Virginia Hosts No. 24 North Carolina Friday Night
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia wrestling team (3-3, 0-1 ACC) returns to home action on Friday night (Jan. 28), hosting No. 24 North Carolina (6-4, 1-0 ACC) in a 7 p.m. dual at Memorial Gym. Admission to all home Virginia wrestling duals is free to the public.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
The dual will be broadcast on ACC Network as part of the Friday Night Duals package and is also available for stream on ACCNX through the ESPN app and WatchESPN.com for those who have the ACC Network as part of their television package. Live stats will also be provided and links to the live stats and stream are at VirginiaSports.com. Fans can also get updates by following the program’s official Twitter account (@UVAWrestling).
COVID-19 POLICIES
Masks are required at all times for all in attendance at Virginia wrestling home duals at Memorial Gym. In accordance with University policies announced on January 14, there is a temporary prohibition on food and beverages at university sponsored events that includes wrestling duals at Memorial Gym. This policy, which will be in effect from Jan. 17 to Feb. 4 will impact the home games during this time period.
VIRGINIA PROBABLES
125: Patrick McCormick (9-8)
133: No. 23 Brian Courtney (7-2)
141: Dylan Cedeno (2-2)
149: No. 29 Jarod Verkleeren (16-4)
157: No. 28 Jake Keating (8-3) OR Jon Errico (12-4) OR Denton Spencer (7-3)
165: No. 15 Justin McCoy (10-0)
174: Justin Phillips (11-3)
184: No. 22 Michael Battista (12-1)
197: No. 13 Jay Aiello (7-1)
285: No. 32 Quinn Miller (9-5)
NORTH CAROLINA PROBABLES
125: Spencer Moore (11-10)
133: No. 10 Jaime Hernandez (5-0) OR Joe Heilmann (11-3)
141: No. 7 Kizhan Clark (14-0)
149: No. 22 Zach Sherman (3-6)
157: No. 6 Austin O’Conner (9-1)
165: Sonny Santiago (7-8)
174: No. 14 Clay Lautt (6-3)
184: No. 21 Gavin Kane (9-2)
197: No. 28 Max Shaw (9-3)
285: Brandon Whitman (7-8)
THE SERIES WITH NORTH CAROLINA
Virginia and North Carolina have faced each other 80 times with the Tar Heels leading the all-time series 48-32-0. The eighth-ranked Tar Heels won the last meeting in Charlottesville with a 19-18 victory in the 2019-20 season, slipping past the Cavaliers with bonus points as each team won five weight classes. The last victory in the series for the Cavaliers came in the 2016-17 season when Virginia won 22-15 on the road.
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE CAVALIERS
Virginia opened ACC competition on the road last weekend, traveling to face No. 18 Pittsburgh in a dual that saw the Panthers pull away down the stretch for the victory. Virginia held the lead after five weight classes and the score was tied after six weights thanks to decisions from Jarod Verkleeren (149) and Michael Battista (184) and a major decision from Justin Phillips (174). The Panthers won the final five weight classes of the night to take the 25-10 dual win.
CAVALIERS IN THE INITIAL NCAA COACHES RANKINGS
The NCAA released the initial coaches rankings last weekend and Virginia had eight wrestlers ranked on that list at their weight class. Jay Aiello led the way at No. 12 at 197 pounds, while Justin McCoy was No. 15 at 165 pounds. The only weight classes not represented were 141 pounds and 174 pounds where the Cavaliers have been shuffling the lineup for most of the season.
UP NEXT FOR THE HOOS
Virginia will go back on the road next weekend, facing a nationally-ranked opponent for the third consecutive week with a dual at No. 5 NC State. The dual is set for a 7 p.m. start on Friday (Feb. 4) and will be streamed on ACCNX.