Takedown Report

Carolinas’ Colleges’ News (2021) – # 4

TDR Editor’s Notes ; The end of the regular season for college teams of the Carolinas is chronicled here with some of the South Carolina schools in Limestone (article #10), Lander (#6) and Newberry (#5). A preview of the A.C.C. (#3 & # 9). and the final matches for North Carolina schools such as U.N.C.-P. (#7), Belmont-Abbey (#11), Mount Olive (#12), Appalachian State (#4) along with rivals U.N.C. (#2) and N.C. State (#3). Read on and keep on wrestling!
E-mail us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1 } – Hokies takedown Wolfpack in last second
No. 8 Tech clinches share of ACC Dual Meet Championship
BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech wrestling defeated NC State 17-16, criterion 3.21.c after a takedown and near fall in the final seconds of the dual by redshirt freshman Sam Latona. With the No. 8 Hokies trailing the No. 3 Wolfpack 16-13 going into the final matchup at 125 pounds, eighth-ranked Sam Latona stunned the fourth-ranked Jakob Camacho at the buzzer to not only steal the match, but the night. Latona’s takedown with seconds left tied the meet at 16, but it was the near fall at the very end that put the Hokies ahead on the third criteria, 49-48 in total match points.
With the win, the Hokies clinch at least a share of the ACC Dual Meet Championship and are the only undefeated ACC team remaining. This is the second time in as many seasons that Tech has knocked off the No. 3 team in the country after defeating third-ranked Ohio State on Nov. 17, 2019.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

• Latona’s win over Camacho was the first of his career over a top-5 opponent. The Alabaster, Alabama native is now 7-0 on the season and is 2-0 against ranked opponents.
• In what is seeming automatic, Korbin Myers got a major decision win over a ranked opponent Friday night with a 13-5 victory over No. 13 Jarrett Trombley. The eighth-ranked 133-pounder in the country has now knocked off the No. 11, 12 and 13 wrestlers by major decision in three straight weeks. … rest of story at _{^{https://hokiesports.com/news/2021/2/5/wrestling-hokies-takedown-wolfpack-in-last-second.aspx?mc_cid=7fbcdf9574&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

2 } – University of North Carolina WRESTLING CRUISES PAST LEHIGH 26-6
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – No. 14 North Carolina topped Lehigh, 26-6, on Saturday to finish up a two-win weekend in Pennsylvania. Both Kennedy Monday and Austin O’Connor posted major decision wins to help Carolina to victory. After Lehigh took the match at 125 pounds, Joe Heilmann scored a 5-3 win at 133 pounds to erase the Lehigh lead in the team score, an edge that the Tar Heels would maintain for the rest of the way.  
No. 11 Zach Sherman had a tight match with Lehigh’s Brandon Paetzell at 141 pounds, but used a gritty third period to win, 1-0, leading into the match at 149 pounds. There, top-ranked Austin O’Connor posted his second major-decision victory of the weekend. Against Jimmy Hoffman, O’Connor opened up in the second and third periods to win, 16-4. The Tar Heels continued their run at the middleweights with Josh McClure at 157 pounds. The Tar Heel redshirt senior topped Lehigh’s Luca Frinzi, 5-1, to finish up a two-win weekend. … rest of story at _{^{https://goheels.com/news/2021/2/6/wrestling-unc-cruises-past-lehigh-26-6.aspx?mc_cid=18c25877f2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}
AND NO. 14 UNC ROLLS NO. 21 UVA ON SENIOR NIGHT
CHAPEL HILL – No. 14 North Carolina earned its third-straight victory on Saturday evening against No. 21 Virginia, 25-9.
Eight Tar Heel seniors were honored pre-match as part of North Carolina’s senior night in Carmichael Arena. Sawyer Davidson, Andrew Gunning, Ethan Hoffman, Devin Kane, Nick Lirette, Will MacDonald, Josh McClure, and Kennedy Monday were each recognized for their commitment to the Carolina Wrestling family.  
The dual started at the 133-pound weight class with Joe Heilmann donning Carolina Blue. Both wrestlers battled through the first two periods without a score until Heilmann earned an escape 30 seconds into the third period. With a point for riding time, Heilmann knocked off No. 10 Louie Hayes, 2-0, to earn three team points for the Tar Heels. … rest of story at _{^{https://goheels.com/news/2021/2/13/wrestling-no-14-unc-rolls-no-21-uva-on-senior-night.aspx?mc_cid=a6cfb4b322&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

