Tar Heel vs. Wolfpack Rivalry TDR #31-3
The North Carolina State University (NCSU) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) rivalry will battle this Thanksgiving weekend on the gridiron when their football teams meet. The spirits and passions of alumni and students at both schools are extolled and proclaimed in debates in the state legislature, college campuses, many public gatherings and at any time the sports teams compete in direct competition.
The Wolfpack and the Tar Heels have met in 127 dual meets in the past 99 seasons. Which team has proven to their fans that they are better than their rival? Wrestlers are in close contact and it can be difficult to see who has the advantage. The Tar Heels won the first dual meet on Jan. 23rd, 1925 in Raleigh and won the first 5 matches in the series. UNC started their team two years before NCSU and has had a varsity program each year.
In 1933 the Wolfpack won for the first time by a close margin of 18 to 14, yet The Daily Tar Heel called it a “disastrous loss”. They wrestled yearly 1925-1943 except in 1929, 1931 & 1932. NCSU did not have a team in 1932. NCSU won the next five matches and then UNC won 5 consecutive duals before the competition was suspended due to the Second World War thus they did not wrestle each other in 1944-1946.
The Tar Heels continued to win in 1947 and 1948 after competition resumed. Coach P.H. “Chuck” Quinlan had coached UNC since 1926 to 11 wins in 17 matches with NCSU before losing his last match in 1949 with the Wolfpack by a 21-11 score. Coach Al Crawford took the reins at NCSU after the war. After the first two losses he led his team to win 7 of the next 8 matches.
The first tied match was in 1950 when Sam Barnes coached his first rivalry match for UNC. Barnes was the head coach for 25 matches through 1973. Crawford continued with NCSU through 1967. Jerry Daniels took the reins and guided the Wolfpack to six consecutive victories. The largest NCSU winning margin was 48-3 in 1973 with Daniels over Barnes’ in their last match up. This string ended with UNC led by new coach, Bill Lam in the 2nd tie in 1974.
Lam coached the Tar Heels for 59 matches against NCSU. His 33 victories are the most of all head coaches in this series. His arch-nemesis, Bob Guzzo coached NCSU in 60 matches with UNC. In 1975 Lam and Guzzo started a home and home series in which the teams wrestled twice a year. This doubled the opportunities to see the rivalry on the mats each year until 2008. As a fan this was a delight to view as the fans were numerous and a bit raucous at times.
Both coaches came to North Carolina from states with strong wrestling traditions, Lam from Oklahoma and Guzzo from Pennsylvania. Lam led UNC to their longest win streak of 10 matches in the 1973-1977 seasons. The largest UNC winning margin was 37-3 in the 2nd match in 1986. The epic Lam vs. Guzzo battles ended in 2003 when Lam retired. His assistant coach, and former UNC national champion, C.D. Mock took the reins until 2015. Guzzo retired in 2004 after the following season and his assistant coach, Carter Jordan, took over until 2012.
Current NCSU head coach Pat Popolizio became the 10th and after a first match loss he has the longest winning streak over UNC in the last ten matches. This not only matches the longest streak by UNC under Lam it also ties the historic almost a century long rivalry at 62 wins for each team and 3 tied matches! Popolizio has taken the Wolfpack to the #2 national ranking. This is the highest ranking ever for NCSU.
This past summer UNC Coach Coleman Scott returned to Oklahoma State to work with head coach John Smith. Another former UNC National Champion, Rob Koll started as the 7th head coach at UNC. Koll was also a four time All-American. Koll brings 30 years of experience with over 330 wins at Cornell and Stanford Universities. Koll noted that “It is amazing the series is tied after all these years. I don’t like the current trend and intend to fix it!” The next match will be February 2nd in Raleigh.
Limestone Saints Take Down Lincoln Memorial In Home Opener
GAFFNEY, S.C. – Performing in front of the home crowd for the first time this season, the Limestone University wrestling team took down visiting Lincoln Memorial 34-10 on Wednesday afternoon inside the Timken Center. The Saints improve to 1-1 on the young season.
Senior Trey Finnearty (The Plains, Ohio) got the Blue and Gold started with a major decision in the 125 lb. bout, pushing the home team in front early 4-0. Junior Jaqion Williams (Greenwood, S.C.) followed that up with an impressive 14-0 major decision at 133 before junior Kaleem Heard (Rock Hill, S.C.) topped James Thaxton by a 12-5 decision, ballooning the lead to 11-0 after three matches.
Senior Brandon Seawright (Birmingham, Ala.) continued the impressive start for Limestone after taking down Austin Vincent by a 14-4 major decision in the 149 lb. weight class. However, Lincoln Memorial was able to cut into the deficit following a win at 157.
