CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Tied 6-6 through four weight classes, No. 14 North Carolina won five straight matchups to top visiting Campbell 24-12 on Sunday night at Carmichael Arena.
UNC moved to 3-2 on the season with the dual win, while Campbell, a day after defeating Virginia 21-15 on the road for the program's first win over an ACC opponent since 2013, fell to 3-2, taking on its third nationally ranked squad of the year.
No. 29
Anthony Molton started the Camels off with a decision at 125 pounds, riding a pair of early takedowns to a 6-3 win.
UNC claimed the next two individual matchups, with
Domenic Zaccone fending off bonus points from No. 10 Jaime Hernandez, who took the high-scoring 18-11 decision. No. 12 Kizhan Clarke then took the 141 bout, 6-1, for the Tar Heels.
In the match of the night, a battle of two ranked wrestlers at 149 pounds, No. 16
Josh Heil struck first with a second period escape point. UNC's No. 6 Zach Sherman evened it with an escape of his own to start the third frame, 1-1, where the score remained through regulation and all the way to the second sudden victory round, with Heil working his way to a win with a Sherman violation, 2-1.
Tied at 6-6, Tar Heels took the next five matches to secure the dual win, all by narrow decisions, including 3-2 victories at 174 pounds and 197, with the exception of a disqualification at 157 pounds. A UNC forfeit at heavyweight made it a 24-12 final score.
Next up for the Camels will be a tri-meet at Gardner-Webb on December 19. CU begins its Southern Conference slate with the Runnin' Bulldogs, also taking on Ohio in Boiling Springs, N.C.
No. 14 North Carolina 24, Campbell 12
125: No. 29
Anthony Molton (Campbell) over Spencer Moore (UNC) Dec 6-3
133: No. 10 Jaime Hernandez (UNC) over
Domenic Zaccone (Campbell) Dec 18-11
141: No. 12 Kizhan Clarke (UNC) over
Shannon Hanna (Campbell) Dec 6-1
149: No. 16
Josh Heil (Campbell) over No. 6 Zach Sherman (UNC) SV-2 2-1
157: No. 2 Austin O'Connor (UNC) over
Matthew Dallara (Campbell) DQ
165: Sonny Santiago (UNC) over
Riley Augustine (Campbell) Dec 6-3
174: Clay Lautt (UNC) over No. 16
Austin Murphy (Campbell) Dec 3-2
184: No. 22 Gavin Kane (UNC) over No. 16
Caleb Hopkins (Campbell) Dec 7-3
197: No. 27 Max Shaw (UNC) over
Levi Hopkins (Campbell) Dec 3-2
HWT: No. 29
Taye Ghadiali (Campbell) Win by forfeit
