No. 5 Joey Ward, No. 7 Ethan Ramos, Troy Heilmann and Cory Daniel each won all three of their matches on the day to lead Carolina ahead of its ACC opener Sunday vs. Virginia Tech.
The Tar Heels led wire to wire in the opening dual against Army West Point. After a pair of high-scoring decisions from James Szymanski and Nicholas Lirette, Ward avenged one of his two losses on the year with a 5-2 victory over No. 15 Logan Everett. Heilmann then added a 14-2 major decision at 149 pounds, and UNC rolled to a 25-6 win.
The Wyoming dual featured the most anticipated match of the day as Ward met 2016 NCAA finalist Bryce Meredith. Ward built a lead through two periods only to have No. 8 Meredith rally to force overtime. Entering extra time tied at 6-6, Ward came up with a takedown in the sudden victory period to score another top-10 win.
Heilmann and Joey Moon added ranked wins of their own at the next two weights - Heilmann beat No. 11 Cole Mendenhall 9-5 before Moon topped No. 12 Archie Colgan 7-2. Ramos added the lone bonus point win of the dual for UNC with a 13-5 major over Kyle Pope at 174.
Again it was Ward who helped Carolina rally from an early deficit in the nightcap against AU. After the hosts took a 7-0 lead, Ward's 12-0 major over Jack Mutchnik pulled UNC within three and improved Ward to 17-2 on the season.
Wins by Heilmann and Moon put the Tar Heels in front before Devin Kane made his dual debut in impressive fashion. The true freshman scored a 9-1 major over Michael Eckhart before Ramos' first-period pin. The six-pointer, Ramos' fourth of the year, came in just 1:14 and pushed his record to 12-4.
Daniel closed out the competition with a 2-1 win over Brett Dempsey at 285. The redshirt sophomore improved to 15-6 on the year with his three wins Friday.
Carolina turns its attention to ACC foe Virginia Tech Sunday evening at 6:30 at Carmichael Arena. Admission for all fans is free.
North Carolina 25, Army West Point 6
125: James Szymanski (UNC) dec. Trey Chalifoux (ARMY), 12-9 - UNC leads 3-0
133: Nicholas Lirette (UNC) dec. Austin Harry (ARMY), 10-9 - UNC leads 6-0
141: #5 Joey Ward (UNC) dec. #15 Logan Everett (ARMY), 5-2 - UNC leads 9-0
149: Troy Heilmann (UNC) maj. dec. Matthew Kelly (ARMY), 14-2 - UNC leads 13-0
157: #18 Russell Parsons (ARMY) dec. Joey Moon (UNC), 6-2 - UNC leads 13-3
165: Jack Clark (UNC) dec. Andrew Mendel (ARMY), 4-2 - UNC leads 16-3
174: #7 Ethan Ramos (UNC) dec. Ben Harvey (ARMY), 5-3 - UNC leads 19-3
184: Samson Imonode (ARMY) dec. Elijah Kerr-Brown (UNC), 4-1 - UNC leads 19-6
197: Daniel Chaid (UNC) dec. Rocco Caywood (ARMY), 7-5 - UNC leads 22-6
285: Cory Daniel (UNC) dec. Trevor Smith (ARMY), 5-3 - UNC wins 25-6
North Carolina 25, Wyoming 7
125: Drew Templeman (WYO) tech fall James Szymanski (UNC), 17-0 (3:38) - WYO leads 5-0
133: Nicholas Lirette (UNC) dec. Gunnar Woodburn (UNC), 3-1 - WYO leads 4-3*
141: #5 Joey Ward (UNC) dec. #8 Bryce Meredith (WYO), 8-6 (SV-1) - UNC leads 6-4
149: Troy Heilmann (UNC) dec. #11 Cole Mendenhall (WYO), 9-5 - UNC leads 9-4
157: Joey Moon (UNC) dec. #12 Archie Colgan (WYO), 7-2 - UNC leads 12-4
165: #16 Branson Ashworth (WYO) dec. Jack Clark (UNC), 3-0 - UNC leads 12-7
174: #7 Ethan Ramos (UNC) maj. dec. Kyle Pope (WYO), 13-5 - UNC leads 16-7
184: Elijah Kerr-Brown (UNC) dec. Chaz Polson (WYO), 4-3 - UNC leads 19-7
197: Daniel Chaid (UNC) dec. Luke Paine (WYO), 7-3 - UNC leads 22-7
285: Cory Daniel (UNC) dec. Sam Eagan (WYO), 5-3 - UNC wins 25-7
*Wyoming deducted one team point
North Carolina 26, American 10
125: #17 Josh Terao (AU) dec. Tyrone Klump (UNC), 6-4 - AU leads 3-0
133: Esteban Gomez-Rivera (AU) maj. dec. Nicholas Lirette (UNC), 12-4 - AU leads 7-0
141: #5 Joey Ward (UNC) maj. dec. Jack Mutchnik (AU), 12-0 - AU leads 7-4
149: Troy Heilmann (UNC) dec. Michael Sprague (AU), 4-3 - Tied 7-7
157: Joey Moon (UNC) dec. Cole Moseley (AU), 8-3 - UNC leads 10-7
165: Devin Kane (UNC) maj. dec. Michael Eckhart (AU), 9-1 - UNC leads 14-7
174: #7 Ethan Ramos (UNC) pinned Nicholas Carey (AU), 1:14 - UNC leads 20-7
184: Elijah Kerr-Brown (UNC) dec. Jason Grimes (AU), 4-3 - UNC leads 23-7
197: Jeric Kasunic (AU) dec. Daniel Chaid (UNC), 21-16 - UNC leads 23-10
285: Cory Daniel (UNC) Dec. Brett Dempsey (AU), 2-1 - UNC leads 26-10
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