Trailing 18-13 with two matches remaining, Zac Bennett and Andre Petroski recorded decisions at 197 pounds and heavyweight, respectively, to close out the match and give the Tar Heels the victory. 174-pounder Thomas Ferguson earned a major decision that gave UNC a bonus point that proved to be the difference in the match.
Trailing until the final match, the Tar Heels kept it close due to decisions from three other wrestlers: Mike Rappo (141), Nick Stabile (149) and Corey Mock (157). Rappo, Stabile and 165-pounder Thomas Scotton wrestled the final matches of their career in Carmichael Arena.
Carolina quickly fell behind 12-0 after The Citadel's 125-pounder Richard Alarcon pinned Jake Corrill in 2:37 and the Tar Heels forfeited at 133 pounds. Rappo put UNC on the board with a 10-8 decision over Jordan Dix at 141. The Holland, Pa., native fell behind 5-2 after a period but used three takedowns over the final two frames to earn the victory.
The Tar Heels continued to chip away at the Bulldog lead with Stabile's 7-3 victory over Derek Royster at 149 pounds. The senior recorded two takedowns in the opening frame to take a 4-1 lead, and then took control with a reversal early in the second period. The win evened Stabile's record at 5-5 on the season and he has now won four of his last five contests.
At 157 pounds, Mock cut the lead to 12-9 with a 3-0 decision over Pierre Frazile. Mock earned single points with an escape, a stalling penalty and the accumulation of riding time to improve to 32-14 on the season. The Bulldogs pushed the lead back to six when No. 8 165-pounder Turtogtokh Luvsandorj registered a takedown with under 20 seconds remaining to defeat Carolina's Thomas Scotton.
Ferguson answered for Carolina with a 12-4 major decision over Kenneth Radford at 174 pounds. Ferguson took command early and never was threatened as he logged five takedowns in the convincing victory, which cut The Citadel's lead to 15-13.
The Bulldogs responded once again, padding their lead with a 6-5 win by Justin Sparrow over UNC's Antonio Giorgio in the 184-pound weight class. Sparrow took a 6-2 lead into the third period and withstood a furious rally from the Carolina freshman that included a three-point near fall.
Bennett kept the Tar Heels alive when he defeated Kelby Smith 4-1 at 197 pounds. The match was scoreless entering the third period, but an escape and a takedown gave Bennett a 3-0 lead. Smith was able to earn an escape, but Bennett held on for the victory.
With The Citadel leading 18-16, the match was set to be decided at heavyweight. Carolina sent out Petroski, a freshman who has wrestled at 174 and 184 pounds this season, due to a concussion suffered by Ben Brooks Saturday against Nebraska. The Bulldogs countered with Josh Tuck, who has wrestled mostly at 184 pounds also. Petroski jumped out to an early lead with a takedown and recorded a two-point near fall in the second period. Tuck responded to close within 5-3, but two third-period takedowns by the Carolina freshman clinched the bout and gave the Tar Heels the victory.
Carolina is next in action on March 5 at the ACC Championships in Charlottesville, Va.
Results:
125 - Richard Alarcon (CIT) pins Jake Corrill (UNC), 2:37 (CIT 3-0)
133 - Tyler Sim (CIT) wins by forfeit (CIT 12-0)
141 - Mike Rappo (UNC) dec. Jordan Dix (CIT), 10-8 (CIT 12-3)
149 - Nick Stabile (UNC) dec. Derek Royster (CIT), 7-3 (CIT 12-6)
157 - Corey Mock (UNC) dec. Pierre Frazile (CIT), 3-0 (CIT 12-9)
165 - #8 Turtogtokh Luvsandorj (CIT) dec. Thomas Scotton (UNC), 3-1 (CIT 15-9)
174 - Thomas Ferguson (UNC) major dec. Kenneth Radford (CIT), 12-4 (CIT 15-13)
184 - Justin Sparrow (CIT) dec. Antonio Giorgio (UNC), 6-5 (CIT 18-13)
197 - Zac Bennett (UNC) dec. Kelby Smith (CIT), 4-1 (CIT 18-16)
HWT - Andre Petroski (UNC) dec. Josh Tuck (CIT), 11-5 (UNC 19-18)
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