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The DailTar HeelThursday, November 1 , 1 9907 porcin Nation's best recruits may bring UNC wrestlers back on top By DOUG McCURRY Staff Writer Head wrestling coach Bill Lam enters the 1990-91 season in an unfamiliar situation. For the first time in his 14-year ten ure as coach, UNC does not return an ACC champion or All-America. He is also coming off a season in which his team failed to finish first or second in the ACC Tournament for the first time in 13 years. These startling facts may lead one to think, that Lam is expecting a difficult rebuilding season. But Lam followed the lead of basketball coach Dean Smith and soccer coach Elmar Bolowich in bringing to Chapel Hill arguably the top recruiting class in the nation. That's definitely a way to replenish the talent pool. Leading the freshman class is Ty Moore, who out of Allegheny High School became Pennsylvania's first four-time state champion in 50 years. Lam said that Moore has the talent at 118 pounds to compete with college Hamilton undergoes surgery on right knee From staff reports Linda Hamilton, a senior defender on the UNC women's soccer team, underwent arthroscopic surgery on her right knee Wednesday, head coach Anson Dorrance said. Hamilton, a four-time All-ACC and two-time All-America selection, is questionable for UNC's NCAA Tour nament quarterfinal on Nov. 1 1 . The operation involved correcting torn cartilege in her knee, an injury which first occurred in a Sept. 30 game against George Mason and resurfaced on Oct. 24 against UNC-Greensboro. Hamilton did play in both games of last weekend's ACC Tournament before deciding on surgery. Magnetic reso nance image testing performed "on Tuesday confirmed the injury. The 1988 ACC Player of the Year and a starter on the U.S. National Team, Ham i Iton played her first three collegiate seasons for N.C. State before transfer ring to UNC prior to the 1990 season. The Marietta, Ga., native has scored two goals this year, both in a critical 3 0 victory over Virginia on Oct. 20. The Tar Heels, 17-1-1 and seeded Preseason All-ACC Basketball Voted on by ACC First Team Kenny Anderson, Ga. Tech (88) Dale Davis, Clemson (80) Christian Laettner, Duke (77) Bryant Stith, Virginia (69) Rodney Monroe, N.C.State (51) Player of the Year: Anderson Rookie of the Year: Rodney Rogers, Wake Forest erola high school, had to adjust to playing in Missimo's shadow. "The reason why he didn't get more recognition or stats," Bolowich said, "is that he did not come in as a hit-man as a freshman like Missimo did. (Merola) was not such an impact player in his first year." That freshman year, the Tar Heels had their dream run, winning the inau gural ACC Tournament and making the NCAA Final Four. Their championship hopes were ended by eventual national champion Clemson in the semifinals. Unfortunately, that season may be the high point of Merola's time at UNC. During his sophomore year in 1 988, he was moved to the back to help the Tar Heel defense. "I hated it back there," he said. "But that's what they wanted, so I said, 'Sure, I'll do it.' But I've always been a for ward. I'd rather have people chase me for 90 minutes than chase someone for 90 minutes. I like scoring goals. I like being a part of the action. You need your defensive players. We've got some good ones, but I hated it." Then the injury bug bit Merola hard. He tore both his hamstrings, one his freshman year and the other his sopho more year. "(Injuries) are a pain in the butt," Merola said. "You're doing so well for a while, you're expecting a lot of great At Planned Parenthood, You're a Person. Not Just A Patient. Planned Parenthood professionals care about your health. Your feelings. Your privacy. And your right to the best in family planning services and personal health care at an affordable price. Complete birth control services. Pregnancy testing and counseling. Gynecological exams yearly check-ups, Pap tests, breast exams, treatment for common infections . Cervical caps and morning after pill now available Village Plaza, Chapel Hill 942-7762 (Formerly Kroger Plaza) Special Rates for Students Bill Lam wrestlers now, although he is unsure whether he will redshirt Moore this year. f : - W t ' Linda Hamilton first in the NCAA Tournament, will host the winner of this weekend's N.C. State-William & Mary matchup on Nov. 1 1 at 2 p.m. As the top seed, UNC received a first-round bye. sportswriters Second Team Rick Fox, North Carolina (38) Chris Corchiani, N.C.State (1 6) Walt Williams, Maryland (7) Bobby Hurley, Duke (4) Chris King, Wake Forest (4) from page 6 things out of yourself, and when you don't come through the best you know you can, and what everyone else expects from you, that's real frustrating. You get down on yourself." Another problem he has faced is UNC s record during the past few years. Much was expected after the Final Four, but things have not gone as planned. The Tar Heels went from 20-5 that year to 14-9 his sophomore season to 9-9-1 last season. This