Feb. 7, 2008

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - For the first time since the 1973-74 season, North Carolina and NC State will meet just once in wrestling action this season with that match scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Reynolds Coliseum.

The Tar Heels bring a 7-5 overall record and a 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference mark into the contest, while the Wolfpack is 8-7-1 overall and 1-1 in the ACC. A webcast of the match will be carried live and on-demand at ACCSelect.com.

The rivals split their two meetings last season, but Carolina has lost just once in its last five matches against State. The Tar Heels are led by nationally-ranked juniors Keegan Mueller and Justin Dobies, who are No. 13 and No. 19 in their respective weight classes. At 165, Mueller is 22-3, 12-0 in duals and carries a 16-match winning streak into his match-up with Jalil Dozier Friday.

Dobies is 22-6 at heavyweight and saw a 10-match winning streak against Penn last weekend. He is unbeaten in ACC action and will face off against State's Bobby Isola.

After a pair of wins last weekend, freshman Nick Stabile is 18-4 at 141 and will face sixth-ranked Joe Caramanica, who is 25-4 for the Pack, in a highly-anticipated bout. NC State also features No. 9-ranked Darrion Caldwell, who is 25-3 at 149.

After wrapping up its regular season ACC action Friday, Carolina will travel to Ohio University and Pittsburgh next weekend.