Duke Wrestling Shows Grit but Falls to No. 13 North Carolina, 25-13
The Blue Devils made the short trip down Tobacco Road Friday night to face off against 13th-ranked North Carolina, and while Duke came away with four individual wins, the Tar Heels flexed their depth and firepower to take the dual, 25-13, at Carmichael Arena.
Despite the team loss, Duke had bright spots-particularly from a few familiar names who continue to deliver in big moments. Aidan Wallace (174), Connor Barket (285), Raymond Adams (141), and Dylan Ross (149) all picked up wins, with Wallace, Barket, and Ross each notching their second straight victories.
Let’s break down how it all unfolded on the mat.
Aidan Wallace Stays Locked In at 174
Ranked No. 23 nationally, Aidan Wallace continues to wrestle like a man on a mission. The Mahwah, N.J. native controlled his bout from start to finish against Collin Carrigan.
After a scoreless first period, Wallace opened things up with an escape and a takedown in the second to build a 4-0 lead. He didn’t let up from there, adding another takedown in the third and cruising to a 7-1 decision.
With the win, Wallace improved to 24-3 on the season and 15-2 in duals. He’s now 3-1 in ACC action and has allowed one or fewer points in four of his last six matches. That’s the kind of consistency that gets your name etched into the program record books-he’s now tied for sixth on Duke’s single-season win list at 174 pounds.
Connor Barket Dominates at Heavyweight
At heavyweight, Connor Barket showed why he’s ranked 20th in the country. In a methodical, clinical performance, the West Lafayette, Indiana native shut out UNC’s Jacob Levy, 10-0. After a quiet first period, Barket turned it on-scoring an escape and a takedown in the second, then tacking on more points in the third with another takedown and a stalling call against Levy.
The major decision was Barket’s third ACC win of the season and the ninth of his career. He’s now 18-4 overall and 12-2 in duals this year.
His 18 wins tie him for seventh on Duke’s all-time single-season list at heavyweight. Quietly, he’s putting together one of the most efficient seasons of his career.
Raymond Adams Delivers Late for the Win
At 141 pounds, Raymond Adams pulled off one of the more dramatic wins of the night. Facing Marco Tocci of UNC, Adams came out strong with an early takedown and led 3-1 after the first period. Tocci battled back, grabbing an escape and a takedown just before the second-period buzzer to take a 5-3 lead.
But Adams, a junior from Merrick, N.Y., wasn’t done. He escaped late in the third to cut the deficit to one, then sealed the match with a clutch takedown in the closing seconds to win 7-5.
That’s his third career ACC victory and his first of the 2025-26 season. He now has nine wins on the year, with six coming in duals.
Dylan Ross Wins in Sudden Victory
In the final bout of the night at 149 pounds, redshirt freshman Dylan Ross showed poise beyond his years. After a scoreless first period against UNC’s Nate Askew, Ross escaped early in the second to take a 1-0 lead. Askew answered with an escape of his own in the third, sending the match into sudden victory.
That’s where Ross took over. Just 32 seconds into extra time, the Edgewater, N.J. native landed the decisive takedown to secure a 4-1 win.
It was his third ACC win of the season, and he’s now 14-8 overall and 7-6 in duals. Even more impressive-he’s won seven of his last nine matches, and he’s gaining momentum at the right time.
Other Notable Bouts
At 125 pounds, Spencer von Savoye nearly pulled off a comeback. Down 7-3 entering the third period, the redshirt sophomore rallied with two takedowns to tie it at 8-8. But UNC’s Cameron Stinson, Jr. managed a late escape to edge out the 9-8 decision.
Duke’s Mikey Boulanger (157), Logan Fite (165), David Hussey (184), and Owen McGrory (197) all battled tough opponents, but UNC’s ranked lineup proved too much in those weight classes. The Tar Heels earned bonus points in five of their six wins, which ultimately made the difference on the scoreboard.
Team Scores Recap
#13 North Carolina 25, Duke 13
- 125: Cameron Stinson, Jr. (UNC) def.
Spencer von Savoye (Duke), 9-8
- 133: #24 Ethan Oakley (UNC) def.
Riley Rowan (Duke), 10-1 MD
- 141: Raymond Adams (Duke) def.
Marco Tocci (UNC), 7-5
- 149: Dylan Ross (Duke) def.
Nate Askew (UNC), 4-1 SV
- 157: #28 Laird Root (UNC) def.
Mikey Boulanger (Duke), 16-6 MD
- 165: Joey Showalter (UNC) def.
Logan Fite (Duke), Fall (4:58)
- 174: #23 Aidan Wallace (Duke) def.
Collin Carrigan (UNC), 7-1
- 184: #13 Jake Dailey (UNC) def.
David Hussey (Duke), 21-7 MD
- 197: Robert Platt (UNC) def.
Owen McGrory (Duke), 14-3 MD
- HWT: #20 Connor Barket (Duke) def.
Jacob Levy (UNC), 10-0 MD
What’s Next
Duke will look to bounce back on home turf next Friday, February 13, when they host NC State at Cameron Indoor Stadium. With several Blue Devils heating up, it’s a chance to build momentum down the stretch of ACC play.
Stay tuned-this Duke squad has plenty of fight left.