3 } – #7 N.C. State WolPackWrestling Wins 9 of 10 Matches in 37-6 Win Over Duke
Pack scored five bonus point wins
RALEIGH, N.C. – The #7 NC State wrestling team closed out the dual portion of its season with a 37-6 win over visiting Duke inside Reynolds Coliseum on Friday night. The Wolfpack (6-1, 4-1 ACC) won nine of the 10 bouts on the evening, and went for bonus points in five. The dual started at 125 pounds and #5 Jakob Camacho once again opened with bonus points, as he scored all six takedowns in the bout and added in 1:57 of RT for a 14-5 major decision.  Fr. Ryan Jack got a pair of four-point near-falls and ended his bout in the second period with a 19-3 tech fall.  
The Pack made it three straight to open the dual as #10 (at 133 pounds) Jarrett Trombley bumped up a weight class and claimed an 11-5 decision, with over two minutes of RT, at 141 pounds. … rest of story at _{^{https://gopack.com/news/2021/2/12/wrestling-7-packwreslte-wins-9-of-10-matches-in-37-6-win-over-duke.aspx?mc_cid=ffcd6840e0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}
AND #199 Pat Popolizio – Head Coach, North Carolina State
ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Pat Popolizio is the head wrestling coach at North Carolina State. He’s widely considered one of the top college coaches in the game.  He’s built NC State into a perennial power, and before that, re-built Binghamton from the ground up.  Awesome conversation here folks, enjoy! … rest of story and podcast at _{^{https://wrestlingchangedmylife.com/199-pat-popolizio-head-coach-north-carolina-state/?mc_cid=ad9f03475a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}
AND Previewing the Pack at the upcoming ACC Championships – NCS77
Heading into this weekend’s ACC Championships in Raleigh, NC State head wrestling coach Pat Popolizio and host Brian Reinhardt go weight-by-weight on Episode 77 of the #PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast. There’s an importance with every match at a small conference tournament and with five of the six squads nationally ranked, it should be a good one. We’re also joined by Ryan Tice, an NC State wrestling alum who will be one of the voices fans hear from this weekend’s championships on the ACC Network.  
Show Segments
1:00 – Pat always likes talking wrestling with Brian, when he’s in town.
1:35 – How’s the training going heading into the ACC Championships? … rest of story at _{^{https://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/pack-mentality/previewing-the-pack-at-the-upcoming-acc-championships-ncs77/?mc_cid=9c47fa024a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

4 } – Appalachian State Wrestling Sweeps Chattanooga, PC on Senior Day
BOONE, N.C. — Dramatic takedowns at the beginning and end of App State’s dual with Chattanooga set the stage for a SoCon sweep Sunday in Varsity Gym. The Mountaineers opened Senior Day with a 20-13 victory to hand the Mocs their first league loss, and App State capped the tri-meet with a 54-0 shutout of Presbyterian.  
Codi Russell, Jonathan Millner, Cody Bond, Will Formato, Thomas Flitz and Michael Burchell enjoyed 2-0 days as the Mountaineers (5-2, 5-1) followed a tight win against a longtime rival with their third shutout in six SoCon duals this season. They recorded five pins and nine wins with bonus points in that matchup. In a showdown between top-25 wrestlers at 125 pounds to open the tri-meet, Russell won 4-3 against Chattanooga’s Fabian Gutierrez by erasing a 3-2 deficit on a takedown with 53 seconds left and preventing a tying escape the rest of the way despite several close calls.  … rest of story at _{^{https://appstatesports.com/news/2021/1/31/wrestling-sweeps-chattanooga-pc.aspx?mc_cid=8755157a86&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}
AND Russell Named SoCon Wrestler of the Week
BOONE, N.C. — After winning a matchup of top-25 wrestlers in dramatic fashion and recording a quick pin in the next dual, App State senior Codi Russell has been named the Southern Conference’s Wrestler of the Week.
A native of Atlanta, Russell improved to 6-0 in SoCon duals this season with a 4-3 decision against Fabien Gutierrez of Chattanooga and a win by fall just 71 seconds into his match against Presbyterian’s Benny Gomez on Senior Day in Varsity Gym. Russell is now 9-1 overall this season … rest of story at _{^{https://appstatesports.com/news/2021/2/3/wrestling-russell-named-socon-wrestler-of-the-week.aspx?mc_cid=653cd27934&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}
AND Formato Named SoCon Wrestler of the Month
BOONE, N.C. — Thanks to an 11-1 showing with several high-level wins in January, App State redshirt sophomore Will Formato has been named the Southern Conference’s Wrestler of the Month. Facing eight wrestlers with a top-50 ranking in his 12 matches last month, Formato outscored his opponents by a combined 93-7 mark in his 11 victories and didn’t allow a takedown in any of those wins. He went from being unranked to start the season to climbing to as high as No. 10 in the country at 165 pounds.
Formato’s strong month included a 4-0 shutout against then-No. 7 Thomas Bullard of NC State, … rest of story at _{^{https://appstatesports.com/news/2021/2/4/wrestling-formato-named-socon-wrestler-of-the-month.aspx?mc_cid=fca48e06b8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

