March 24, 2005

Final Wrestling Release in PDF Format

GREENSBORO, NC - The 2004-05 ACC Wrestling post season honors were announced today as voted on by the league's six head coaches. The University of North Carolina won a pair of awards as Evan Sola was named Wrestler of the Year and C. D. Mock was tabbed Coach of the Year. NC State's Kody Hamrah was selected as the league's first Freshman of the Year honoree.

North Carolina's Evan Sola was honored as the ACC Wrestler of the Year becoming just the second wrestler in ACC history to win this award twice joining NC State's Sylvester Terkay, who won in 1991, 1992 and 1993. The junior grappler finished the season with a sixth place finish at 133 pounds at the NCAA Championships earning All-America accolades for the second time in three seasons. Sola, a native of Wernersville, Pa., concluded the season with a record of 36-6 overall, 15-0 in dual match action and 6-0 in ACC play registering 13 pins, three major decisions and one technical fall. The 36 wins tied him for tenth on the Tar Heel single season list, while his 13 falls tied him for sixth. Prior to nationals, Sola was named ACC Wrestler of the Week twice in 2005 and was crowned the league's Most Valuable Wrestler at the conference championship. Sola captured the individual league title at 133 pounds and led the Tar Heels to their sixth team title in the last ten seasons.

The Wolfpack's Kody Hamrah was selected as the Freshman of the Year. Hamrah finished his freshman campaign winning ten of his last 11 matches, while compiling an overall record of 17-10, 14-5 in dual matches and a perfect 6-0 ledger during the conference regular season. The Middlesex, N.J. native finished second at the ACC Championship at 157 pounds in guiding NC State to a third place finish with 56.5 points. His strong performance at the league championship earned him All-ACC accolades.

In just his second season as head coach of the Tar Heel wrestling program, C. D. Mock was honored as the ACC Coach of the Year. Under the tutelage of Mock, North Carolina claimed the ACC Championship and finished in 24th place with 23 points at the 2005 NCAA Wrestling Championships, the Tar Heels' best finish at nationals since 1997. At the conference tournament, North Carolina captured four individual titles at 125 pounds, 133 pounds, 165 pounds and 197 pounds to lead all schools. In all, five Tar Heel athletes garnered All-ACC honors, while five participated at the NCAA Championships tying league highs in both categories this season.