March 24, 2005

GREENSBORO, N.C. - A memorable season for the University of North Carolina wrestling program was capped with Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestler of the Year honors for junior All-America Evan Sola and league Coach of the Year honors for C.D. Mock, the conference office announced Thursday.

Sola, who was also named the league's Wrestler of the Year in 2003, becomes just the second wrestler in ACC history to win this award twice, joining NC State's Sylvester Terkay, who captured three straight honors from 1991-93. Sola finished the season with a sixth-place finish at 133 pounds at the NCAA Championships earning All-America accolades for the second time in three seasons. He also received an award for the most pins at the NCAA Championships.

Sola, a native of Wernersville, Pa., concluded the season with a record of 36-6 overall, 15-0 in dual match action and 6-0 in versus the ACC. He registered 13 pins, three major decisions and one technical fall. The 36 wins tied him for 10th on the Tar Heel single season victory list, while his 13 falls tied him for sixth. Prior to nationals, Sola was named ACC Wrestler of the Week twice in 2005 and was crowned the league's Most Valuable Wrestler at the conference championship. Sola captured the individual league title at 133 pounds and led the Tar Heels to their sixth team title in the last ten seasons.

In just his second season as head coach of the Tar Heel wrestling program, Mock claims his first ACC Coach of the Year award. Under the tutelage of Mock, North Carolina claimed the ACC Championship and finished in 24th place with 23 points at the 2005 NCAA Wrestling Championships, the Tar Heels' best finish at nationals since 1997. At the conference tournament, North Carolina captured four individual titles at 125 pounds, 133 pounds, 165 pounds and 197 pounds to lead all schools. In all, five Tar Heel athletes garnered All-ACC honors, while five participated at the NCAA Championships tying league highs in both categories this season.