CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Little Rock wrestling dropped a tough dual to #22 North Carolina on Sunday afternoon, 37-6, despite
Tyler Brennan adding another pin to his resume, his sixth of the season.
The Frisco, Texas native controlled the pace of the bout to hold his opponent scoreless going into the second period. Once UNC chose bottom, Brennan locked him up, putting the other wrestler in a position he couldn't escape from before tiring him out for the fall at 4:02.
"Tyler decided to go out and attack and find a way to win," said head coach
Neil Erisman. "It got really tough, but he wrestled where he's good, eliminated any struggles, and found success. He's just got to continue to believe it."
As for the match overall, Coach Erisman added, "To be successful, you have to go out to attack someone. We've gone out to piece matches together instead of going out and attacking someone for seven minutes. Until we do that, we'll continue to have hit or miss results."
Triston Wills nearly earned his second ranked win of the weekend, conceding a 4-3 decision to #16 Lautt at the end of the third period. Wills had the momentum for most of the match, hitting a double leg takedown halfway through the first period for the lead. UNC had an escape per period headed into the final two minutes to tie it up, while the redshirt sophomore held just over a minute of riding time. In the last few seconds, the North Carolina wrestler was able to finish his shot and deplete riding time for the decision.
Josiah Hill and
Conner Ward also held their opponents to decisions. Despite collecting the first takedown, Hill was unable to earn his escape starting from bottom, running out of time to finish his shot and the end of the third period. Meanwhile, Ward's defense held the seventh-ranked wrestler in the country to just an 8-2 decision.
The Trojans will return home to the Jack Stephens Center next weekend, as Little Rock's five straight matches on the road comes to an end. Get ready for a day full of wrestling, as on Sunday, Jan. 30 beginning at 10 a.m., Little Rock hosts Northern Illinois and Pac-12 conference opponents Cal Poly for a tri-dual.
RESULTS vs. #22 North Carolina
125: Spencer Moore (UNC) MD
Jayden Carson, 11-2
133: Joe Heilmann (UNC) MD
Jaylen Carson, 13-3
141: #7 Kizhan Clarke (UNC) DEC
Conner Ward, 8-2
149: #20 Zach Sherman (UNC) MD
Joseph Bianchi, 14-2
157: #6 Austin O'Connor (UNC) TF
Austin Keal, 24-9 (7:00)
165:
Tyler Brennan F Sonny Santiago (UNC), 4:02
174: #16 Clay Lautt (UNC) DEC
Triston Wills, 4-3
184: #24 Gavin Kane (UNC) F
Brayden Dillow, 5:53
197: #28 Max Shaw (UNC) TF
Brooks Sacharczyk, 20-5 (3:58)
285: Brandon Whitman (UNC) DEC
Josiah Hill, 5-2
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