Duke Drops Match at No. 18 North Carolina

Friday, January 21

Chapel Hill, N.C.

7 P.M.

Duke University

North Carolina

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

Duke Drops Match at No. 18 North Carolina

1/21/2022 11:52:00 PM | Wrestling

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Duke wrestling program (6-6, 0-1 ACC) fell in its first ACC dual match of the season, dropping a 29-6 decision to No. 18 North Carolina (5-4, 1-0 ACC) on Friday night at Carmichael Arena.

The Blue Devils turned in several strong performances, beginning with sophomore Parker Decker, who nearly pulled off the biggest win of the season and gave No. 7 Kizhan Clarke all he could handle in a 5-2 decision. Decker led at the end of two periods and showed tremendous fight throughout the match against the 2020 NCAA qualifier.

His teammate Josh Finesilver picked him up with a win in the next match of the day, downing No. 20 Zach Sherman in a thrilling 3-1 sudden victory decision. Finesilver improved to 22-2 on the season, defeating his highest ranked opponent of the year. Finesilver joins his brother Matt Finesilver (two), with wins over top-20 opponents this year.

While the Tar Heels were able to secure the victory behind four tight decisions, including one where junior Vincent Baker nearly earned a match-tying escape at the buzzer, the Blue Devils ended the day on a high note at 285 pounds.

Junior Jonah Niesenbaum entered the match with a 13-6 record, with three of his losses coming in sudden victory. The Allentown, Pa., native found himself in another overtime period, this time against Brandon Whitman, but bounced back to secure a thrilling takedown and win. Niesenbaum has now won his last three dual matches and four of his last five.

In extra matches, sophomore Luke Chakonis added another win with a gritty, 3-1 decision over UNC's Mark Chaid. The Washington, N.J., native improves to 5-6 on the season.

The Blue Devils will return home on Jan. 28 for a matchup against No. 5 NC State at 7 p.m., in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

North Carolina 29, Duke 6
125: Spencer Moore (UNC) def. Logan Agin (Duke) – MD, 10-1
133: Joe Heilmann (UNC) def. Drake Doolittle (Duke) – Fall, 10-2 (2:12)
141: No. 7 Kizhan Clarke (UNC) def. Parker Decker (Duke) – Dec., 5-2
149: No. 13 Josh Finesilver (Duke) def. No. 20 Zach Sherman (UNC) – SV, 3-1
157: No. 6 Austin O'Connor (UNC) def. Wade Unger (Duke) – Dec., 6-2
165: Sonny Santiago (UNC) def. Gabe Dinette (Duke) – Dec., 7-3
174: No. 16 Clay Lautt (UNC) def. No. 13 Matt Finesilver (Duke) – Dec., 8-5 (UNC 1 Team Point Deduction For Unsportsmanlike Conduct)
184: No. 22 Gavin Kane (UNC) def. Vincent Baker (Duke) – Dec., 5-4
197: No. 28 Max Shaw (UNC) def. Kaden Russell (Duke) – TF, 16-1 (2:40)
285: Jonah Niesenbaum (Duke) def. Brandon Whitman (UNC) – SV, 3-1
Extra Matches
165: Michael Goldfelder (UNC) def. Brandon LaRue (Duke) – Dec., 6-2
184: Luke Chakonis (Duke) def. Mark Chaid (UNC) – Dec., 3-1

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