Wrestling - The Daily Tar Heel

Austin O'Connor celebrates during his 157-pound national championship match against Levi Haines of Penn State. O'Connor defeated Haines 6-2. Photo Courtesy of Dave Crenshaw and UNC Athletic Communications.

'It's going to be hard to forget me': Austin O'Connor's second national title cements his place in UNC history

By Evan Rogers | Mar. 30

Austin O'Connor topped the podium for the second time in his collegiate career after defeating Penn State's Levi Haines by a 6-2 decision on Saturday, March 18. For a feat that on the surface appears to be the pinnacle of a near year-long recovery, O'Connor sees it as the ultimate reward of a two-decade long career. “I’d definitely say my career was successful, but it wasn’t what I set out to do — I wanted to be a four-time national champ,” he said. “I came here and accomplished a feat that not many people in their lifetime get to accomplish.”

Redshirt-senior Austin O'Connor is victorious after defeating Little Rock's Austin Keal on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, at Carmicheal Arena. O'Connor beat Keal, 24-9.

Austin O'Connor national champion once again as UNC wrestler claims 157-pound NCAA title

By Evan Rogers | Mar. 18

O’Connor cemented himself as one of the best wrestlers to ever step foot in Chapel Hill. A year removed from earning All-American status on a torn ACL, the sixth-year senior claimed his fifth All-American finish this season -- becoming the first Tar Heel to do so.

Graduate student Austin O’Connor faces off against his opponent during a wrestling match against UVA on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, in Carmichael Arena. UNC won 30-9.

Austin O'Connor continues perfect sixth season in regular season finale against N.C. State

By Evan Rogers | Feb. 19

Despite North Carolina falling in its regular-season finale to N.C. State 28-6 on Friday night, Austin O’Connor continued his perfect sixth season.

Graduate student Zach Sherman faces off against his opponent during a wrestling match against UVA on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, in Carmichael Arena. UNC won 30-9.

UNC wrestling concludes regular season with 28-6 loss to N.C. State

By Evan Rogers | Feb. 18

The North Carolina wrestling team (6-9, 2-3 ACC) fell to No. 8 N.C. State (14-1, 4-1 ACC), 28-6, on Friday night in Carmichael Arena.

Redshirt senior Austin O'Connor wrestles Little Rock's Austin Keal on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, at Carmicheal Arena. O'Connor beat Keal 24-9.

Former UNC wrestlers Chasen Blair and Andre Petroski chase mixed martial arts dreams

By Erin Singleton | Jan. 25

Current UNC wrestler Austin O’Connor and Blair were roommates at Chapel Hill for three years. They keep in contact on a weekly basis as O’Connor looks ahead to what a potential future competing in pro-MMA.

Sophomore Gavin Kane wrestles Ohio State opponent at Carmichael Arena on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. UNC lost to Ohio State 9-33.

UNC wrestling earns third straight win with 37-6 triumph over Duke

By Evan Rogers | Jan. 22

Behind a plethora of dominating dual wins, the North Carolina wrestling team (5-6, 1-0 ACC) cruised past the Duke Blue Devils (3-6, 0-1 ACC), 37-6, on Friday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Graduate student Clay Lautt wrestles Ohio State senior Ethan Smith at Carmichael Arena on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. UNC lost to Ohio State 9-33.

UNC wrestling sweeps Harvard and Brown ahead of ACC season

By Matthew Greene | Jan. 17

North Carolina gained an early lead in its first dual against Harvard with wins from Palmer and McNeil. After O’Connor’s pinfall victory in the Brown dual, UNC proved that Brown did not have enough physicality to match up against the Tar Heels.

UNC graduate Clay Lautt pins his opponent during UNC wrestling's competition against Michigan at Boshamer Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022 at Boshamer Stadium. UNC lost 12-23.

Analysis: Despite high expectations, UNC wrestling off to slow start in new season

By Evan Rogers | Jan. 9

The Tar Heels returned a quartet of talented graduate seniors, and the preseason No. 16-ranked team looked to make a push to earn UNC’s first conference crown in over a decade. But the returns of Austin O’Connor — an NCAA individual national champion — and Clay Lautt haven’t equated to immediate success for North Carolina on the mat, as the Tar Heels have dropped six of their first eight dual meets.

UNC redshirt first-year Lachlan McNeil circles during UNC wrestling's competition against Michigan at Boshamer Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, at Boshamer Stadium. UNC lost 12-23.

UNC wrestling drops second-straight dual match at home against Ohio State

By Brendan Lunga | Nov. 23

“I don’t think we’ve seen our full potential by any means,” head coach Coleman Scott said. “They’ve just got to keep plugging away and it’ll come.”

UNC wrestling falls to No. 4 Ohio State for second consecutive top-five loss

By Brendan Lunga | Nov. 20

After earning a victory against Campbell to begin the season, the Tar Heels have now been dominated in two matches against premier wrestling programs.

