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Joey Ward Perfect On the West Coast

The Tar Heels wrestling team performed as expected over the weekend, winning and placing at the middle weights but struggling at the lower and upper weights.

At 141 lbs., redshirt sophomore Joey Ward (#14) had his hand raised five times in California, winning in the dual meet against Stanford and taking first place at the Roadrunner Open. His opponents averaged only one point per match, and Ward earned a 10-1 major decision and a 15-0 technical fall during the tournament. Ward has achieved an 8-1 record so far, asserting himself as the most dominant Tars Heel wrestler during the early season.

In the dual meet against Stanford, each team won five matches, but the Cardinals edged the Tar Heels by one point, 17-16. Christian Barber, the Tar Heel 149-pounder, earned a major decision during the meet, but the Cardinals earned two major decisions at 165 lbs. and 285 lbs.

At the Roadrunner Open, six Tar Heel wrestlers placed in five of ten weight classes. In addition to Ward's first-place finish, sophomore Troy Heilmann finished third at 141 lbs. Redshirt sophomore Joey Moon placed fifth at 149 lbs., and redshirt senior Chris Mears placed fourth at 157 lbs. Both redshirt freshman Ethan Ramos and redshirt junior John Michael Staudemayer finished sixth at 165 lbs. and 174 lbs., respectively.

Although senior Alex Utley did not compete in the tournament due to an injury, he did compete against Stanford and won with a 3-1 decision. Utley's status remains a disconcerting question mark for the Tar Heel upper weights, who are otherwise inexperienced.

The Tar Heels will travel to Annapolis, Maryland, to compete in the Navy Classic on Saturday, November 22.