think all of us will agree that it has been — regrettable that it's taken so much time to get this thing done.""Mock said he does understand that wrestling can get ""rearranged … on the pile of importance"" when higher-profile sports such as baseball and women's basketball have facility projects.""But it's gotten a little ridiculous"" he said.A significant amount of the money for the project is coming from the Carolina Wrestling Endowment Fund originally created by former coach Bill Lam, and Scroggs said one issue was getting the approval for that money to be used for facility construction.Mock, who said he had a meeting Monday to get the final numbers, estimated it will cost about $2.5 to $3 million. Scroggs said there are still issues about the cost because current estimates are a bit high.Construction still has not begun, and Scroggs said the plan is to start this coming fall with a completion goal of May 2010.Mock said another problem with the delay is that his credibility has suffered because he had told some of his current wrestlers they'd be wrestling in a new room.The planned renovation will be a two-floor project which includes an expanded wrestling room, space for weight equipment, a locker room, a team video room and a lounge.Mock is insistent that the facilities don't affect his ability to produce a quality team. But facilities have a large effect on recruiting, and since UNC's tough admission standards already limit the wrestlers he can recruit, top-of-the-line facilities can be a big selling point — especially when a recruit sees other schools that do have them.Certainly there's an aspect of this that we want to emphasize that we're trying to take care of our guys"" Mock said. But the reality of this is about recruiting. This is about being able to attract the very best guys.""Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu
(02/16/09 5:00am)
The eighth loss of the season for the North Carolina wrestling team might carry the most substance moving toward the ACC Tournament.The Tar Heels fell 24-15 to No. 4 Nebraska on Saturday night in the Smith Center in a match that was closer than the score indicated.Despite the loss it was a successful senior night individually for Justin Dobies and Vincent Ramirez who both recorded wins in their final home match. Sophomore Nick Stabile and junior Ben Fiacco also won with Stabile picking up North Carolina's lone pin of the night.Coach C.D. Mock said the match was a true test of his team's readiness for the postseason" and he was happy with his team's performance.""We wrestled our tails off"" Mock said. I'm really proud of the guys."" UNC's 133-pound starter" Mike Rappo was 0.3 pound overweight and had to forfeit his position" which gave Nebraska an easy six points. ""That's a nine-point swing" because he beats that kid" Mock said of the forfeit. We know that kid well. Mike (Rappo) has beaten guys that have beaten him this year.""Had Rappo made weight and beaten Nebraska's Matt Vacanti" the score would have been 18-18. It potentially could have propelled UNC to a win — assuming the following matches went the same way.Dobies North Carolina's heavyweight" defeated a top-20 ranked opponent in a 3-2 decision that he hopes to build off of in the weeks to come.""I controlled the entire match and felt good out there" Dobies said.I'm going to build off that in practice these next few weeks and just prepare myself" mentally and physically.""So too" will Ramirez.At the 141-pound weight class" the Durham native recorded the first victory of the day for UNC with a 10-3 decision. He used two near falls and takedowns to secure the win.The Tar Heels have two Division II opponents to wrestle next week before the ACC Tournament. Mock plans on using those matches to rest up some of his starters while fine-tuning the team for the tournament.""Ending on this note — in a home match with senior night— is a great way to kick off the next three weeks of training for the ACCs" Mock said.The team will use the performance against Nebraska as a measuring stick while it moves toward the postseason. We're on-track" Dobies said. I have full faith and confidence in my entire team that we can go out there and get it done.""Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(02/08/09 5:00am)
In 2008 the North Carolina wrestling team sent two representatives to nationals. Both of them then-juniors Justin Dobies and Keegan Mueller failed to reach All-America status.This season the two seniors are looking to make it back to nationals" and both are well on their way.With each garnering a win against Ohio on Saturday — a 26-12 team win in which seven Tar Heels notched victories — Dobies and Mueller continued to add to the strong reputations they've been building since arriving in Chapel Hill.Both of the out-of-state prospects reached the 100 career win mark this season — Dobies against Duke's Robert Holbrook on Jan. 21 and Mueller just three days later against Navy's Jason Coyne.While Mueller admitted to being ""selfish"" and wanting all the wins he can get"" the third-year Tar Heel — Mueller spent his freshman season at Ohio State — knows there is a much bigger picture. One without wrestling.""I'm kind of a bummer when it comes to this because in all honesty" it's really cool for my own accomplishments" Mueller said. But we've had All-Americans. We've had national champions. I hope that someone can remember me as someone who cared about people.""And while such talk might seem like lip service" anyone who has spent more than a few seconds of time with Mueller knows its genuine.While giving an interview and signing autographs for children who attended Friday's 33-12 