UNC wrestling loses 23-12 to No. 5 Michigan in first-ever dual at Boshamer Stadium

By Evan Rogers | Nov. 14

“Especially this year, we have high expectations for ourselves,” Lautt said. “We want to win the ACC. We want to be in the top five in the country."

UNC red shirt first year Lachlan McNeil is slammed during UNC wrestling's competition against Michigan at Boshamer Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022 at Boshamer Stadium. UNC lost 12-23.

No. 16 UNC wrestling loses to No. 5 Michigan, 23-12, in matchup at Boshamer Stadium

By Evan Rogers | Nov. 13

Battling against a top-five team should serve as a litmus test for the Tar Heels. With a number of North Carolina’s returning core pieces still recovering from injury — namely redshirt seniors Auston O’Connor and Zach Sherman — UNC’s youth was put to the test Sunday.

The wrestling facility photographed under renovation at Fetzer Gym on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022.

UNC wrestling program receives new practice mats, resolves safety issues

By Sydney Beyer | Oct. 5

The UNC wrestling team is finally receiving new practice mats after plans for a new wrestling facility were unfortunately halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. Head coach Coleman Scott sees the new room as a reward for the program's success.

Redshirt senior Zach Sherman wrestles Duke redshirt senior Josh Finesliver at the wrestling match against Duke University on Friday, Jan 21, 2022. UNC won 29-6.

Squad of sixth-year wrestlers set to return for UNC, determined to win ACC title

By Evan Rogers | Jul. 26

After a variety of injuries produced dissatisfying ends to last season, Austin O’Connor, Jaime Hernandez, Zach Sherman and Clay Lautt decided to return for their sixth and final season with the UNC wrestling program.

Clay Lautt wrestles against UVA's Vic Marcelli in the 174 lbs weight division in Carmichael Arena on Feb. 13, 2021. Lautt won his match and UNC won overall, 25-9.

No. 22 UNC wrestling loses to No. 4 N.C. State on the road, 25-12

By Shelby Swanson | Feb. 18, 2022

In its last meet of conference play, No. 22 UNC wrestling (8-6, 3-2 ACC) fell 25-12 to No. 4 N.C. State (12-1, 5-0 ACC) at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, N.C. on Friday night.

Graduate student Kizhan Clarke wrestles Duke redshirt sophomore Patrick Rowland at the wrestling match against Duke University on Friday, Jan 21, 2022. UNC won 29-6.

No. 21 UNC wrestling picks up big victories in 23-11 road loss to No. 7 Virginia Tech

By Erin Singleton | Feb. 12, 2022

UNC wrestling’s five-match winning streak came to an end on Friday night as the team suffered its first loss in the ACC this season to a strong Virginia Tech roster.

Carson Tenold (white) hugs his twin brother Cade (blue) after Carson won the 182-pound 1A state title. Photo courtesy of Cam Kramer.

Twin wrestlers Carson and Cade Tenold headline UNC wrestling's incoming class

By Evan Rogers | Feb. 7, 2022

As their high school careers come to an end, the Tenolds are looking forward to beginning their next chapter in Chapel Hill rather than in wrestling-powerhouse-state Iowa, with their sights set on taking UNC wrestling to even greater heights.

First-year Spencer Moore wrestles Little Rock Sophomore Khyler Brewer in Carmichael Arena on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022.

'Legendary': Underclassmen score big wins in UNC wrestling's 19-12 win over No. 19 Pitt

By Evan Rogers | Feb. 6, 2022

“It was a little ugly,” UNC wrestling head coach Coleman Scott said. “We got pushed around too much.” But the tide turned for North Carolina, and it came by way of wrestlers you’d likely least expect on a night like this — the underclassman.

Redshirt senior Zach Sherman tries to free himself from a hold during the Tar Heel's match against Pittsburgh on Feb. 4th, 2022 at Carmichael Arena. UNC won 19-12.

No. 24 UNC wrestling defeats No. 19 Pittsburgh, 19-12, in final home meet of season

By Evan Rogers | Feb. 5, 2022

The No. 24 North Carolina wrestling team (8-5, 3-0 ACC) sent the seniors out in style, with a 19-12 win over the No. 19 Pittsburgh Panthers (6-5, 1-2 ACC) Friday night at Carmichael Arena.

Austin O'Connor, defending national champion, is caught in the moment as he wins his match against a Campbell opponent. The Tar Heels beat Campbell 24-12 in Carmichael Arena on Nov. 21.

No. 24 UNC wrestling gets close 17-16 road win over Virginia

By Rithvik Chelasani | Jan. 29, 2022

As UNC looks to continue progressing up the national rankings following a set of tough defeats to ranked opponents, it will benefit from tough competition like this in the lead-up to a tough finish to its conference schedule.