UNC wrestling wrapped up a solid performance at the ACC tournament, securing a fourth-place finish overall. The standout moment came from Bryce Hepner, who clinched the ACC championship in the 165lb weight class.
This victory marked UNC's first individual ACC title since 2023 and the first in the 165lb category since 2009. Hepner's triumph is a testament to his grit and determination, especially considering he entered the tournament as the fourth seed.
Looking ahead, UNC is sending six wrestlers to the NCAA championships in Cleveland, Ohio, from March 19th-21st. Here's a breakdown of the Tar Heels’ contenders and their matchups:
Kysen Terukina (125lbs): Terukina, making his fourth NCAA tournament appearance and first with UNC, enters as the 19 seed after finishing the season with a 13-6 record. Despite a challenging conference season, he showed resilience at the ACC tournament with two wins. He’ll face the 14th seed, Jacob Moran from Indiana, in the opening round.
Luke Simcox (141lbs): Simcox had an impressive freshman season after redshirting last year. With a 13-6 record and a runner-up finish in the ACC tournament, he’s seeded 12th in his first NCAA appearance. His first match is against 21st seeded Tyler Well from Oklahoma.
Laird Root (157lbs): Root, another redshirt freshman, ended the season with a 16-11 record, earning the 30th seed at the NCAA tournament. He faces a tough challenge against the third overall seed, Meyer Shapiro from Cornell.
Bryce Hepner (165lbs): Fresh off his ACC championship, Hepner is UNC’s highest-seeded wrestler at the NCAA tournament, coming in at the nine seed. His breakout season, highlighted by a 15-4 record, sets up an opening match against 24th seeded Sean Seefeldt from Penn.
Collin Carrigan (174lbs): Carrigan, the 27th seed, is another redshirt freshman making his NCAA debut. After a 13-10 season and a third-place finish at the ACCs, he’ll face Matty Singleton from NC State, who previously defeated him in the conference tournament.
Jake Dailey (184lbs): Dailey enters the NCAA tournament as the 18th seed following a strong 18-4 season. His ACC performance included a win over the top seed before a narrow overtime loss in the finals. He’ll take on 15th seeded Sal Perrine from Ohio in the first round.
As the Tar Heels gear up for the NCAA championships, their mix of seasoned competitors and promising newcomers is poised to make some noise on the national stage. Keep an eye on these wrestlers as they look to build on their ACC success and leave their mark in Cleveland.