Tar Heels Dominate in Charlottesville, Roll Past Virginia 25-10 Behind Bonus Wins from Dailey and Platt
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - North Carolina wrestling came into Friday night’s ACC opener with momentum, and they left with a statement win. The 12th-ranked Tar Heels (8-1, 1-0 ACC) took care of business on the road, overpowering Virginia (8-5, 1-1 ACC) 25-10 behind a well-rounded team performance that featured a pair of dominant technical falls and several gritty decision victories.
This marks UNC’s eighth win in their last nine conference openers and extends their streak to nine straight over the Cavaliers-a run that speaks to the program’s consistency under pressure, especially when the ACC schedule kicks off.
Bonus Points Set the Tone
The turning point came in the middle of the lineup, where Jake Dailey and Robert Platt delivered back-to-back technical falls at 184 and 197 pounds. Dailey, ranked No. 14, was clinical in his approach, racking up a 21-5 win over Dylan Newsome. His pace, control, and ability to pile up points in flurries gave UNC a major boost in the team score.
Platt followed with a near carbon-copy performance, dominating Steven Burrell Jr. 20-4.
His ability to convert early offense into sustained pressure helped break the match wide open. Those 10 combined team points from Dailey and Platt gave the Tar Heels breathing room and essentially put the dual out of reach.
Early Edge in Tight Matches
The dual started at 141 pounds, and UNC wasted no time establishing control. Luke Simcox, ranked No. 20, set the tone with an 8-3 win over Gable Porter.
That was followed by a thrilling 15-14 decision from Laird Root at 157 pounds, where the No. 31-ranked Tar Heel edged out No. 30 Colton Washleski in one of the night’s most entertaining bouts.
Root’s win gave Carolina a crucial ranked victory and momentum in the middle weights.
Bryce Hepner, the No. 13 wrestler at 165 pounds, showed why he’s one of the anchors of this lineup. He blanked Michael Murphy 6-0, using a methodical approach to control the match from start to finish. That kind of shutdown performance is exactly what you want from a veteran in a dual meet setting.
Heavyweight Hustle and a Strong Finish
At heavyweight, Nolan Neves came through with a composed, late-match surge. He used two takedowns in the final minute to seal a 7-2 win over Brenan Morgan. It wasn’t flashy, but it was efficient-and it kept Carolina’s momentum rolling into the final bout.
Closing things out at 133 pounds, Ethan Oakley delivered a composed 8-1 decision over Marlon Yarbrough. Oakley flipped the match in the second period with a slick reversal and three nearfall points, showcasing both mat awareness and execution. That win capped a night where UNC claimed seven of the ten matches, and five of those wins came by bonus or convincing margins.
What’s Next
The Tar Heels won’t have much time to rest. They’ll head to Raleigh next Friday for a marquee showdown with eighth-ranked NC State.
That one’s circled on the calendar every year, and with both teams ranked inside the top 15, it’s shaping up to be another high-stakes ACC clash. Action gets underway at 7 PM on ACCNX.
Dual Meet Results
**No.
12 North Carolina 25, Virginia 10**
*Jan.
16, 2026 | JPJ Arena | Charlottesville, Va. *
- 125: No. 23 Keyveon Roller (UVA) def.
Cameron Stinson Jr. (UNC) - 11-2 MD
- 133: No. 19 Ethan Oakley (UNC) def.
Marlon Yarbrough (UVA) - 8-1 Dec
- 141: No.
20 Luke Simcox (UNC) def. Gable Porter (UVA) - 8-3 Dec
- 149: Wynton Denkins (UVA) def. Nate Askew (UNC) - 4-1 SV Dec
- 157: No. 31 Laird Root (UNC) def.
No. 30 Colton Washleski (UVA) - 15-14 Dec
- 165: No. 13 Bryce Hepner (UNC) def.
Michael Murphy (UVA) - 6-0 Dec
- 174: No.
28 Nick Hamilton (UVA) def. Collin Carrigan (UNC) - 4-2 Dec
- 184: No. 14 Jake Dailey (UNC) def.
Dylan Newsome (UVA) - 21-5 TF
- 197: Robert Platt (UNC) def.
Steven Burrell Jr. (UVA) - 20-4 TF
- 285: No. 28 Nolan Neves (UNC) def.
Brenan Morgan (UVA) - 7-2 Dec
With the postseason inching closer, this was the kind of performance that shows the Tar Heels aren’t just looking to compete in the ACC-they’re aiming to control it.