March 7, 2002

The UNC wrestling team will compete in the 2002 ACC Tournament this Saturday at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh. The Tar Heels, who tied with NC State for the 2002 regular season title, will be looking for their ninth conference title in the last 11 years.

Carolina is led by seniors Brad Byers (141 pounds) and Matt Kenny (heavyweight). Kenny is a three-time defending ACC champion at heavyweight and finished this season with a 19-7 record including five pins and six major decisions. Byers is a two-time ACC Tournament finalist and completed the 2002 regular season with a 27-11 record and recorded eight wins by major decision.

Freshmen Chris Rodrigues and Evan Sola have also wrestled impressively for UNC coach Bill Lam this season. Rodrigues (125 pounds) finished the year at 27-10 and totaled 10 wins by pinfall. Sola (133 pounds) completed the regular season by winning 14 straight matches to improve to 24-8 for the year. Both Rodrigues and Sola earned ACC Performer of the Week honors earlier this season.

Other Tar Heels competing include Nick Richmond (184 pounds) who was 17-12 this year, Michael Booth (149 pounds) who tallied an 11-6 record in 2002, Chris DiGuiseppe (165 pounds) who finished 13-12, and Mark Canty (174 pounds) who was 15-11 this season.

Action gets underway Saturday at 11 a.m. with the consolation finals at 4:30 p.m. and finals starting a 7 p.m.