I agree, we have a lot of young guys around 141 that might could grow into 149, and I haven't given up on Askew developing, though I did hope we could get him a redshirt year to give him more time, Dailey I was hoping would be the guy we could build around for the next few years in the upper weights though. It looks like there will be some options in the portal so hopefully we can get more talent to transfer in as well
UNC Wrestling 2025-2026
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Yeah, already lots of interesting names in the portal. And I'm sure there'll be more. Definitely hate to lose Dailey, and also Scott, but I'm sure we'll have a chance to fill in any holes via the portal.
Was surprised to see Zepeda from NCSU in the portal. He was #1 in his weight class coming out of HS I believe.
Was surprised to see Zepeda from NCSU in the portal. He was #1 in his weight class coming out of HS I believe.
Looks like we got another recruit for next year, if you check the football board the lineman that committed today was a NJ HWT State Champ and said he is going to play football and wrestle for us
Some further info on the recruit I mentioned in the last post, he is ranked the #6 HWT in the country on flowrestling, so he is a pretty good addition to the room
That’s a nice pickup for sure. Did he decommit from somewhere else? Wonder why he was still sitting out there….
ETA: It looks like he was previous committed to Delaware for both football and wrestling but was let out of his commitment in late Feb.
ETA: It looks like he was previous committed to Delaware for both football and wrestling but was let out of his commitment in late Feb.
Note that Sipes put his name in the portal. A freshman 157/165 pounder, that will not really impact next year with Root and Hepner presumably returning. Also have a highly rated 165 pound freshman coming in, Navad Nafshi.
For anyone not following things from other sources, Stanford, who had an incredible tournament, has had a ton of portal entries, they are not going to be the same team next year if even some of their portal entries end up transferring. This both weakens a conference rival and is an opportunity to bring in some of those guys who Coach Koll would know from his time there. We will see if any of them end up heading our way
Took a few minutes this morning to look at the transfer portal for 125 (as I think it is still our greatest position of need). The top portal entry at this weight is Provo from Stanford. He would be a huge get, but will be highly sought by several schools. Next is McCrone from tOSU. Maybe Hepner could help us recruit here, as McCrone is considered a step away from AA in the WS rankings. The third highest option in the portal is Rivera from Wisconsin. He would likely be on par with Moore and Terukina. All of these are listed as seniors, with likely 1 year to wrestle. The 4th option is Castillo from Iowa State. He is a freshman that would likely match our recent production at this weight year 1, with the promise of improvement in coming years. Maybe Terukina still has connections that could help here.
These will be the most sought after wrestlers at this weight, barring additional significant portal entries. Any of these would be great additions to our room. Provo would obviously be the most difficult to get. Behind him I would like us to go after McCrone or Castillo.
While Dailey and Scott entering the portal leave potential holes in our lineup, I think we have better options at those weights than 125. That said, I don’t know what the coaches have seen in the room. On a side note I know the possibilities are slim, but I would still like to hope there is a way to retain Dailey.
These will be the most sought after wrestlers at this weight, barring additional significant portal entries. Any of these would be great additions to our room. Provo would obviously be the most difficult to get. Behind him I would like us to go after McCrone or Castillo.
While Dailey and Scott entering the portal leave potential holes in our lineup, I think we have better options at those weights than 125. That said, I don’t know what the coaches have seen in the room. On a side note I know the possibilities are slim, but I would still like to hope there is a way to retain Dailey.
I assume Koll recruited Provo to Stanford? I wonder if that would help with him, Knox, or any of the other Stanford transfers, or if they will just seek to max on NIL.
Also saw where Kade Brown (Pitt) is transferring to Ohio St. (He is from Ohio.)
Also saw where Kade Brown (Pitt) is transferring to Ohio St. (He is from Ohio.)
Man, Vince Robinson in the portal. Not only that, but suggesting on X that money was not the reason.
Robinson in the portal helps us in two ways, one it removes one of State's top guys and two it adds an high end 125 transfer option, even if we don't go for him that is another guy that other schools will which will theoretically make it easier to pick up one of the other top guys in the portal
A look at how the recruits finished their seasons. The tarheelwc link is not working, so I will list the championships for our recruits. Now that I am back in town, I will try to look and see how our other recruits finished at some point in the next several days.
Lukas Littleton-Mascaro - National Prep champion at 126
Dunia Sibomana - NYSPHSAA Div1 champion at 118
Kane Shawger - D1 OHSAA champion at 150
Steel Meyers - UIL 6A champion at 165
Nadav Nafshi - National Prep champion at 175
Ben Ziola - NSAA B champion at 150
Brody Kelly - IHSA 2A champion at 175
Lincoln Jipp IHSAA 3A champion at 215
Sibomana, Littleton-Mascaro, Kelly, Jipp, and I believe Nafshi will all be joining the team this summer. Nafshi is listed as a senior some places, but is listed as a 2027 recruit other places. Early in the season Jipp was listed at 175, so either he grew or he was fitting in where his team needed him. Hopefully he is able to drop to 197 in college, as this would give us 3 wrestlers at this weight. The addition of Christian Alverez to the football/wrestling team gives us a 3rd option at heavyweight.
Lukas Littleton-Mascaro - National Prep champion at 126
Dunia Sibomana - NYSPHSAA Div1 champion at 118
Kane Shawger - D1 OHSAA champion at 150
Steel Meyers - UIL 6A champion at 165
Nadav Nafshi - National Prep champion at 175
Ben Ziola - NSAA B champion at 150
Brody Kelly - IHSA 2A champion at 175
Lincoln Jipp IHSAA 3A champion at 215
Sibomana, Littleton-Mascaro, Kelly, Jipp, and I believe Nafshi will all be joining the team this summer. Nafshi is listed as a senior some places, but is listed as a 2027 recruit other places. Early in the season Jipp was listed at 175, so either he grew or he was fitting in where his team needed him. Hopefully he is able to drop to 197 in college, as this would give us 3 wrestlers at this weight. The addition of Christian Alverez to the football/wrestling team gives us a 3rd option at heavyweight.
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Another Instagram post - “ My second non-negotiable is you cannot get ridden.”
there are some interesting names in the portal, hopefully we can get involved with and land some that will make our team stronger without messing up team chemistry or costing us the development of our younger wrestlers
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Some follow up on the recruiting classes, after the Instagram post of the champions. First thing is that post did not mention the recent football/wrestling recruit, Christian Alvarez, who was a NJ state champion.
The 2026 class includes:
- Dunia Sibomana, NY champion at 120and ranked 10th at the weight by Flo
- Lukas Littleton-Mascaro, PA Malvern Prep and HM in the SI rankings
- Brody Kelly, IL champion at 175 and ranked 7th by Flo
- Ronin Gault, FL did not wrestle in final tournament this year, but was 26-4 for Lake Highland Prep
- Lincoln Jipp, IA champion at 215 and ranked 15th by Flo (note that last fall he was listed at 175)
- Christian Alvarez, NJ hwt champion and ranked 6th by Flo (Football recruit)
- Nadav Nafshi, PA National Prep champion at 175 and ranked 9th by Flo (listed as senior, but some sites list him as 2027 recruit)
The 2027 class includes:
- Brandon Bickerton, OH 2nd place finish at 113 and ranked 6th by Flo at that weight
- Austin Bickerton, OH 5th place finish at 120 and ranked 30th by SI at the weight
- Owen Clark, NY 2nd place finish at 150
- Ben Ziola, NE champion at 150 (brother is a hwt at Nebraska, and Intermat projects him 174/184)
- Kane Shawger, OH champion at 150 and ranked 20 by SI
- Steel Meyer, TX champion at 165 and HM in the SI rankings
- Mick Moylan, CA 3rd place at hwt and ranked 11 by Flo
Additional thoughts include a continued connection to Malvern Prep and Lake Highland Prep, as they routinely have good wrestlers. Note also that Matt O'Neill is currently a sophomore at Malvern Prep and ranked #5 at 144. Not sure why Nafshi is shown as a senior, but is listed in the 2027 class. I am hoping he is 2026 and can still get down to 165 for college after Hepner finishes next year. Also, as noted above, Ben Ziola may grow some late based on his brother's size. There has been no sign yet that this will happen, and Intermat also had Younger projected to be much larger than his roster weight of 149.
At 125 it looks like 3 potential wrestlers that may be able to stick at this weight, given that they are wrestling 113 and 120 as juniors and senior. 2 are currently ranked top 10 at their weight. Alvarez and Jipp will likely provide immediate depth and workout partners for 197 and hwt next year. At least 6 wrestlers are ranked top 11 at their weights.
All in all this is a good group of wrestlers to continue growth for the program. That said, hopefully none will be counted on to step in next year.
The 2026 class includes:
- Dunia Sibomana, NY champion at 120and ranked 10th at the weight by Flo
- Lukas Littleton-Mascaro, PA Malvern Prep and HM in the SI rankings
- Brody Kelly, IL champion at 175 and ranked 7th by Flo
- Ronin Gault, FL did not wrestle in final tournament this year, but was 26-4 for Lake Highland Prep
- Lincoln Jipp, IA champion at 215 and ranked 15th by Flo (note that last fall he was listed at 175)
- Christian Alvarez, NJ hwt champion and ranked 6th by Flo (Football recruit)
- Nadav Nafshi, PA National Prep champion at 175 and ranked 9th by Flo (listed as senior, but some sites list him as 2027 recruit)
The 2027 class includes:
- Brandon Bickerton, OH 2nd place finish at 113 and ranked 6th by Flo at that weight
- Austin Bickerton, OH 5th place finish at 120 and ranked 30th by SI at the weight
- Owen Clark, NY 2nd place finish at 150
- Ben Ziola, NE champion at 150 (brother is a hwt at Nebraska, and Intermat projects him 174/184)
- Kane Shawger, OH champion at 150 and ranked 20 by SI
- Steel Meyer, TX champion at 165 and HM in the SI rankings
- Mick Moylan, CA 3rd place at hwt and ranked 11 by Flo
Additional thoughts include a continued connection to Malvern Prep and Lake Highland Prep, as they routinely have good wrestlers. Note also that Matt O'Neill is currently a sophomore at Malvern Prep and ranked #5 at 144. Not sure why Nafshi is shown as a senior, but is listed in the 2027 class. I am hoping he is 2026 and can still get down to 165 for college after Hepner finishes next year. Also, as noted above, Ben Ziola may grow some late based on his brother's size. There has been no sign yet that this will happen, and Intermat also had Younger projected to be much larger than his roster weight of 149.
At 125 it looks like 3 potential wrestlers that may be able to stick at this weight, given that they are wrestling 113 and 120 as juniors and senior. 2 are currently ranked top 10 at their weight. Alvarez and Jipp will likely provide immediate depth and workout partners for 197 and hwt next year. At least 6 wrestlers are ranked top 11 at their weights.
All in all this is a good group of wrestlers to continue growth for the program. That said, hopefully none will be counted on to step in next year.
As long as he stays healthy, I have to believe McCrone will be at least equal to what we had with Moore and Terukina, with the chance that he can make AA. He is ranked #11 by WS, implying that he can make it to the blood round. He has had great competition in the practice room this past season, and should be ready to go next year.
While you could argue that we need to replace Scott and/or Dailey, we should at least have options at 149 and 184. I could see either Simcox or O’Neill bumping up to 149, along with Younger competing for this spot. At 184 I could see Ogunsanya bumping up, and if not Carrigan, Murabito, Schlett, Portella, and O’Boyle should be competing for this spot.
While you could argue that we need to replace Scott and/or Dailey, we should at least have options at 149 and 184. I could see either Simcox or O’Neill bumping up to 149, along with Younger competing for this spot. At 184 I could see Ogunsanya bumping up, and if not Carrigan, Murabito, Schlett, Portella, and O’Boyle should be competing for this spot.
Looks like we have another transfer coming in, a 184, so Dailey replacement
Another good addition. Going to be hard for the Ivies to compete in this new era I think.
This particular case is same problem that they always had: grad students can’t play varsity sports in The Ivy.
Year-end awards have been posted.
Hepner - TJ Jaworsky Most Valuable (acc champ and AA)
Simcox - Iron Ram (broken back last year to acc finals)
Oakley - Brig. General Thomas A. Gorry Most Dedicated (never < 100%)
Carrigan - Most Improved (from 25 to 26 season)
O’Neill - Joe Galli Most Falls (wouldn’t pick down - 10 falls)
Showalter - Utility Man (anything needed)
Terukina - Outstanding Newcomer (for the 25-26 season)
Three of the 7 awards are named for former wrestlers. Obviously, Jaworsky was the best based on 3 national championships. Galli has been a sucessful businessman and donor. Tommy was successful in his military career, achieving the rank of Brigadier General. Not sure if there is any criteria for who gets their name attached to awards, but there are several awards that do not honor any former wrestlers. Also not sure who would be able to reasonably suggest names to attach to awards, but maybe a discussion for another time.
For now let’s celebrate these young men and their accomplishments.
Hepner - TJ Jaworsky Most Valuable (acc champ and AA)
Simcox - Iron Ram (broken back last year to acc finals)
Oakley - Brig. General Thomas A. Gorry Most Dedicated (never < 100%)
Carrigan - Most Improved (from 25 to 26 season)
O’Neill - Joe Galli Most Falls (wouldn’t pick down - 10 falls)
Showalter - Utility Man (anything needed)
Terukina - Outstanding Newcomer (for the 25-26 season)
Three of the 7 awards are named for former wrestlers. Obviously, Jaworsky was the best based on 3 national championships. Galli has been a sucessful businessman and donor. Tommy was successful in his military career, achieving the rank of Brigadier General. Not sure if there is any criteria for who gets their name attached to awards, but there are several awards that do not honor any former wrestlers. Also not sure who would be able to reasonably suggest names to attach to awards, but maybe a discussion for another time.
For now let’s celebrate these young men and their accomplishments.
All except Oakley and Terukina who are out of eligibility.
So far the transfer portal is probably a net positive for us. Only 3 went in (Scott, Dailey, Sipes). Scott and Dailey are both potential NCAA qualifiers but are probably not AA candidates. We’ve picked up McCrone from Ohio State (to replace Terukina) and Hansen from Cornell (to replace Dailey). Both of those guys are AA candidates (especially McCrone). IMO.
So far the transfer portal is probably a net positive for us. Only 3 went in (Scott, Dailey, Sipes). Scott and Dailey are both potential NCAA qualifiers but are probably not AA candidates. We’ve picked up McCrone from Ohio State (to replace Terukina) and Hansen from Cornell (to replace Dailey). Both of those guys are AA candidates (especially McCrone). IMO.
Agree with the net positive assessment on the portal, though Dailey has the potential to make AA at some point over the next 3 years.
I missed this article on goheels earlier this week. Wrestling scholar honors for Terukina, Hepner, Kane, Darracott, and Dailey.
goheels.com
I missed this article on goheels earlier this week. Wrestling scholar honors for Terukina, Hepner, Kane, Darracott, and Dailey.
Five Tar Heels Earn NWCA Scholar All-America Recognition - University of North Carolina Athletics
Jake Dailey , Charlie Darracott , Bryce Hepner , Cullen Kane and Kysen Terukina were honored for their efforts in the classroom.
Thanks for the updates DDB. Wish Jayden well as he moves on, and appreciate his contribution to UNC Wrestling. Hope he completed his UNC degree, and looks fondly on his time with Carolina Wrestling. While I wish Jake well, except against us, I have mixed feelings about his choice of destination. Hate that he chose state, but I wonder what were the factors that played into his decision.
apparently his younger brother committed to NCSU and I guess he wants to wrestle with him at a top 8 program. He also could have changed his major to something that NCSU has versus what we have on the school side of things. Not sure.......
THWC sending a group to an offseason tournament next week. Not sure why my instagram link isn’t working, but the listed wrestlers include:
Botello
Askew
Alvarez
O’Boyle
Platt
Levy
Eischens
Benjamin, Justin - wrestled for Northwestern in college
Botello
Askew
Alvarez
O’Boyle
Platt
Levy
Eischens
Benjamin, Justin - wrestled for Northwestern in college
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Greco-Roman wrestling started today. So far i have seen Alvarez lost his first match at 77kg 1-5, to a kid that then was beat 9-0 by Eischens (2:18). In the U20 GR Lincoln Jipp won his first match at 97kg. Jipp is also wrestling in freestyle, along with at least Shafri and Moylan from our recruits. Most of the freestyle gets under way tomorrow.
Updated at 3:45 - Alvarez won his first consolation match 10-0 (1:03).
Updated at 5:40 - Alvarez went L, W, L and is done in GR.
Eischens is in the semis, and will place top 6
Note that the Senior division is college wrestlers (Alvarez) & grads (Eischens)
Jipp lost in the blood round for U20 GR
Friday Morning Update - Eschens lost in semis, championship and consolation, so he wrestles for 5th place this morning I assume. Believe freestyle gets started today as well.