Freshman Chase McKinney (Trinity, N.C.) got the Saints back on track with a 6-0 decision at 165 before junior Garrett Starks (Greenville, S.C.) picked up a pin over Jack Hill in the opening seconds of the 174 lb. weight class. Graduate JaQuez Bostic (Columbia, S.C.) left no doubt in the 184 lb. match, defeating Michael Nunn by an 18-5 major decision. … rest of story at … GOlimestonesaints.com/Mens-wrestling-saints-take-down-lincoln-memorial-in-home-opener
Rice’s Late Takedown Seals Wolves Comeback Victory at King
BRISTOL, TENN. – The Newberry College wrestling team (3-0, 3-0 Conference Carolinas) defeated the Tornado of King University (1-2, 1-2 Conference Carolinas) 21-20 in a match that they trailed 20-4 in.
The Wolves trailed in the dual match 20-4 going into the 174 lb match where Andrew Reed defeated King’s Mahoney by a 14-4 major decision to cut the dual score to 20-8. ZeBrandon Gant followed up with an 11-2 major decision as the wolves chipped away at that King lead making it 20-12.
The biggest momentum turn happened when John Parker put King’s Pociask on his back with :46 seconds left in the third period to cut the King lead to 20-18 with the 285 bout left.
In that 285 bout, Devon Rice and King’s Jacob Telles exchanged escape points in the third period. With :10 seconds left on the clock, Rice would get a three-point takedown to seal the comeback victory for the Wolves with a 21-20 win. Zach Shupp also had a 21-13 major decision victory to start off the match for the Wolves at the 125 lb class. … rest of story at … Newberrywolves.com/Wrestling-rices-late-takedown-seals-wolves-comeback-victory-at-king
Mount Olive Trojans win home opener over King, 23-17
MOUNT OLIVE (Nov. 15) – The University of Mount Olive men’s wrestling team claimed six victories on Wednesday night in a 23-17 win over King in Conference Carolinas action at Kornegay Arena.
With the win, the Trojans improve to 2-0 overall with both wins coming in league duals this season. Mount Olive secured its second-ever victory over King with both wins coming at home for the fifth-year program. Meanwhile, the Tornado drop to 1-1 this year after claiming its conference opener versus ranked Belmont Abbey last week.
In the opening match at 125, junior Lens Mathurin secured a win via sudden victory 12-9 in the first overtime after a back-and-forth match ended with a three-point takedown over Tyson Upchurch. With the Trojans leading 3-0, King secured six points following a forfeit in the 133-weight class. Mount Olive answered with back-to-back victories after sophomore Taylor Robinson captured a narrow 4-3 decision against Nico Crosnoe at 141. No. 10 ranked redshirt sophomore Dallas Wilson followed up with an impressive 13-8 win at 149 over fellow national qualifier Demetri Teddlie in his first appearance of the year. The Tornado tied the dual at 9-9 after a 4-3 decision in the 157-weight class.
UMO responded with 11 combined match points over the next two contests. … rest of story at … UMOtrojans.com/Wrestling-trojans-win-home-opener-over-king-23-17
ESPN Platforms to Feature More Than 200 Collegiate Wrestling Events During 2023-24 NCAA Season
No. 4 Iowa at No. 8 Iowa State ‘CyHawk Dual’ will be the first regular season college wrestling meet to air on ESPN – Sunday, Nov. 26, at 3 p.m. ET
- ACC Friday Night Duals return to ACC Network with five straight weeks of conference matchups; nearly 20 additional wrestling events to be streamed on ACCNX
- ESPN+ schedule to include more than 165 events, featuring top programs from the Big 12, Ivy League, MAC, EIWA, and more
ESPN platforms will feature more than 200 collegiate wrestling events throughout the 2023-24 NCAA season, including more than 165 events exclusively on ESPN+, the leading sports streaming service.
This weekend, No. 4 Iowa travels to Ames for a head-to-head matchup against in-state rival and No. 4 Iowa State. The famed ‘CyHawk Dual’ on Sunday, Nov. 26, at 3 p.m. ET will be the first regular season college wrestling meet to air on ESPN in the company’s 44-year history. (Note: The dual will also be simulcast on ESPN+.) The crew of Shawn Kenney, Jim Gibbons – NCAA Champion wrestler, legendary Iowa State coach, and Iowa Wrestling Hall of Famer, and two-time NCAA Champion Jordan Burroughs will be joined by veteran reporter Quint Kessenich to call the action. Kessenich will have interviews with coaches and student-athletes during the telecast, and he will provide behind-the-scenes commentary from the bench areas, as part of ESPN’s emphasis on unique access elements all season.
