In its first dual match of the 2018-19 season, the 24th-ranked UNC wrestling team went on the road and knocked off the Chattanooga Mocs by a score of 23-10 on Sunday afternoon.

The Tar Heels were led by a pair of major decision victories from redshirt freshmen Austin O’Connor (149 pounds) and Chasen Blair (197 pounds), as they rallied from an early 10-0 deficit on the team scoreboard.

Chattanooga won each of the first three matches of the dual at 125, 133 and 141 pounds–including a 12-2 major decision from Fabian Gutierrez over UNC’s Joe Heilmann.

From there, however, it was all Tar Heels. UNC won each of the final seven matches by at least three points, including the big performances from O’Connor and Blair.

Final Match Results:

125: Fabian Gutierrez (UTC) maj. dec. Joe Heilmann (UNC), 12-2 – Chattanooga leads 4-0
133: Jake Huffine (UTC) dec. James Szymanski (UNC), 8-6 (SV-1) – Chattanooga leads 7-0
141: Chris Debien (UTC) dec. A.C. Headlee (UNC), 10-5 – Chattanooga leads 10-0
149: #16 Austin O’Connor (UNC) maj. dec. Tanner Smith (UTC), 14-4 – Chattanooga leads 10-4
157: #7 Kennedy Monday (UNC) dec. Ryan Resnick (UTC), 10-4 – Chattanooga leads 10-7
165: Josh McClure (UNC) dec. Drew Nicholson (UTC), 9-4 – Tied 10-10
174: Devin Kane (UNC) dec. Hunter Fortner (UTC), 4-1 – UNC leads 13-10
184: #7 Chip Ness (UNC) dec. Dominic Lampe (UTC), 4-0 – UNC leads, 16-10
197: Chasen Blair (UNC) maj. dec. Rodney Jones (UTC), 13-4 – UNC leads, 12-10
285: #15 Cory Daniel (UNC) dec. Connor Tolley (UTC), 6-1 – UNC wins, 23-10

 

 

Photo via UT-Chattanooga Athletics