team win against N.C. State Mueller stopped answering questions during each signature to enthusiastically thank the recipient for coming even after getting pinned less than an hour earlier.After weighing in at his normal weight class of 165" his coach asked him to wrestle at 174. Mueller fell to N.C. State's Jake Burge late in the third round.""We're trying to get ready for nationals" Mock said. Keegan has trouble with short really stocky strong guys" and he's going to hit them at nationals. The idea was to show him you can beat a guy like that. He was doing a great job. He just got caught.""He was pinned"" but that wasn't the point. The two seniors are using the regular season to prepare themselves for their last shot at nationals.And neither Dobies nor Mueller are sitting pat after reaching the century mark.""I was definitely glad that I achieved that goal. It maybe wasn't something that — when I got to college — I said" ‘I want to get to 100 wins"'"" Dobies said.""But I think it's a good milestone in your career to show that you have … had some success in college. And I'm glad" but we've got to keep on going. Once you get to 100 you can't stop. It's a great thing but we've got ACC and nationals" and we've got to keep going.""That attitude is shared by coach C.D. Mock"" who is hoping to place more than just two competitors at nationals this year.""It's a great accomplishment"" Mock said. They both have been great competitors for us and super leaders. I just hope they can get some more.""And Dobies surely wants to ""get some more"" as well — if not for anything or anyone else"" for Mock.""I think (the program's growing success) just goes to show that what he teaches is definitely working" and there's more success to come in this program" Dobies said. I'm just glad that I could be a part of it.""Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(02/02/09 5:00am)
Youth beat experience Sunday at Fetzer Gym. Virginia Tech (17-1 2-0 ACC) took a 19-15 decision from North Carolina (10-7 3-1) while starting no one but underclassmen.The match figured to rest on the back-to-back matchups of top-25 grapplers weighing in at 141 and 149 pounds. Sure enough when Virginia Tech's tandem of No. 20 Chris Diaz and No. 20 Pete Yates defeated UNC's combo of No. 18 Vincent Ramirez and No. 15 Nick Stabile on back-to-back decisions" the match turned heavily in Virginia Tech's favor.""The most important thing today in the determination of the match was that they beat our studs" coach C.D. Mock said. That kind of shocked me to tell you the truth. I didn't expect Vincent Ramirez" I didn't expect Stabile (to lose).""Ramirez looked to have a chance to win" trailing Diaz only 1-0 going into the third round. The match was decided when Diaz countered Ramirez's reversal attempt with a 3-point near fall leaving Ramirez down 4-0 with only a minute left.The Tar Heels seemed to be building a comeback attempt when Thomas Scotton and Keegan Mueller strung together decisions" but Virginia Tech quelled the comeback with a major decision in the 174-pound weight class to put the match score at 19-9.""They need to get mentally tougher" Mock said. I thought we had that fixed but today they allowed the young team to come in here and in my view" dominate us.""The loss snapped a six-match winning streak for the Tar Heels and handed them their first loss of the ACC slate"" leaving them grasping for reasons.""I think we got out-coached a little bit today"" Mock said. They knew all our guys very well.""Nick Shields' early fall — which was the second fall of Jarrod Garnett's weekend — put the Tar Heels in a 6-0 hole. Mike Rappo was able to stop the bleeding with an 8-5 decision to bring the score to 6-3 going into the two ill-fated clashes. ""It doesn't matter that we were down 9-3" Mock said. What matters is Vincent Ramirez and Nick Stabile two of the guys who are key guys" got whooped. And that's a problem. That's demoralizing.""The win marks Virginia Tech's second ACC win in as many days as they beat Virginia on Saturday to start their weekend. ""Props to them" I hope that they're happy with their win" Mueller said. But I think … we're going to lay the hammer on them and be ready to pound their heads come ACCs. ""I'm not making any claims" but the only promise I can give you is next time we touch somebody in a Virginia Tech singlet" it's going to be with a hard hand.""Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(01/26/09 5:00am)
Vincent Ramirez was in deep trouble.Down 0-3 in the second period of Friday's matchup with Virginia's Nick Nelson Ramirez looked as though he might give up another takedown and fall further behind.But Ramirez ranked No. 18 in the 141-pound weight class writhed out of Nelson's grasp as the Cavalier tried to edge away" playing perfectly into the move that Ramirez had already cued up.""Whenever I'm in that tie-up" I'm looking for it Ramirez said. And he backed right up out of bounds" which was what I was waiting for.""Boom — Nelson hit the deck for a takedown and a near fall. Just like that" a 5-point swing" and Ramirez was on his way to a 9-3 victory.That win set the tone for the grapplers from North Carolina to cruise to its fifth straight dual-match win and third straight ACC win.""Virginia's one of the tougher teams in the ACC"" coach C.D. Mock said. And I think we did what we were supposed to do today.""Only a day later" North Carolina racked up yet another win with an overwhelming 25-9 decision against Navy at East Wake High School.Ramirez's win on Friday was the first of two ranked matchups for the Tar Heels. At the 197-pound weight class" No. 17 Dennis Drury easily dispatched Virginia's