March 14, 2007

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina senior wrestlers Spencer Nadolsky and Evan Sola will look to cap their careers with strong showings at this week's 2007 NCAA Wrestling Championships, which open Thursday in Auburn Hills, Mich. Sola is in search of his third All-America honor, while Nadolsky looks for his first top-eight finish after falling one win short a year ago.

Sola, who is 14-3 on the season, is coming off his third career Atlantic Coast Conference title, while Nadolsky, who owns a 23-8 record, posted his second straight runner-up finish and earned one of the league's four at-large berths to nationals.

Both Tar Heels will open competition in Thursday morning's first round. The 10th-seeded Sola will face Navy's Joe Baker, while Nadolsky, seeded 11th, will square off against Dustin Rogers of West Virginia. The tournament continues with quarterfinals and semifinals Friday and finals set for Saturday night.

Spencer Nadolsky
Senior • Heavyweight
Holland, Mich.
2007: 23-8
Career: 106-39

• Seeded 11th in the heavyweight bracket. Will open with Dustin Rogers of West Virginia in Thursday's second round.

• Making his second NCAA appearance after going 3-2 a year ago and finishing one win shy of All-America honors.

• Was the ACC runner-up at heavyweight to earn all-conference honors for the second straight season.

• Owns a 23-8 record on the year with three pins, one technical fall and two major decisions. All eight of his losses came against ranked opponents and seven came against wrestlers in the field this weekend.

• Placed first at the Michigan State Open, second at the Southern Scuffle and third at the Nittany Lion Open.

Evan Sola looks for his third All-America honor this weekend.

Evan Sola
Senior • 133 pounds
Wernersville, Pa.
2007: 14-3
Career: 116-30

• Seeded 10th in the 133-pound bracket. Will open with Navy's Joe Baker in Thursday's second round.

• Making his fourth NCAA appearance after also qualifying in 2002, 2003 and 2005. Earned All-America honors with a seventh-place finish in 2003 and a sixth-place finish in 2005.

• Won his third ACC title earlier this month with a win over Virginia's Eric Albright.

• Won the award for the most falls in the least amount of time at the 2005 nationals with three pins in 6:11.

• Posted a 14-3 record this season after missing last year due to a shoulder injury. Also sat out the 2004 season with a knee injury.

• His only three losses this season came against wrestlers in the field. Opening round opponent Joe Baker was the last individual to beat Sola in a dual Jan. 20.

• Owns the fifth most career victories at UNC with 116. Needs just two more victories to move into fourth and four more to claim third on the all-time list.