Later in the season, ESPNU will also feature the marquee matchup of No. 11 Oklahoma State at No. 2 NC State on Friday, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m.
ACC Friday Night Duals also return this season to ACC Network with five straight weeks of conference matchups, beginning January 26 … rest of story at … ESPNpressroom.com/ESPN-platforms-to-feature-more-than-200-collegiate-wrestling-events-during-2023-24-ncaa-season
Camels defeat Cowboys at Battle in the Barn
CENTENNIAL, Wyo. – The Fighting Camels improved to 2-1 on the season with a 23-12 victory over the Wyoming Cowboys in Friday night’s Battle in the Barn. The match was broadcast on UFC Fight Pass and was held at Deerwood Ranch.
True freshman Chris Earnest was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the match by the broadcast team after recording a tech fall (5:16) against Paolo Salminen.
The match began at 174 pounds, and Austin Murphy used a four-point near fall and over 2:45 of riding time to help build a 9-0 lead after the first period. He recorded another takedown in the third to seal the close victory, 16-15.
The Camels followed that with three more victories to build a 15-0 match lead. Brothers Caleb Hopkins and Levi Hopkins recorded one-point and two-point decisions, respectively.
Heavyweight Taye Ghadiali followed that with his fourth pin of the season, defeating Kevin Zimmer in 3:47. He now sits at 7-0 to this point, with all seven wins being bonus point victories.
After the Cowboys took the 125 bout, Domenic Zaccone moved to 2-0 on the season by defeating Cooper Birdwell, 4-2, after a takedown in the first 10 seconds of the match.
Wyoming would take the next two bouts at 141 and 149, but freshman Earnest took the second bonus point victory for the Camels, a tech fall against Paolo Salminen in 5:16 (20-2) for the Camels’ final team points of the match.
The defeat was the first of the year for the Cowboys, who now sit at 3-1. … rest of story at … GOcamels.com/Camels-defeat-cowboys-at-battle-in-the-barn
UNC-Pembroke Wrestling Falls To #1 Lander
By: Alex Pearce, Assistant Athletics Communications Director
PEMBROKE – Visiting and top-ranked Lander was too much for UNC Pembroke in Conference Carolinas dual action, as the Bearcats beat the Braves 31-9 Thursday night at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court. A crowd of friends, family, and former Braves wrestlers under longtime coach, PJ Smith, showed up to honor and celebrate the life of the UNCP Athletics Hall-of-Fame coach who had such a profound effect on his former wrestlers, as well as the youth wrestlers he continued to mentor even after his retirement.
The Braves (1-1, 1-1 CC) move to 3-2 in the all-time series against Lander (2-0, 2-0 CC), and have now dropped the last two duals against the Bearcats after taking the first three matchups in the series.
Lander got off to a 9-0 start after the first three weight classes, before … rest of story at … https://uncpbraves.com/news/2023/11/16/wrestling-braves-fall-to-1-lander.aspx
Story Links
HUSKERS DEFEND NAVY CLASSIC TITLE
For the second-straight year and third all-time, the Nebraska wrestling team claimed the Navy Classic title in Maryland on Saturday.
The Huskers finished first out of 14 teams with 212 points, as Navy (137 points) finished second and Princeton (134.5) was third.
Individually, Caleb Smith (125), Brock Hardy (141), Ridge Lovett (149), Peyton Robb (157), Antrell Taylor (165) and Lenny Pinto (184) won their respective weight classes to help the team defend last season’s title. Additionally, six wrestlers competed at the UNK Younes Open in Kearney, Neb., led by Blake Cushing (141), Ethan Stiles (157) and Elise Brown Ton (174) who all placed sixth.
Up next, the Huskers will return to action next month at the Cliff Keen Invite, Dec. 1-2, in Las Vegas.
125 – #12 Caleb Smith (5-0) 1st
Round of 32: #12 Smith tech. fall Hunter Johnson (Edinboro) 22-7 (2:53)
Round of 16: #12 Smith tech. fall Dayton Delviscio (Navy) 19-4 (5:40)
Quarterfinals: #12 Smith major decision Nick Gonzalez (Air Force) 21-7
Semifinals: #12 Smith tech. fall Malik Hardy (The Citadel) 17-2 (4:34)
Finals: #12 Smith major decision #23 Tucker Owens (Air Force) 9-1 … rest of story at … Huskers.com/news/2023/11/18/huskers-defend-navy-classic-title
U.S.N.A. Wrestling Set to Host the 45th Annual Navy Classic at McDonogh School
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The 19th-ranked Navy wrestling team is set to host the 45th annual Navy Classic on Saturday at McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Md.
