March 7, 1999

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - North Carolina won its third straight ACC championship, riding on strong performances by nine finalists today at University Hall in Charlottesville, Va. This is the Tar Heels seventh ACC championship title in eight years. JohnMark Bentley (149), Corey Bell (184), and Matt Kenny (HWT) scored championship wins for North Carolina. UNC coach Bill Lam was named the 1999 ACC Coach of the Year as well. Bentley, ranked #5 nationally, and Bell both won their second consecutive titles while tonight's victory was Kenny's first.

At 125, Virginia's eighth ranked Matt Roth claimed his first ACC title by upsetting two-time defending champion and sixth ranked Chuckie Connor of UNC in the much anticipated contest. Roth avenged his 2-0 loss to Connor earlier this season. Roth stuck Joe Guzzio with 12 seconds to go in the semifinal and went on to claim the Outstanding Wrestler Award as well.

N. C. State had three wrestlers win championships, and all three of them were first-time champions: Tommy Davis (141), Pierre Pryor (157), and Kevin Boross (174). Davis is currently ranked #15 in the country. Virginia's Jim Harshaw, ranked #11 nationally, won his third consecutive ACC title, after winning the last two at 150 and tonight's victory at 165. Brandon York of Maryland won his first title at 133, and joining him in the winner's circle for the first time was Craig Fenstermaker of Virginia, who won at 197.

The ACC will send 20 wrestlers to the NCAA Championships, which will take place in State College, Pa., March 18-20. A list of the qualifiers is listed below.

Wgt Championship Bouts

125  Matt Roth (UVA) dec. Chuckie Connor (UNC)       3-2
133  Brandon York (MD)dec. Brad Byers (UNC)         8-2
141  Tommy Davis (NCSU) dec. Josh Cowley (UNC)       8-3
149  John Mark Bentley (UNC) dec. John Pozniak (UVA) 5-2
157  Pierre Pryor (NCSU) dec. Pat Cadwallader (UNC)  4-1
165  Jim Harshaw (UVA) dec. Matt Mapes (Duke)        7-1
174  Kevin Boross (NCSU) dec. Jamie Groudle (UNC)    3-2
184  Corey Bell (UNC) dec. Zach Breitenbach (NCSU)   4-2
197  Craig Fenstermaker (UVA) WBF Ty Roofner (UNC)   3:33
HWT  Matt Kenny (UNC) dec. Billy Noble (NCSU)        8-2

1.  North Carolina  97.5
2.  Virginia        70.5
3.  N.C. State      67.5
4.  Maryland        36.5
5.  Duke            28.5

NCAA Qualifiers

DUKE
Matt Mapes, 165

MARYLAND
Brandon York, 133

NORTH CAROLINA
Corey Bell, 184
JohnMark Bentley, 149
Brad Byers, 133
Pat Cadwallader, 149
Chuckie Connor, 125
Jamie Groudle, 174
Matt Kenny, HWT

N. C. STATE
Kevin Boross, 174
Zach Breitenbach, 184
Lee Carroll, 125
Pierre Pryor, 149

VIRGINIA
Craig Fenstermaker, 197
Jim Harshaw, 165
John Pozniak, 149
Matt Roth, 125