The University of North Carolina wrestling team opened its season Saturday, November 18, with a second-place showing at the Cornell Invitational in Ithaca, N.Y. Carolina, with 121 points, finished behind host Cornell who won the event with 135 points.

Brad Byers (133 lbs.), JohnMark Bentley (149 lbs.), Nick Richmond (184 lbs.) and Matt Kenny (Hwt.) each won individual titles in their respective weight classes as the Tar Heels wrestled for the first time this season against outside competition.

Carolina dominated the heavyweight class as Kenny and Ryan Adams worked their way through the field to meet in the finals. Kenny, the 2000 ACC champion at heavyweight, won the match by medical forfeit.

Byers defeated Drexel's Joe Cristaldi in the final match at 133 lbs. after posting wins over Cornell's Byron Warner and Drexel's Bill Heaverly in his first two matches.

Bentley, a senior who returns to the Tar Heels after redshirting last season, won the 149 lbs. division by defeating Cornell's Gabe Webster 5-0 in the final. Bentley beat Ithaca's J.P. Bollette and Army's Paul Wallace by pin and Cornell's Andy Breiner by a 16-6 decision en route to the final.

In the 184 lbs. weight class, Richmond defeated Army's Graig Cooper in the final by a 5-1 decision. Richmond scored a pin over Army's Justin Gorkowski and beat Cornell's Chris Gafner 6-4 to reach the final match.

Also finishing with a strong showing for the Tar Heels was Corey Bell. Bell made it to the finals of the 174 lbs. division before falling to Army's Maurice Worthy by a 3-1 decision.

In other finishes of note, Chris Collins took fourth place at 125 lbs., Mark Canty took fourth place at 174 lbs., Johnny Rich took fifth place at 197 lbs. and Michael Booth captured sixth place in the 141 lbs. weight class.

Carolina returns to action on Saturday, November 25, hosting the VerticalNet Open at Carmichael Auditorium in Chapel Hill.