November 19, 1998

Chapel Hill, N.C. - The University of North Carolina wrestling team will open its 1998-99 season Saturday at the East Stroudsburg Open in East Stroudsburg, Pa. The all-day event is an open tournament that features wrestlers from over 30 colleges and universities.

"This will be a good test for us," Tar Heel head coach Bill Lam says. "It's an open tournament, so several of our young guys will be able to wrestle against outside competition for the first time."

Junior Chuckie Connor and three other returning NCAA qualifiers will lead Carolina into the 1998-99 season. Connor was named the 1998 Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestler of the Year after posting a 36-4 record with 15 wins by fall last year and winning his second consecutive ACC title. Other returning ACC champions include sophomores Corey Bell (184 lbs.) and JohnMark Bentley (149 lbs.). Junior Jamie Groudle (174 lbs.) also qualified for the NCAA Tournament last year.

The Tar Heel lineup will likely feature at least five new starters this season. Connor is ranked fifth in the nation at 125 lbs. in the latest Amateur Wrestling News NCAA Division I rankings, while Bentley is ranked eighth at 149 lbs and Bell is ranked 20th at 184 lbs.