Joey Melendez began the dual with a key upset win over No. 11 Joey Prata. In the first period, Melendez turned Prata and scored four back points, a move that would prove to be the difference-maker. He scored another takedown in the third period on a scramble and won, 8-7, to kick off the night for Carolina.
After Virginia Tech won at 133 pounds, Carolina picked up momentum again with wins in back-to-back bouts. Zach Sherman and Austin O'Connor both won with decisions - Sherman's over another ranked opponent (No. 18 Mitch Moore) - to push the team score in UNC's favor, 9-3, after the first four matches.
A.C. Headlee kept the winning rolling for Carolina at 157 pounds with a win over No. 18 B.C. LaPrade. The redshirt senior scored a takedown in the second, the match's only takedown. He held on through the third period and won, 3-2.
The most notable bout in the match was No. 17 Kennedy Monday's 21-6 technical fall win over No. 3 David McFadden. Monday scored early and often in the first, racking up 10 first-period points with a handful of back points. He rolled and never looked back, utilizing a takedown in the third to end the bout and put five team points on the board for Carolina.
Clay Lautt picked up a 4-1 decision over Cody Hughes at 174 pounds, extending the team score lead to 20-3. Virginia Tech's No. 2 Hunter Bolen won with a major decision at 184 pounds over Joey Mazzara, but Brandon Whitman answered with another Carolina win, a 6-4 decision.
Virginia Tech took the bout at heavyweight, but Carolina's early heroics were more than enough to send the Tar Heels home the winners, 23-10.
Carolina returns to the mat next Friday, January 31 against Duke in Carmichael Arena. The match is set for 7 p.m.
Results:
125: Joey Melendez (UNC) dec. #11 Joey Prata, 8-7 - Carolina leads, 3-0
133: Colin Gerardi (VT) dec. Jaime Hernandez (UNC), 4-3 - Tied, 3-3
141: #12 Zach Sherman (UNC) dec. #18 Mitch Moore (VT), 5-2 - Carolina leads, 6-3
149: #2 Austin O'Connor (UNC) dec. Bryce Andonian (VT), 10-4 - Carolina leads, 9-3
157: #19 A.C. Headlee (UNC) dec. #18 B.C. LaPrade (VT), 3-2 - Carolina leads, 12-3
165: #17 Kennedy Monday (UNC) tech fall #3 David McFadden (VT), 21-6 - Carolina leads, 17-3
174: Clay Lautt (UNC) dec. Cody Hughes (VT), 4-1 - Carolina leads, 20-3
184: #2 Hunter Bolen (VT) maj. dec. Joey Mazzara (UNC), 13-4 - Carolina leads, 20-7
197: Brandon Whitman (UNC) dec. Stanley Smeltzer (VT), 6-4 - Carolina leads, 23-7
285: #17 John Borst (VT) dec. Andrew Gunning (UNC), 5-2 - Carolina wins, 23-10
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