Coleman Scott is continuing to build up the Tar Heel wrestling program and has another very good incoming class of freshmen coming in. A few of which may be in the starting line-up.
125 – Szymanksi (Sr) <Storeham, NY> or Melendez (Fr) <Montini Catholic, IL>
James Szymanksi is 3-year starter who went 18-11 last year (he hasn't yet qualified for the NCAA tournament). Incoming freshman Joey Melendez was a two-time Illinois state champion and runner-up at the Junior Nationals Freestyle Championship.
133 – Harding (Sr) <Collinsville, OK>
Gary Wayne Harding, a 2-time qualifier (0-2 in 2016, 2-2 in 2015), transfers in from Oklahoma State. He went 14-7 in opens last year and did well at the Southern Scuffle with wins against 3 NCAA qualifiers (including Corey Keener). Last year, Zach Sherman started as a true freshman and had a 16-19 season record, going 1-2 in the NCAA tournament.
141 – Headlee (Jr) <Waynesburg, PA>
A.C. Headlee went 15-15 last season in his first year as the starter, going 0-2 in the NCAA tournament. His biggest win last season was a pin against Thomas Thorn at a dual meet (UNC won 25-16).
149 – O’Connor (Fr) <St. Rita of Cascia, IL>
Austin O’Connor enters the lineup after a 20-3 redshirt year. He had several notable wins against NCAA qualifiers (loses to Tsirtsis and Lugo). He takes over for 3-time qualifier and AA Troy Heilmann who finished 4th last year (1-2 in 2017, 1-2 in 2015).
157 – Monday (So) <Martin, TX>
Kennedy Monday finished the season strong, getting to the round of 12 in his first year as a starter (21-16 season record). He had a big upset over #2 Lavallee in the 1st round and also beat #10 Scheidel.
165 – McClure (So) <Fulton, MO> or Mazzara (Fr) <Bishop Gorman, NV)
Josh McClure won the starting job from Clay Lautt by the end of the season and went 8-9 (not qualifying for the NCAA tournament). Lautt was 4-15. Incoming freshman Joey Mazzara (a Nevada state champion and 7th place finisher at Super 32 @170) is listed at 165 on UNC’s roster.
174 – Kane (So) <Cambridge, GA>
Devin Kane returns from a busy redshirt season where he went 24-10. He takes over for 1-time AA and 4-time qualifier Ethan Ramos (2-2 in 2018, 1-2 in 2017, 0-2 in 2016, 6th place @165 in 2015). Incoming freshman Ryan Karoly <Malvern Prep, PA> is listed @174 and could be a factor here or @184 if Chip Ness moves up to 197 (Ness is still listed @184).
184 – Ness (Sr) <Buford, GA>
Chip Ness returns for his final year at UNC. He finished 7th at the tournament last year (unseeded) and had a 20-12 season record. Ness also qualified for the tournament in 2016, going 1-2 @197.
197 – Whitman (Fr) <Dundee, MI>
Brandon Whitman is another of UNC’s incoming freshman looking to be in the starting lineup. Whitman is a 4-time Michigan state wrestling champion (2 @171, @189 and @215). Interesting tidbits; he moved up to heavyweight and beat nationally ranked Austin Emerson twice and two of Whitman’s three high school loses were to Logan Massa when he was a freshman. Whitman will be taking over for Daniel Chaid who went 22-12 last season and 1-2 at the tournament. Chaid also qualified in 2017, making it to the round of 12.
Heavyweight - Daniel (Sr) <River Hill, MD>
Corey Daniel returns for his final season at UNC. Last year he went 23-9 on the season and 0-2 at the tournament. He also qualified in 2017, going 0-2.
The Tar Heels return 1 AA (Ness) and 4 other qualifiers and lose 1 AA (Heilmann) and 2 other qualifiers. They have some good wrestlers coming in for their departing AA and qualifiers so UNC may be able to meet or exceed their 20th place/27 point performance from last season.
125 – Szymanksi (Sr) <Storeham, NY> or Melendez (Fr) <Montini Catholic, IL>
James Szymanksi is 3-year starter who went 18-11 last year (he hasn't yet qualified for the NCAA tournament). Incoming freshman Joey Melendez was a two-time Illinois state champion and runner-up at the Junior Nationals Freestyle Championship.
133 – Harding (Sr) <Collinsville, OK>
Gary Wayne Harding, a 2-time qualifier (0-2 in 2016, 2-2 in 2015), transfers in from Oklahoma State. He went 14-7 in opens last year and did well at the Southern Scuffle with wins against 3 NCAA qualifiers (including Corey Keener). Last year, Zach Sherman started as a true freshman and had a 16-19 season record, going 1-2 in the NCAA tournament.
141 – Headlee (Jr) <Waynesburg, PA>
A.C. Headlee went 15-15 last season in his first year as the starter, going 0-2 in the NCAA tournament. His biggest win last season was a pin against Thomas Thorn at a dual meet (UNC won 25-16).
149 – O’Connor (Fr) <St. Rita of Cascia, IL>
Austin O’Connor enters the lineup after a 20-3 redshirt year. He had several notable wins against NCAA qualifiers (loses to Tsirtsis and Lugo). He takes over for 3-time qualifier and AA Troy Heilmann who finished 4th last year (1-2 in 2017, 1-2 in 2015).
157 – Monday (So) <Martin, TX>
Kennedy Monday finished the season strong, getting to the round of 12 in his first year as a starter (21-16 season record). He had a big upset over #2 Lavallee in the 1st round and also beat #10 Scheidel.
165 – McClure (So) <Fulton, MO> or Mazzara (Fr) <Bishop Gorman, NV)
Josh McClure won the starting job from Clay Lautt by the end of the season and went 8-9 (not qualifying for the NCAA tournament). Lautt was 4-15. Incoming freshman Joey Mazzara (a Nevada state champion and 7th place finisher at Super 32 @170) is listed at 165 on UNC’s roster.
174 – Kane (So) <Cambridge, GA>
Devin Kane returns from a busy redshirt season where he went 24-10. He takes over for 1-time AA and 4-time qualifier Ethan Ramos (2-2 in 2018, 1-2 in 2017, 0-2 in 2016, 6th place @165 in 2015). Incoming freshman Ryan Karoly <Malvern Prep, PA> is listed @174 and could be a factor here or @184 if Chip Ness moves up to 197 (Ness is still listed @184).
184 – Ness (Sr) <Buford, GA>
Chip Ness returns for his final year at UNC. He finished 7th at the tournament last year (unseeded) and had a 20-12 season record. Ness also qualified for the tournament in 2016, going 1-2 @197.
197 – Whitman (Fr) <Dundee, MI>
Brandon Whitman is another of UNC’s incoming freshman looking to be in the starting lineup. Whitman is a 4-time Michigan state wrestling champion (2 @171, @189 and @215). Interesting tidbits; he moved up to heavyweight and beat nationally ranked Austin Emerson twice and two of Whitman’s three high school loses were to Logan Massa when he was a freshman. Whitman will be taking over for Daniel Chaid who went 22-12 last season and 1-2 at the tournament. Chaid also qualified in 2017, making it to the round of 12.
Heavyweight - Daniel (Sr) <River Hill, MD>
Corey Daniel returns for his final season at UNC. Last year he went 23-9 on the season and 0-2 at the tournament. He also qualified in 2017, going 0-2.
The Tar Heels return 1 AA (Ness) and 4 other qualifiers and lose 1 AA (Heilmann) and 2 other qualifiers. They have some good wrestlers coming in for their departing AA and qualifiers so UNC may be able to meet or exceed their 20th place/27 point performance from last season.
