March 19, 2002

Five members of the UNC wrestling team will represent the Tar Heels at the 2002 NCAA Wrestling Tournament on March 21-23 in Albany, N.Y. Seniors Matt Kenny and Brad Byers will by joined by three freshmen, Chris Rodrigues, Evan Sola and Mark Canty for Carolina.

Kenny, from Great Meadows, N.J., is making his fourth trip to Nationals in the heavyweight division. He won his fourth straight ACC title this year and finished the 2001-02 regular season with a 21-7 overall record including five wins by pinfall and seven by major decision. Kenny was also 13-1 in dual-meet competition. He will face Matt Feast from UPenn in the first round.

Byers, from Hudson, Ohio, finished his senior campaign 29-12 at 141 pounds and won nine matches by major decision. This is Byers third time as an NCAA qualifier. Byers will face Mike Maney of Lock Haven in his first match.

Sola wrestled for UNC coach Bill Lam at 133 pounds this season and compiled a 25-9 record including six wins by major decision and three by pinfall. Sola, from Wernersville, Pa., also won an impressive 15 of his final 16 matches in dual-meet season and took second place at the ACC Tournament. Sola will wrestle Michigan's Foley Dowd in his first round matchup.

Rodrigues, from Marietta, Ga., had a 28-11 overall mark, 15-6 in dual meets, this season and won eight matches by pin. He also earned a second-place showing at the ACC Tournament. Rodrigues will face Shawn Bunch of Edinboro in the Tournament's first round.

Canty, from Gahanna, Ohio, took second place at the ACC Tournament and was 16-12 for the season. He'll see Otto Olson of Michigan in the first round.