Takedown Report

UNC’s O’Connor, Pitt’s Bonaccorsi Named ACC Co-Wrestlers of the Year

Virginia Tech’s Henson voted ACC Freshman of the Year, Hokies’ Robie repeats as Coach of the Year
GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – North Carolina’s Austin O’Connor and Pitt’s Nino Bonaccorsi, who each posted unbeaten seasons and claimed NCAA individual titles, have been selected as the 2022-23 Atlantic Coast Conference Co-Wrestlers of the Year by the league’s head coaches.
Virginia Tech’s Caleb Henson, who won a conference title and earned All-America honors at 149 pounds, was voted the ACC Freshman of the Year. The Hokies also picked up the 2022-23 ACC Wrestling Coach of the Year award, as Tony Robie was recognized for the second consecutive year and the fourth time in seven seasons.
O’Connor, a grad student from Lockport, Illinois, outlasted Penn State’s second-seeded Levi Haines for a 6-2 victory in the 157 pounds two weeks after claiming the ACC Championship gold medal. O’Connor secured his second NCAA wrestling title after first winning at 149 pounds in St. Louis in 2021.

Bonaccorsi, a redshirt senior from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, rallied from a 3-0 deficit to defeat South Dakota State’s Tanner Sloan for the gold medal at 197. Bonaccorsi, who also won the ACC Championship in his weight class, became the Panthers’ first NCAA champion since current head coach Keith Gavin won at 174 pounds in 2008.
ACC wrestlers have now won 22 all-time individual NCAA titles. This marks the first year the conference has had multiple national champions in the same year since 1994 when Clemson’s Sam Henson won at 118 pounds and North Carolina’s TJ Jaworsky won at 134.

O’Connor (23-0) became the program’s first five-time All-America honoree, the Tar Heels have posted multiple All-America wrestlers for five-straight years, and the National Finals has seen a UNC wrestler compete in the finals the past three seasons. … rest of story at ACC.com/uncs-o-connor-pitts-bonaccorsi-earn-co-acc-wrestler-of-the-year-honors

April 7, 2023 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized