North Carolina
Virginia wrestling continues losing streak with close loss to North Carolina
Virginia wrestling entered a Friday matchup — also the team’s Senior Night, held at Memorial Gymnasium — against North Carolina looking to bump itself back up to a .500 record, having fallen in its last two conference matchups. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers (7-5, 1-3 ACC), the Tar Heels (10-7, 2-2 ACC) proved to be the more prepared team as they defeated the hosts 18-16.
Virginia and North Carolina opened up their match with the 184-lbs weight class, in which Tar Heel freshman Sabino Portella won by major decision over senior Hudson Stewart. The North Carolina lead was extended to seven when one of the Tar Heels’ ranked wrestlers, junior Max Shaw, defeated graduate student Krystian Kinsey.
In the heavyweight battle, junior Ryan Catka got a win in a 4-2 decision to bring Virginia within four, but that ground was lost with the Cavaliers losing by tech fall in the 125-lbs match. Now down 12-3 just four matches in, Virginia found itself in a tough position. The Cavaliers had been pushed back early and subsequently blown out of the water in recent meets against Virginia Tech and NC State, but this time, they chose to fight back after the slow start.
Junior Marlon Yarbrough II was up next for Virginia, and he did not disappoint. Yarbrough II secured a major decision and picked up a massive bonus point. Then, junior Kyren Butler took down North Carolina sophomore Jace Palmer to cut the deficit to just two points. Things were looking up for the Cavaliers, but they did not stay that way for too long.
The 149-lbs class match was crucial since it was Virginia’s first chance to take the lead without bonus points since the day started. However, sophomore Michael Gioffre could not secure a win and was defeated in a 4-1 decision. To further the blow against the Cavaliers, sophomore Nick Sanko also lost in a close 8-5 decision in the next match. The deficit went from two to eight in the blink of an eye, and Virginia now had just two matches to make up an eight-point deficit.
While this kind of deficit was possible to come back from, the Cavaliers would need to win both remaining matches and secure bonus points in at least one. Sophomore Nick Hamilton largely did his part to aid in the comeback, narrowly grabbing a win and making the deficit five. That left graduate student Justin McCoy in need of a pin for Virginia to pull out the victory. McCoy was able to get a win, but he could not get the bonus points needed to put Virginia even with the Tar Heels. In the end, the score was 18-16 in favor of North Carolina.
After a resounding win against Duke Jan. 26 to open conference play, Virginia has now lost three consecutive ACC meets. The team’s previous two matches ended in defeats to the No. 13 Hokies and No. 8 Wolfpack by a combined score of 65-12, and while this one was closer, the Cavaliers will be disappointed to have suffered yet another home loss.
Even though Virginia was not able to get a win on Senior Night, they constantly competed, even when down, and never called it quits. They had multiple wrestlers battling injuries, yet still split the overall matches 5-5.
“The way you compete matters. That pillar of our program, to compete in such a way, that means something,” Coach Steve Garland said.
While the box-score performance of this Cavaliers team has not been ideal in the last few weeks, they are certainly proving to be gritty and a team that not many will want to face in postseason play. The Cavaliers close out ACC competition Friday when they face off against Pittsburgh. The dual will start at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ACCNX.
The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
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Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
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Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
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