This could really go either way, Koll's squad is rising and took NCST to the brink last week.
Preview:
125: Babin v Moore
Moore has some solid wins this year over Stickenberger and Ventresca, but is definitely beatable. You may remember he went 2-1 against Macho last season. I think that this one is a real coin flip to start the dual. TOSS UP
133: Chappell? v. Oakley
Assuming that Vin is not yet back for this dual, it looks like we will see Chappell come up against Oakley. Oakley is an APP ST. transfer who went 2-2 at NCAAs last year. He is having a very good season so far and just beat Orine in SV. However, this is a match that I hope we can keep close as Oakley has a dismal 15% bonus rate this season and a 16% rate for his career. If Tyler wrestles hard and smart he can hopefully keep this from getting out of hand. UNC FAVORED
141: Santaniello v. Scott
These two have similar results against common opponents this year. Scott can be tough to score on so I could see this one coming to the top/bottom game of the two. This is another match like 125 that can go either way in this dual. TOSS UP
149: Solomon/Brown v. McNeil
Lachlan McNeil is a 2xAA at 141 who moved up to 149 this season. He is wrestling great with his only losses coming to the returning 4th, 5th, and 6th placed finishers from last year, who are/were all ranked top 3-5 in the nation. He is the favorite no matter who goes, but with the remaining matches this season and the fact Kade has one date left leads me to think he goes in either this one or Sunday against ISU, considering VT has Henson and UVA is a match better served for the postseason starter. UNC FAVORED
157: Evans v. Santiago
These two have very similar results so far this season, based on what they have done this year I think this a match that easily could go either way. Santiago was an NCAA qualifier last year who was 2-0 against Keslar. TOSS UP
First Half: 0 Pitt Favored, 3 Toss up, 2 UNC Favored
165: Keslar v. Darracott?
Fea has been the starter at 165 all year for UNC but Darracott got the start against NCST and Fea was up at 174 for an open tournament 2 weeks ago. Darracott is a talented guy, but he has wrestled five matches since 2023. I really don't know what to make of him, he had a much better performance against Fields of NCST than Keslar did but he still ended up losing. No choice but to call it a TOSS UP
174: Augustine v. Ogunsanya
Both of these guys are known to wrestle close, low-scoring matches. Ogunsanya looks solid up at 174 this year but Augustine has a real shot at taking him out in this one. Another match that's so close it is hard to preview, will probably come down to 1 or 2 sequences. TOSS UP
184: Heller v. Kane
These two vets have had similar careers at this weight class, and are 1-1 against each other all time. Heller is definitely having the better season of the two and he will look to continue that momentum. However, if Kane is on, I expect him to give Heller all he can handle. TOSS UP
197: Stout v. Lautt
While Lautt has had some solid performances this year starting at 197 for the Heels, I expect Mac to win this and win this controlled, based on Lautt's results this year and in past year at 197. Mac has not lost since late November and I think he continues that streak in this one. PITT FAVORED
285: Pitzer v. Guttridge/Neves
Both of these heavyweights for UNC are solid, but neither are on Pitzer's level and I would expect him to put up bonus against either of them. PITT FAVORED
2nd Half: 2 Pitt Favored, 3 Toss Up, 0 UNC Favored
Overall: 2 Pitt Favored, 6 Toss Up, 2 UNC Favored
This match has two mirrored halves, either team could take it with an upset or just controlling the majority of the toss ups. This team beat VT and nearly beat NCST. A win here would not only be a real statement but would keep us in contention for the ACC crown.
Preview:
125: Babin v Moore
Moore has some solid wins this year over Stickenberger and Ventresca, but is definitely beatable. You may remember he went 2-1 against Macho last season. I think that this one is a real coin flip to start the dual. TOSS UP
133: Chappell? v. Oakley
Assuming that Vin is not yet back for this dual, it looks like we will see Chappell come up against Oakley. Oakley is an APP ST. transfer who went 2-2 at NCAAs last year. He is having a very good season so far and just beat Orine in SV. However, this is a match that I hope we can keep close as Oakley has a dismal 15% bonus rate this season and a 16% rate for his career. If Tyler wrestles hard and smart he can hopefully keep this from getting out of hand. UNC FAVORED
141: Santaniello v. Scott
These two have similar results against common opponents this year. Scott can be tough to score on so I could see this one coming to the top/bottom game of the two. This is another match like 125 that can go either way in this dual. TOSS UP
149: Solomon/Brown v. McNeil
Lachlan McNeil is a 2xAA at 141 who moved up to 149 this season. He is wrestling great with his only losses coming to the returning 4th, 5th, and 6th placed finishers from last year, who are/were all ranked top 3-5 in the nation. He is the favorite no matter who goes, but with the remaining matches this season and the fact Kade has one date left leads me to think he goes in either this one or Sunday against ISU, considering VT has Henson and UVA is a match better served for the postseason starter. UNC FAVORED
157: Evans v. Santiago
These two have very similar results so far this season, based on what they have done this year I think this a match that easily could go either way. Santiago was an NCAA qualifier last year who was 2-0 against Keslar. TOSS UP
First Half: 0 Pitt Favored, 3 Toss up, 2 UNC Favored
165: Keslar v. Darracott?
Fea has been the starter at 165 all year for UNC but Darracott got the start against NCST and Fea was up at 174 for an open tournament 2 weeks ago. Darracott is a talented guy, but he has wrestled five matches since 2023. I really don't know what to make of him, he had a much better performance against Fields of NCST than Keslar did but he still ended up losing. No choice but to call it a TOSS UP
174: Augustine v. Ogunsanya
Both of these guys are known to wrestle close, low-scoring matches. Ogunsanya looks solid up at 174 this year but Augustine has a real shot at taking him out in this one. Another match that's so close it is hard to preview, will probably come down to 1 or 2 sequences. TOSS UP
184: Heller v. Kane
These two vets have had similar careers at this weight class, and are 1-1 against each other all time. Heller is definitely having the better season of the two and he will look to continue that momentum. However, if Kane is on, I expect him to give Heller all he can handle. TOSS UP
197: Stout v. Lautt
While Lautt has had some solid performances this year starting at 197 for the Heels, I expect Mac to win this and win this controlled, based on Lautt's results this year and in past year at 197. Mac has not lost since late November and I think he continues that streak in this one. PITT FAVORED
285: Pitzer v. Guttridge/Neves
Both of these heavyweights for UNC are solid, but neither are on Pitzer's level and I would expect him to put up bonus against either of them. PITT FAVORED
2nd Half: 2 Pitt Favored, 3 Toss Up, 0 UNC Favored
Overall: 2 Pitt Favored, 6 Toss Up, 2 UNC Favored
This match has two mirrored halves, either team could take it with an upset or just controlling the majority of the toss ups. This team beat VT and nearly beat NCST. A win here would not only be a real statement but would keep us in contention for the ACC crown.