The preliminary rounds will begin at 9 a.m., followed by the semifinals at approximately 2:30 p.m. Championship matches are expected to start at 4 p.m. The tournament will have team scoring.
The Mids will welcome 13 teams to the 2023 edition of their annual tournament. Fans can stay up to date with live results on FloArena with links provided on NavySports.com(.)
Notes For Fans
The Navy Classic will be held at the Rollins-Luetkemeyer Athletic Center at McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Md. Admission to the event is free.
Participating Teams
Air Force, American, Bloomsburg, Bucknell, Cleveland State, Davidson, Edinboro, Kent State, Lock Haven, No. 19 Navy, No. 9 Nebraska, Ohio, Princeton, The Citadel … rest of story at … Navysports.com/Wrestling-set-to-host-the-45th-annual-navy-classic-at-mcdonogh-school
Ryan Mann of Tarboro awarded the Lee Carroll Award TDR #31-2
State Finalist Ryan Mann of North East Carolina Preparatory School was presented the 25th Annual Lee Carroll Award for excellence in athletics, academics and sportsmanship in northeastern North Carolina last season. The TakeDown Report Editor, Martin Fleming and Lee Carroll presented the award to Ryan and his Coach, Blake Lundgren, during a pause between matches during their first home meet on Nov. 16th.
Mann earned his first state medal as a freshman at 120 pounds, with a record of 37 wins and 4 losses. He was the first state medalist in wrestling for N.E. Carolina Prep School. Last year, as a sophomore, Mann won his first district title at 132 pounds and was a state finalist with a (58-1) record. His overall scholastic career record, so far, is 95 wins and 5 losses after two years of competition. Ryan also earned his second TDR Top 12 engraved wooden plaque this year as being one of the top wrestlers at his weight class in eastern North Carolina. “Ryan is a great student-athlete. He is coachable and a positive leader who is a joy to work with in wrestling.” Coach Lungren shared.
Lee Carroll started wrestling his sophomore year when Tarboro High School re-started the sport in 1992 with Butch Sadler as his coach. Lee won 112 matches in just 3 years with the Vikings. Lee was state runner-up his junior year before becoming a record setting undefeated state champion in 1995 with a (50-0) record. Lee went on to start four years at North Carolina State qualifying for the Nationals 3 times. Lee has taught engineering graphics at N.C. State as an adjunct professor and has his own interactive design agency, Forged Media, in Raleigh. He is a member of the Tarboro High Athletic Hall of Fame. Last year Caleb Beaty of Corinth-Holders High School was named the Lee Carroll Award winner. Other previous award winners include Logan Tortual of Rosewood (2021). Javon Armstrong of Pamlico County (2020), Aaron Bancroft of Wilson-Fike (2019), Timothy and Christian Decatur of Rosewood (2018), Jaqwuez Norman of Farmville Central (2017), Kaleb Taylor of Rosewood (2016), Wilson Smith of Rocky Mount (2015 & 2014), Angel Najar of North Pitt (2013), Alexander Knight and Jacineto Williamson of Rocky Mount in 2012, Chris Fess of Beddingfield and Tamaris Lane of Nash Central in 2011, Chandler Phillips of Rocky Mount (2010), Landon Lucas of SW Edgecombe (2009), Corey Smith (2008) and Eric Sutton (2007) of Tarboro, Zach Shearin and Paul Horner (2006) and Pat Anstead (2004) of Southern Nash, Jimmy McNamara (2005) of Wilson Hunt and Sammi Hadi (2003) of SW Edgecombe. The TakeDown Report has promoted amateur wrestling for over 20 years in eastern North Carolina reporting wrestling results and encouraging media coverage of the sport. Fleming noted, “We desire to encourage wrestlers and teams in this area to realize the hard work, determination and discipline it takes to be a top notch wrestler,” he added. The TakeDown Report sponsors the Award. Contact the TDR at martinkfleming@gmail.com
TDR blog
After 20 seasons of publicizing wrestling The TakeDown Report’s (TDR) focus has changed to the collecting of college coaching records from North America since 1903. We will continue to recognize and reward successful wrestlers in eastern North Carolina (east of Raleigh & Fayetteville), assist with schools in starting or re-starting a team and this blog. Join us on our FaceBook Page – “The TakeDown Report” for photos and news. Please send results, stories, links and news to pass along. E-mail us at takedownreport@gmail.com
Martin Fleming, Editor
Takedown Report
Takedown Report 