The North Carolina wrestling team took away two out of three duals Sunday at the 2010 ACC Challenge in Chapel Hill.
In the first dual of the day against Chattanooga, North Carolina (4-2) started strong before relying on Thomas Scotton to deliver the victory.
UNC’s Thomas Ferguson won by notching a one-point escape with 35 seconds left, but Nick Tenpenny dropped his match as No. 15 Jason McCroskey registered a takedown in the waning moments of the match.
The Tar Heels responded and took four of the next five matches.
But after Jake Vonderbruegge lost by decision and Corey Mock got pinned, the Mocs evened the score at 18 with only the 165-pound match remaining.
“I try not to think about winning,” Scotton said. “I think about getting the first takedown and then going from there.”
Scotton wrestled Chattanooga’s Brandon Wright evenly for five minutes, but picked up seven points in the final round to prevail 9-4 and seal UNC’s 21-18 win in the dual.
“I knew I needed at least one takedown to win the match, and God willing I was able to get two,” Scotton said.
UNC coach C.D. Mock said although the team’s hopes rested on Scotton, he didn’t need to inspire him any further.