No. 20 Brent Jones with a 10-1 major decision. ""Drury has never had a problem with Brent"" Mock said. And Jones is a good wrestler. Jones beats some really good kids … but Drury just pounds him every time. It's a style thing. Drury just beats him every time — badly.""Drury's result effectively sealed the win for UNC.The conference rivalry was evident as the match frequently turned chippy with several heated exchanges. During Keegan Mueller's match" Mueller twisted out of a leghold and inadvertently roundhouse-kicked Virginia's Mike Sewell in the face drawing protests from Sewell and the Cavalier bench.Both benches received warnings during the match" and Ramirez said the intensity from the sidelines revved up the competition on the mats.""Our coaches are always fired up" always yelling at the refs and getting into it with the other coaches Ramirez said. It gets us going too" so it's definitely a good thing.""Against Navy on Saturday" UNC's Mike Rappo broke the match open with a technical fall decision to give UNC an 11-6 lead.Rappo's win was his fifth straight and puts his record at 21-8 for the season.Following Rappo's technical fall decision the Tar Heels reeled off four straight wins including major decisions from Nick Stabile and Mueller to hold off the Midshipmen on Navy.The Tar Heels now look to build momentum as they face five consecutive home matches. The biggest match is the tilt with No. 4 Nebraska on Feb. 14.Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(01/11/09 5:00am)
The North Carolina basketball teams weren't the only ones busy during the winter break.Several of the Tar Heels' Olympic sports travelled across the country to compete in some key match-ups.The wrestling team excelled in Dallas and the swim teams took their first ACC meets in Clemson S.C. The gymnastics team traveled all the way to Cancun. Here's some of the break's results. WRESTLINGThe wrestling team won its first ACC meet Sunday 19-15 against Maryland following several big wins in December for the Tar Heels.Though the highlight was a 31-3 dismantling of Cal Poly in the Lone Star Duels the Tar Heels excelled overall completing several out-of-state tournaments with wins against nationally ranked opponents.Seven of UNC's 10 starting wrestlers earned national rankings this week after several strong showings in meets in the past month.The Tar Heels finished non-conference play strong with nine place-winners at Dec. 29's Southern Scuffle and won two of three matches at Jan. 3's Lone Star Duals.Seniors Vincent Ramirez and Keegan Mueller and junior Dennis Drury all are ranked in the top 20 in all three major wrestling rankings. Drury managed three victories against ranked opponents in the month's meets and Ramirez has a team-best 22-5 record.WOMEN'S GYMNASTICSChristine Nguyen opened another season strongly with a 9.90 balance beam score that helped the Tar Heels finish fourth in the first session of Jan. 2's Cancun Classic.UNC junior Tina Jacob followed closely behind Nguyen with a 9.775 on beam and junior Kara Wright was the team's top all-arounder with a 38.250.Nguyen's score of 9.90 was the highest on any event in the meet and North Carolina finished with a score of 190.325. LSU with 194.900 took first in the competition.SWIMMINGThe 13th-ranked North Carolina men's swimming and diving team and 14th-ranked women's team both garnered decisive victories against Clemson's teams Jan. 10 in the first dual meets for the teams in more than two months.At Clemson the men's team dominated 180-118 and the women outscored the Tigers 174-124.North Carolina increased its dual meet win streak to three with the victory and both teams improved their records to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the ACC.The UNC men won 10 of the 14 individual events in addition to one relay as an exhibition with freshman Brad Hamilton leading the way with two individual wins and a member of the winning 400-yard freestyle relay. Both teams return to action next weekend.TRACKThe Tar Heel track teams opened up the 2009 season with an easy victory for the women's side and a second-place finish for the men's squad in the Art and Linda Maillet Tar Heel Invitational on Saturday.Callie Pottinger and Vanneisha Ivy both managed NCAA provisional marks in the meet Pottinger in the 800-meter run and Ivy in the 60-meter hurdles.The Tar Heel women scored first in almost every individual event and the team swept the top three spots in the 60-meter dash and the top six in the 200-meter dash.Abby Kimball took top prize in the pole vault and UNC's rookies excelled in the field events. Freshman Jacinda Evans scored first in the long jump in her first meet attempt. Freshman Michelle Newman took the title in triple jump and rookie Becky O'Brien finished first in the shot put.Charles Cox and Ryan Booker finished in the top two for the men in the 400-meter dash and the team also placed two in the top three spots for the 800-meter run.Three Tar Heels finished in the top three spots in the pole vault with Scott Houston winning by clearing 15-7.WOMEN'S GOLFFour North Carolina golfers played in the 54th Harder Hall Women's Invitational and all four placed in the championship flight as the low 36 scorers.Sydney Crane led the Tar Heels finishing in a tie for 15th with a 301 total after carding a three-over-par 75 in the fourth and final round.Freshman Catherine O'Donnell from Ponte Vedra Beach Fla. fired a one-over 73 on Saturday for a 302 total to tie for 17th place.Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(11/16/08 5:00am)
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.""Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.