Nov. 6, 2009

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - With four returning NCAA qualifiers leading the way, the University of North Carolina and head coach C.D. Mock have high hopes entering the 2009-10 wrestling season. The Tar Heels open their season Sunday at the Hokie Open in Blacksburg, Va., before kicking off the home slate Sunday, Nov. 15 at Eddie Smith Field House with the ACC Challenge.

125 Pounds
At 125 pounds, the Tar Heels have a number of options for the starting spot, including returning starter Nick Shields, who was 9-19 a year ago and went 3-2 in ACC dual action. Also in the mix are redshirt freshman Ian McLaughlin and true freshman Brian Bokoski (Minooka, Ill.). McLaughlin did not see any action a year ago but was a 2008 prep national champion at 119 pounds.

133 Pounds
Led by senior Jeremy Shaw, Carolina also has a number of options at 133 pounds with 2009 NCAA qualifier Mike Rappo making the move up to 141. Shaw, who owns a 23-17 career record and posted a 10-5 mark a year ago, has starting experience. Redshirt freshman Ky Corley and freshman Rocco Wellek (Fairview, Pa.) also have a chance to see starting action. Corley went 3-2 in unattached action last season, while Wellek was a two-time state medalist in Pennsylvania. Junior Jason DeLuca, who owns a 12-5 career mark, may also see action at 133.

141 Pounds
Juniors Mike Rappo and Danny Lopes give UNC a pair of talented options at 141 pounds. Rappo, who was an NCAA qualifier at 133 a year ago and is ranked 20th nationally in the preseason by Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine, went 24-10, including an 8-2 record in dual action. He earned All-ACC honors with a runner-up finish at the conference championships. Lopes, who redshirted last season, was the Tar Heels' starter at 133 in 2008 and posted a 16-14 record. Redshirt freshmen Daniel Helena and Jake Vonderbruegge, as well as sophomore Chris Woltz, add depth at 141.

149 Pounds
Junior Nick Stabile, who is ranked 15th nationally in the preseason by Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine, returns as Carolina's starter at 149 pounds this season after earning a trip to nationals a year ago. He logged a 27-9 record in 2008-09 and sports a 46-19 career mark as a two-year starter. Stabile entered the NCAA Championships ranked No. 15 nationally and claimed all-conference honors with a runner-up finish at ACCs. Redshirt freshman Tyler St. Louis, who 7-7 in unattached action a year ago, and freshmen Davis DeLillo (Raleigh, N.C.) and Frank Pettineo (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) will also compete at 149.

157 Pounds
Junior Thomas Scotton and sophomore Thomas Ferguson are a talented 157-pound duo for the Tar Heels. Scotton, who is ranked 19th nationally in the preseason by Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine, posted a 23-15 record last season and earned a wild card berth to nationals, where he went a team-best 2-2. He gained valuable experience against a challenging slate, as nine of his 15 losses came against top-10 opponents. After a redshirt year in 2007-08, Ferguson was 14-7 last season with a 4-3 record in dual action. Junior Keenan Duffie, who was 3-2 a year ago, and sophomore transfer Chris Canty could also see action at 157.

165 Pounds
Faced with replacing ACC champion and NCAA qualifier Keegan Mueller, Carolina will turn to the combo of sophomore Kyle Kiss and senior Ben Fiacco at 165 pounds. Kiss, who went 8-5 unattached as a redshirt last season, was 18-15 as a true freshman starter at 174 in 2007-08. Fiacco has been a versatile performer for UNC over the last three seasons, earning starting experience at both 157 and 174. He owns a 41-36 career mark and was 15-15 a year ago. Sophomore transfer Carter Lorant adds depth at 165.

174 Pounds
Coming off a redshirt season, sophomore Nick Tenpenny is slated to start 174 pounds for the Tar Heels. Tenpenny went 17-4 unattached a year ago and earned All-America honors in the offseason with a fifth-place finish at University Men's Freestyle Nationals. He went 14-15 as Carolina's starter at 184 pounds as a true freshman in 2007-08. Freshman Mike Harvey (Norristown, Pa.) will also compete at 174.

184 Pounds
Senior Kevin Owen gives UNC a veteran presence at 184 pounds. A part-time starter at 174 and 184 a year ago, Owen posted an 8-10 record and sports a 27-30 career mark. Freshman Andrew Phillips (North Lawrence, Ohio) may also see time at 184.

197 Pounds
Senior Dennis Drury, who is ranked 12th nationally in the preseason by Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine, returns for his fourth year as Carolina's 197-pound starter. He had his finest season a year ago, going 27-10 and punching his first ticket to the NCAA Championships. An All-ACC honoree in 2008, Drury was ranked 19th at 197 entering nationals last season. He owns a 61-32 career mark with 11 career pins. Freshman Zac Bennett (Johnstown, Pa.) may also see time at 197.

Heavyweight
Redshirt freshman Ziad Haddad is slated to start at heavyweight, replacing ACC champion and NCAA qualifier Justin Dobies, who finished with 109 career victories. Haddad, who was a senior national champion in 2008, went 9-7 wrestling unattached last season with three pins. Junior Andrew Cekuta, who wrestled at 184 and 197 last season, will move up to heavyweight to add depth. He went 4-8 a year ago.