March 16, 2007

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Two-time All-America and three-time ACC champion Evan Sola saw his North Carolina career come to an end Friday with a loss to Iowa's Mario Galanakis at the 2007 NCAA Wrestling Championships at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Sola is one of the most decorated wrestlers in Tar Heel history and ends his career among the program's all-time leaders in career victories and pins.

After going 1-1 on the opening day Thursday, the 133-pound Sola suffered a 6-1 loss to Galanakis in Friday morning's session. Galanakis picked up five points on a takedown and a near fall late in the second period to earn the win.

The Wernersville, Pa., native finishes his final campaign with a 15-5 record and is tied for fourth all-time at UNC with a 117 wins and is ninth with 27 pins. Sola earned All-America honors in 2003 and 2005 and came back for a sixth season in 2007 after missing most of last year with a shoulder injury. The sixth-year senior also sat out the 2003-04 season with a knee injury, but battled back to earn a sixth-place finish at nationals the next year.

2007 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS
Evan Sola, 133 pounds
First Round: Joe Baker (Navy) dec. Sola, 5-1
Cons. Round Two: Sola pins Ricky Donald (Bloomsburg), 2:48
Cons. Round Three: Mario Galanakis (Iowa) dec. Sola, 6-B1