Feb. 19, 2009
NEWBERRY, S.C. -
North Carolina's Vincent Ramirez, Nick Stabile and Thomas Scotton each won twice Thursday as the Tar Heels split their final two duals of the season at Newberry College's Eleazer Arena. With several backups in the lineup, Carolina (13-9) posted a 43-0 win over Anderson University before suffering a 24-14 setback to Newberry, the nation's No. 2-ranked Division II squad.
With a grueling duel slate - which included nine matches since Jan. 17 - under their belts and the Atlantic Coast Conference and NCAA championships quickly approaching, the Tar Heels rested at least four of their 10 normal starters in Thursday's final two duals.
In addition to the pair of wins from Ramirez at 141 pounds, Stabile at 149 and Scotton at 157, Carolina senior heavyweight Justin Dobies moved into a tie for ninth on the Tar Heels' career victory list with a pin in the win over Anderson for his 107th career victory.
In the win over Anderson, pins from Dobies and Mike Robinson led the way for the Tar Heels. Following an injury default at 125, Robinson earned his first victory of the season with a first-period pin of William Agerton in 2:06. Dobies closed the match with a pin of John Adams in 6:33 for his third pin of the year and his 14th straight victory.
After Robinson's pin gave Carolina a 12-point lead, the 18th-ranked Ramirez, the 14th-ranked Stabile and Scotton reeled off three straight decisions for a 21-0 advantage.
Wrestling at 165, Thomas Ferguson scored a 17-4 major decision over Trevor Stanford to push UNC's lead to 25-0. Kevin Owen and Robert McCarthy followed with decisions before a forfeit at 197 and Dobies' pin gave the Tar Heels their 43-0 victory.
Against Newberry, Carolina rallied from a 7-0 deficit with four straight wins, including majors from Ramirez at 141 (13-3 over Tony Washington) and Scotton at 157 (14-2 over Sean Byrnes), to grab a 14-7 lead. Over this stretch, Stabile recorded a 2-0 decision over Latra Collick, and No. 17
Keegan Mueller picked up his 30th win with a 3-0 decision over Brandon Kelly at 165.
With the two wins on the night, Ramirez improved to 29-7, Stabile moved to 26-8 and Scotton pushed his record to 21-11.
Mueller's victory was the final one of the evening for UNC, as Newberry closed with four straight victories, including a pin and two major decisions for the final 24-14 margin.
Carolina returns to action Saturday, March 7 at the 2009 ACC Championships in Blacksburg, Va.
North Carolina 43, Anderson 0
Weight - Result (Team Score)
125 - Nick Shields (UNC) wins via injury default Carlton Hamilton (AU), 6:12 (UNC 6-0)
133 - Mike Robinson (UNC) pins William Agerton (AU), 2:06 (UNC 12-0)
141 - #18 Vincent Ramirez (UNC) dec. Ronald Lofton (AU), 9-2 (UNC 15-0)
149 - #14 Nick Stabile (UNC) dec. Nick DiCarlo (AU), 5-2 (UNC 18-0)
157 - Thomas Scotton (UNC) dec. Jonathan Jackson (AU), 6-2 (UNC 21-0)
165 - Thomas Ferguson (UNC) major dec. Trevor Sanford (AU), 17-4 (UNC 25-0)
174 - Kevin Owen (UNC) decision John Hamrick (AU), 13-6 (UNC 28-0)
184 - Robert McCarthy (UNC) dec. Luis Audelo (AU), 9-5 (UNC 31-0)
197 - Andrew Cekuta (UNC) wins via forfeit (UNC 37-0)
HWT - Justin Dobies (UNC) pins John Adams (AU), 6:33 (UNC 43-0)
Newberry 24, North Carolina 14
Weight - Result (Team Score)
125 - Matt Oliver (NC) dec. Nick Shields (UNC), 3-1 (NC 3-0)
133 - Sheridan Moran (NC) major dec. Mike Robinson (UNC), 10-0 (NC 7-0)
141 - #18 Vincent Ramirez (UNC) major dec. Tony Washington (NC), 13-3 (NC 7-4)
149 - #14 Nick Stabile (UNC) dec. Latra Collick (NC), 2-0 (TIED 7-7)
157 - Thomas Scotton (UNC) major dec. Sean Byrnes (NC), 14-2 (UNC 11-7)
165 - #17 Keegan Mueller (UNC) dec. Brandon Kelly (NC), 3-0 (UNC 14-7)
174 - Josh Whitelock (NC) pins Kevin Owen (UNC), 5:54 (UNC 14-13)
184 - Bryant Blanton (NC) major dec. Robert McCarthy (UNC), 8-0 (NC 17-14)
197 - Keeno Griffin (NC) major dec. Andrew Cekuta (UNC), 16-4 (NC 21-14)
HWT - Cy Wainwright (NC) dec. Justin Dobies (UNC), 4-2 (NC 24-14)