Updated at 3:45 - Alvarez won his first consolation match 10-0 (1:03).
Updated at 5:40 - Alvarez went L, W, L and is done in GR.
Eischens is in the semis, and will place top 6
Note that the Senior division is college wrestlers (Alvarez) & grads (Eischens)
Jipp lost in the blood round for U20 GR
Friday Morning Update - Eschens lost in semis, championship and consolation, so he wrestles for 5th place this morning I assume. Believe freestyle gets started today as well.
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I was hoping for more activity today, but a quick look shows Eischens placed 5th in the SGR 77KG class. O’Boyle lost his first match in the Senior Freestyle (SFS) 86KG class. My assumption is that most of our other wrestlers will be in the U20 division.
Also noted that Spencer Moore won 1 then lost 1 wrestling up at the SFS 61 kg class.
Also noted that Spencer Moore won 1 then lost 1 wrestling up at the SFS 61 kg class.
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Yesterday O’Boyle lost in his first 2 matches in the senior division, which has multiple former ncaa champions in the bracket. Both wrestler he lost to were eliminated in the blood round. Today’s action in the U20 freestyle include:
Botello (61kg) - Bye, Won, Lost
Askew (70 kg) - Bye Won, Won
Jipp (92 kg) - Bye, Win
Moylan (92 kg) - Bye, Win
Levy (92 kg) - Bye,Win
Botello (61kg) - Bye, Won, Lost
Askew (70 kg) - Bye Won, Won
Jipp (92 kg) - Bye, Win
Moylan (92 kg) - Bye, Win
Levy (92 kg) - Bye,Win
Adding Some context Information as part of this update. While Jipp, Moylan, Platt (left him off yesterday), and Levy are all competing against a field of 32-64 wrestlers, Botello’s bracket has nearly 110 and Askew’s bracket has around 175.
Botello and Moylan are still alive in consolations, meaning they are among 16 wrestlers that have not been eliminated. They are each 2 very tough wins from placing top 8. Botello won 3 consolation bracket matches after my previous update. Moylan lost his next match after my update, then won his first consolation match.
Askew, Jipp, Platt, and Levy are all in the quarterfinal, meaning if they win their next match they will place top 6. If they lose their next match, they need to win 1 consolation match to place top 8.
So far this is a good showing by this group, including the 2 recruits (Jipp should be enrolling at Carolina this summer, and Moylan is class of 2027). A good experience for this group no matter how it goes from here. As a reminder Askew won the U17 gold medal for the USA wrestling team in 2025.
Botello and Moylan are still alive in consolations, meaning they are among 16 wrestlers that have not been eliminated. They are each 2 very tough wins from placing top 8. Botello won 3 consolation bracket matches after my previous update. Moylan lost his next match after my update, then won his first consolation match.
Askew, Jipp, Platt, and Levy are all in the quarterfinal, meaning if they win their next match they will place top 6. If they lose their next match, they need to win 1 consolation match to place top 8.
So far this is a good showing by this group, including the 2 recruits (Jipp should be enrolling at Carolina this summer, and Moylan is class of 2027). A good experience for this group no matter how it goes from here. As a reminder Askew won the U17 gold medal for the USA wrestling team in 2025.
Not quite done yet, as wrestling continues out west.
Moylan, 2027 commit, lost pre blood round for a top 16 finish.
Botello lost in the blood round, for a top 12 finish.
Askew and Levy are wrestling for 5/6 place.
Jipp (2026) and Platt are in the finals at 92kg and 97kg respectively.
Moylan, 2027 commit, lost pre blood round for a top 16 finish.
Botello lost in the blood round, for a top 12 finish.
Askew and Levy are wrestling for 5/6 place.
Jipp (2026) and Platt are in the finals at 92kg and 97kg respectively.
Slightly disappointing finish with 2 second place finishes, and 2 sixth place finishes. I like the fact they showed up ready to wrestle in the off season, and had some really good matches. Jipp looks like he will be an excellent addition to the room joining Platt at 197. Good start to what should be Askew’s and Levy’s redshirted year next season, unless the ncaa changes to the 5 for 5 approach being discussed. Botello prepares to compete with our Mexican national champion for the 133 spot, and I am optimistic that we will be reasonably strong at that weight.
Meanwhile Moylan has another year of high school to polish his craft.
Meanwhile Moylan has another year of high school to polish his craft.