year, the Tar Heels posted a 1 2-5 record but were a disap pointing 2-4 in the ACC. "It's really hard, because most of the players that come here were stars at their schools," he said. "If you look at their credentials, every one of them says state championships, All-America, All-whatever. So, everyone's pretty much come from a winning program. Then last year was just devastating to a lot of people." While Merola prepares for his last games as a Tar Heel, he claims his love affair with this school will never end. "I hope they really do kick butt (next year)," he said. " If they can get some body to step in and score some goals, they're going to be good. "I love this place and everything about it, and anytime anything goes good here, it's great. I'll go back home and flash my North Carolina stuff and say, 'Look at the Heels!'" lU" II B J Other top recruits include three-time Virginia state champ Jody Stay lor, three time South Carolina state champ Marc Taylor; two-time North Carolina state champs Stan Banks and Seth Richards; Virginia state champ Ross Iaci; Penn sylvania state champ Brad Silimperi; and Durham-Jordan graduates Travis Lam and Trey Ezell. Banks is expected to challenge im mediately for the starting role at both 167 and 177 pounds, while Seth Richards should battle for the starting role at 142 pounds. Another interesting struggle for mat time is at 118 pounds. Sophomore Jeff Vasquez is by no means guaranteed the job after his 7-17-1 season last year. He will be pushed by Moore and Silimperi, who are no strangers to facing each other. Moore beat Silimperi for his fourth Pennsylvania state title last year. "We have some freshmen who could start," Lam says of his freshmen class, rated first by Amateur Wrestling News. "They will help us. But the time we're going to see most of them is two years TAiAonmc legSstafctani Is down the road. For the young kids that do start now, it is a great time for the fans the student body to get to know them, because two years from now they are going to know who they are." The majority of the freshmen who do not start this year, which begins for the team Friday at the Eastern Nationals in Norfolk, Va., should be redshirt ed. This would allow each newcomer a year of everyday practice against the starter at his weight before having four years of eligibility. Lam smiles when he talks about two or three seasons from now, when he should reap the rewards of this outstanding recruiting class. For this year, Lam is relying on the experience of the team's upperclassmen to start at most weights and help develop the younger talent. Junior Pete Welch is the top returning wrestler this year. He was 25-14-2 overall (4-1-1 in the ACC) last year, winning the East Stroudsburg Open and missing All-America honors by only one match. "I want to be Ail-American, national To PmrUdprnte r Pay Student Account Fall 1 990 r Clear All Other Holds r Obtain PIN (Personal Identification Mum r Call QamiMelo Register r Pay Tuition & Fees For Spring 1991 champion." Welch said. "I've got two years to compete and three years to do it in, so some time in that time frame, I'd like to do that." Lam believes that this is a realistic goal for Welch. Judging by the 40-26-4 career record that he compiled while starting the last two seasons at 158 pounds, there is no reason to doubt it. Welch is also excited about the superb freshman class. "They look really tough," he said. "We have a lot of young guys but guys who can do it. They are pretty positive. All are good work ers." The team returns more impact wres tlers than just Welch. Senior Jay Landolfo won 16 matches at the upper weight classes last season, finishing second in the ACC and missing the All America rounds of the NCAA Tourna ment by one match. Senior Erik Keyser returns at 1 67 pounds, where he com piled a 12-9 record last season. "I am looking to Pete, Jay, and Erik for leadership," Lam said. "They are doing a good job of getting the young guys squared away." -C'lt They will need to do an excellent job leading this extremely young t&afri. Landolfo and Keyser are the on Ijr Se niors, and Welch is joined in the junior class only by Doug Roemer, a 150J58 pounder with a career record of K7. Although the team is lacking jrl Ex perience, members are still optimistic about the upcoming season. "I'm excited about the season in,a Jot of ways not because we have a JpCof talent back, because in some way'sj it looks like we have less talent than we've had in a long time," Lam said. "But we have come together as a team. They are looking forward to proving a lot of people wrong. They don't want to wait two years to be good." Said Welch, "We talked about team goals, and everyone is focused. The ACC and NCAA tournaments are very important. I'm not sure quite how high we can finish maybe top 1 0." The team is just following the arti tude expressed on its T-shirts: "AL WAYS ON TOP." ; ber)
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Nov. 1, 1990, edition 1
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