Jan. 20, 2009
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -
After spending over two months competing away from home and training throughout the semester break, the North Carolina wrestling team will return to action in the Triangle this week with three duals, beginning Wednesday at Duke at 7 p.m. at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Following the meeting with the Blue Devils, Carolina will host Virginia Friday at 7 p.m. at Fetzer Gymnasium on the UNC campus and will meet Navy at 1 p.m. Saturday at East Wake High School in Wendell. The Tar Heels' normal home venue, Carmichael Auditorium, is undergoing an extensive renovation.
One point towards the Carlyle Cup, the all-sports competition between Carolina and Duke, will be on the line Wednesday. The Tar Heels (7-6, 1-0 ACC) hold a 5.5-2.5 lead in the 2008-09 competition.
UNC has won 33 of its last 34 meetings with the Blue Devils (5-1, 1-0 ACC) but first place in the early league standings will be on the line Wednesday.
Carolina is paced by a trio of nationally-ranked wrestlers in No. 16 Keegan Mueller at 165 pounds, No. 17 Dennis Drury at 197 and No. 18 Nick Stabile at 149. The Blue Devils are led by No. 5-ranked heavyweight Konrad Dudziak.
The Tar Heels have won three straight duals and five of their last six following a loss to No. 11 Oklahoma at the Lone Star Duals. Last time out, Carolina swept Gardner-Webb and Davidson while resting much of its normal starting lineup in preparation for the stretch run of dual matches.
Mueller leads the Tar Heels with a 23-6 record and has captured four straight bouts. He won his last two against American and Maryland by a 27-0 margin. Stabile is 19-8 at 149 with seven losses against ranked opponents, while Drury is 19-6 at 197 with wins in 11 of his last 13 bouts.
Normal starters
Mike Rappo (18-8 at 133),
Vincent Ramirez (22-6 at 141),
Thomas Scotton (15-8 at 157) and
Justin Dobies (19-7 at heavyweight) have also posted 15 or more wins on the season for UNC.
Following the Duke match, Carolina opens a stretch of six straight home duals kicked off by the meetings with Virginia (7-7) and Navy (5-5). The Tar Heels will also host Virginia Tech, NC State, Ohio and Nebraska over this run.
