The UNC wrestling made it four dual match wins in a row Friday evening, though this latest victory came by the skin of its teeth. The Tar Heels and Virginia Cavaliers fought to the bitter end in Charlottesville, and it was Carolina who emerged victorious by the slimmest of margins, 17-16.

Though the two teams were tied at 16 after all 10 matches were concluded, UNC claimed the victory on criteria due to more total points scored among the bouts, a 53-45 margin over the Cavaliers.

In this one, every victory counted, and UNC’s best wrestlers came to play. Kizhan Clarke, Zach Sherman and Austin O’Connor each won their bouts, with Sherman and O’Connor defeating ranked opponents from the Cavaliers. Clay Lautt, fresh off being named ACC Wrestler of the Week, took yet another victory in a critical 8-2 decision.

Gavin Kane recorded Carolina’s highest-ranked win of the night, a 15-3 triumph over Virginia’s Michael Battista, who is ranked No. 22 in the 184-pound weight class. Kane is ranked No. 21. Kane’s match also ended up being UNC’s highest-scoring of the night, and contributed greatly to the team’s criteria win.

Carolina, currently ranked No. 24 in the latest national poll, is now 7-4 overall on the season and 2-0 in ACC competition. Its four-dual winning streak will be put to the ultimate test in the coming weeks, as head coach Coleman Scott’s team will face off against the other three ranked ACC teams, all in a row. No. 19 Pittsburgh will visit Carmichael Arena on February 4, before Carolina travels to No. 8 Virginia Tech on February 11 and No. 5 NC State on February 18.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications

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