Henderson Claims Top Spot At Hokie Open

SALEM, Va. – Freshman Evan Henderson opened his career in impressive fashion Sunday afternoon in Salem, Va. as he claimed the top spot in the 141 pound title at the Hokie Open. Joining Henderson with top three finishes were Jon Burns (2nd, 149), Kyle Kiss (2nd, 165), Corey Mock (3rd, 157) and Alex Utley (3rd, 184).
Henderson rolled his way to the semifinals of the 141 pound weight class with a pair of pins and a major decision. Henderson opened with a pin of Air Force’s Carter McElhany in 4:06 to open the tournament and proceded to record a major decision against Ohio’s Darrin Boing, 8-0.
Following another pin, this time in 4:28 of Old Dominion’s Justin Lavalle, Henderson claimed a 9-5 decision over NC State’s Darrius Little before battling Khishignyam Undrakhbayer of The Citadel to a 7-4 decision win for the title.
Burns fell just a point shy of a title of his own at 149 pounds dropping an 8-7 decision in the final to Cole Vonohlen of the Air Force. Burns registered a pair of decisions to open the tournament before erupting for a 17-2 technical fall over Brennan Brumley of Old Dominion. Burns followed with a 5-2 semifinal win over Nick Murray of Virginia Tech.
Kiss made a finals appearance of his own at 165 pounds after battling his way with three decisions and a major decision. Kiss opened with a 6-4 win before a 12-4 major decision over Duke’s Don Adamo. After a 6-2 decision over Campbell’s Nick Rex, Kiss held off Appalachian State’s Kyle Blevins, 3-2, before facing Virginia Tech’s Pete Yates in the final. Yates claimed a 6-1 decision over Kiss in the final as Kiss finished second overall.

At 157 pounds Corey Mock went 4-1 en route to a third place showing as he opened with a pair of decisions before falling to John Nicholson of Old Dominion. Mock answered the defeat with a 13-6 decision over Chip Powell of Appalachian State and a major decision over Virginia Tech’s Matt Stephens to claim the third place bout.
Another true freshman made an impressive debut Sunday as Alex Utley went 6-1 at 184 pounds. Utley pinned George Mason’s Derek Dwyer to open the tournament before besting Nicholas Kidd of Virginia, 10-8. Following a loss, Utley rolled off back-to-back decisions before a major decision of The Citadel’s Josh Tuck and a pin of Liberty’s Royal Brettrager at 1:45 in the third place bout.
Senior Thomas Ferguson claimed fourth place at 174 pounds registering a technical fall to open the tournament and edged out Frankie McLaughlin of George Mason, 3-2. Ferguson was pinned in 2:44 by Te Edwards of Old Dominion but bounced back with a 9-2 decision over NC State’s Quinton Godley before falling in the third place bout.
Brian Bokoski (125) and Nick Tenpenny (197) each went 3-2 on the afternoon for the Tar Heels.
In unattached action Jake Corrill (125), Cameron Throckmorton (133), John Staudenmayer (165) all claimed fourth place finishes, while Pat Owens (133) earned fifth place.
Up next for the Tar Heels is a trip to Harrisburg, Pa. for the Wrestle For A Cure Duals as Carolina will take on Illinois, Nebraska, Ohio State and Boston University.
Results
125 – Brian Bokoski – 3-2; MD
Josh Craig – 0-2
133 – Nick Shields – 0-2
141 – Evan Henderson – 5-0, 1st place; 2 pins, MD Troy Silver – 0-2
157 – Corey Mock – 4-1, 3rd place; MD
Aaron Smith – 1-2
165 – Kyle Kiss – 4-1, 2nd place; MD
Mike Harvey – 1-2; pin
174 – Thomas Ferguson – 3-2, 4th place; TF
184 – Alex Utley – 6-1, 3rd place; 2 pins, MD
197 – Nick Tenpenny – 3-2; pin
Frank Abbondanza – 2-2
Andrew Barksdale – 0-2
unattached
125 – Jake Corrill – 6-2, 4th place
133 – Cameron Throckmorton – 5-2, 4th place; 2 MD Pat Owens – 5-2, 5th place
149 – Christian Barber – 2-2
165 – John Staudenmayer – 4-2, 4th place; pin
174 – Andre Petroski – 2-2; MD
184 – Antonio Giorgio – 2-2; pin

Courtesy of Dave Schmidt, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications University of North Carolina