5 } – Wolves Beat Lander 22-21, Win Sixth Straight Conference Championship
NEWBERRY, S.C. — It came down to the final match of the afternoon, but senior Isiah Royal won an 8-4 decision at 141 pounds to propel the Wolves to a 22-21 win over the Lander Bearcats Saturday. The win gives Newberry their sixth consecutive conference championship, and improves their season record to 7-0, with a 6-0 record in South Atlantic Conference Carolinas action. The dual started at 149 pounds, where Newberry’s Devan Moore recorded four takedowns and held off a late takedown attempt to win a narrow 8-4 decision. After the Bearcats won a 5-1 decision at 157 pounds, Newberry’s Will Evans recorded a big fall, putting away his opponent in 5:42 to give the Wolves a 9-3 lead. :
Lander would then rattle off four wins in a row to take a 21-9 lead heading into the 125-pound match, where Newberry’s Zach Shupp recorded a takedown and almost immediately pinned his opponent, picking up six points and keeping the Wolves alive. In the 133-pound match, Austin Neal ran up the score in the third period, recording a pair of reversals and picking up a four-point nearfall to pick up a 11-2 major decision that closed the Lander lead to 21-19. … rest of story at _{^{https://newberrywolves.com/news/2021/2/20/wrestling-wolves-beat-lander-22-21-win-sixth-straight-conference-championship.aspx?mc_cid=4fc5b594c8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

6 } – Bearcats trounce Coker 53-0 – Will battle Newberry for SACC conference title on February 20
GREENWOOD – The Lander wrestling team left its home fans ecstatic with a 53-0 thrashing of Coker at Horne Arena Thursday night.  Lander advances to 7-3 overall and 6-1 in the SACC while Coker falls to 1-1 overall and in the SACC. The Bearcats were all over the Cobras, with five pins and one tech fall throughout the contest. There were two forfeits by Coker, which gave freshman Kaiden Fisher and sophomore Ryan Humel wins. Freshman Joey Felix earned a close 6-5 decision in the first match to put Lander up 3-0. Sophomore Ezekiel Marquez earned the first pin of the night for the Bearcats. Before winning by the pin, he had also secured two four-point near falls as well. Sophomore Bryson Ethington won in another close 6-5 decision for three more Bearcat points. … rest of story at _{^{https://lander.prestosports.com/sports/wrest/2020-21/releases/20210218vhfw20?mc_cid=279b9a2f50&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

7 } – U.N.C.-Pembroke BraveHawk Talk, Episode 36: Jovaun Johnson, Luke McDonough & Donald Bohannon
UNCP Sports Network Associate Director Jon Gross catches up with Jovaun Johnson and Luke McDonough to talk about a unique, but magical, season for the nationally-ranked UNC Pembroke wrestling team. Donald Bohannon stops by to chat about the experience of being an assistant on BOTH the UNCP men’s and women’s basketball staffs. Episode 36 of #BraveHawkTalk is here! … rest of story at _{^{https://uncpbraves.com/news/2021/2/15/general-bravehawk-talk-episode-36-jovaun-johnson-luke-mcdonough-donald-bohannon.aspx?mc_cid=9e45a80a12&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

8 } – Davidson Wrestling Pauses Team Activities, Ending the Season Early
DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Davidson wrestling program has paused all team-related activities due to positive COVID-19 test results among Tier 1 personnel, ultimately shutting down the season. Tier 1 personnel include scholar athletes, coaches and any staff member whose job requires close regular contact. The pause stretches through the 2021 Southern Conference Championship. 
 “The 2020-21 season was by no means perfect, however our scholar-athletes can confidently demonstrate great pride in their efforts this season,” said head coach Andy Lausier. “It’s certainly disappointing that we will not be able to compete at the Southern Conference Championships, but we walk away from this past season with our heads high, grateful for every opportunity to compete, and proud of the three SoCon dual meet victories our team achieved.” … rest of story at _{^{https://davidsonwildcats.com/news/2021/2/15/wrestling-pauses-team-activities-ending-the-season-early.aspx?mc_cid=83f6447486&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

