In his sixth and final season with the UNC wrestling program, Austin O’Connor is still adding to his trophy case. O’Connor won his third career ACC championship on Sunday, defeating Virginia Tech’s Bryce Andonian for the 157-pound title. O’Connor’s previous two titles each came in the 149-pound class.

O’Connor is the 10th Tar Heel in the history of the program to win three ACC titles. He’s one of the most decorated wrestlers in team history, having already won a national championship in 2021. That title was Carolina’s first since 1995 and 20th in program history.

But O’Connor wasn’t the only current member of the team to earn a podium spot over the weekend. In the 184-pound class, Gavin Kane placed second, and Lachlan McNeil placed third in the 141-pound class. Due to both of those podium finishes, Kane and McNeil have earned automatic bids with O’Connor to the 2023 NCAA Championships later this month.

As a team, Carolina finished fourth in the team standings.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Anthony Sorbellini

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