9} – Pre-Seeds Announced for 2021 ACC Wrestling Championship
Watch Links:
Mat 1 – ACC Network Extra (11 am) Mat 2 – ACC Network Extra (11 am) Finals – ACC Network (7 pm)
Results: Live Results
Brackets: Brackets PDF
ACC Wrestling Weekly Release: http://theacc.co/ACCWrestling2021
GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) — The Atlantic Coast Conference has announced pre-seeds and brackets for the 2021 ACC Wrestling Championship, which will be held this Sunday (Feb. 28) at NC State’s Reynolds Coliseum.
Brackets can be found here.
The host and two-time defending champions Wolfpack leads with four wrestlers seeded No. 1 in their respective weight class brackets. Pitt follows with three No. 1 seeds, while regular-season dual champion Virginia Tech earned two and North Carolina one. Seeds were determined by a vote of the league’s six head coaches. Each weight class champion and runner-up at the 2021 ACC Championship will earn All-ACC recognition. In addition to ACC honors, student-athletes will be vying for berths and seeding in the 2021 NCAA Wrestling Championships, which will be held March 18-20 at Enterprise Center in St. Louis. The ACC has been awarded 33 automatic berths and is hopeful of earning several more at-large selections.  The ACC placed five teams among the top 20 of last week’s NWCA national rankings, including Virginia Tech at No. 3 and NC State at No. 7.  Thirty-two Atlantic Coast Conference student-athletes are listed among the top 20 of their individual weight classes in the most recent InterMat national rankings, … rest of story at _{^{https://theacc.com/news/2021/2/23/pre-seeds-announced-for-2021-acc-wrestling-championship.aspx?mc_cid=9c47fa024a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

10 } – Bearcats overwhelm Limestone for sixth win of the season
GREENWOOD – The Lander wrestling team put on a show at Finis Horne Arena Tuesday night, taking down Limestone 37-6. The Bearcats advance to 6-3 overall and 5-1 in the SACC. Limestone drops to 3-5 overall and 3-4 in the SACC. Although dropping the first match of the night by decision, the Bearcats would storm back, winning the next four to go up 16-3. In his first match of the season, freshman Joey Felix pinned his opponent in the first period to put Lander in the driver seat. Sophomore Ezekiel Marquez won a close 9-8 decision next that saw a late takedown to give him the advantage. Sophomore Bryson Ethington gave Lander three more points, winning in overtime after being tied at one with his opponent through regulation. Limestone would pick up another win by decision before redshirt sophomore Jack Bond … rest of story at _{^{https://lander.prestosports.com/sports/wrest/2020-21/releases/20210216wmr56z?mc_cid=83f6447486&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

11 } – Belmont-Abbey College Wrestling Earns 27-13 Victory on Senior Day
BELMONT, N.C. – The Belmont Abbey wrestling team honored its five seniors before the match against Mount Olive. The Crusaders recognized George Uchaker,  Andrew Pegram, Alex Rounceville,  Justin Payne, and Jordan Hawthorne for their commitment to the wrestling program over the past four years. During the pregame ceremonies head coach Kenn Caudell was also recognized on achieving his 100^th career victory recently. The Crusaders defeated the Trojans 27-13 to finish the season 5-3 with a 5-2 South Atlantic Conference Carolinas record. Mount Olive moves to 1-4 overall and in league play. … rest of story at _{^{https://abbeyathletics.com/news/2021/2/13/wrestling-earns-27-13-victory-on-senior-day.aspx}}

12 } – Mount Olive Trojans Topple Coker In Home Finale Dual 31-19
MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – The University of Mount Olive wrestling team defeated the Cobras of Coker University 31-19 Sunday afternoon inside Kornegay Arena in a South Atlantic Conference Carolinas Dual. The dual was also the home finale for the Trojans. 
INSIDE THE RESULTS
The match started at the 149 weight class and had Mount Olive fall via decision 9-4. The Trojans then picked up a win at 157 as Colby Teague defeated Noah Inboden in overtime 4-2. The next two matches went split for the each team and UMO trailed 9-7. A forfeit at 184 allowed Mount Olive to regain the lead before Coker took it back with a pin at 197. Jaylin McClammy then defeated Devin Holland via pin fall to put the Trojans back in front 19-15.  The match of the dual happened at 125 as Lens Mathurin pinned Brandon Dasen in the last two second of the final period to secure a much needed six points for the Trojans and put them in front for good. … rest of story at _{^{https://umotrojans.com/news/2021/2/21/wrestling-trojans-topple-coker-in-home-finale-dual-31-19.aspx}}

March 2, 2021 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized