Category: UNC Athletics

Tar Heel Gymnastics hit the mat for first time in 40 years

UNC varsity gymnasts just received a great gift to open 2024, as gymnastics will be recognized by the NCAA for the first time in 40 years.

Occasionally, you’ll see schools drop athletic programs due to financial struggles.

The most recent example I can think of is UAB shutting down football – in 2014 – only to see it revived three years later.

It’s rare you see entire athletic conferences shut down a sport, like the ACC did with gymnastics in 1984.

After 40 years, young gymnasts around the ACC received wonderful news – their sport will again be sponsored by the NCAA.

The list of ACC teams includes UNC, N.C. State, Clemson and Pitt. As I write, the Tar Heels are currently hosting Ball State, Rutgers and Utah State in a quad meet.

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We want to clear one thing up – while UNC gymnastics is now sponsored by the NCAA, the Tar Heels have been competing for quite a while. They finished third out of eight teams in last year’s East Atlantic Gymnastics League Championships, but their previous history includes EAGL titles in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2010 and 2011.

Carolina men’s and women’s basketball might be the most highly-sought after Winter sports right now, but now fans have another sport they can add to the list. Make a trip over to Carmichael Arena if you want to see your Tar Heel gymnasts hit the balance beam.

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Eric Montross was more than just a basketball player

Growing up in Chapel Hill, I personally knew Eric Montross. He was one of the kindest people I ever met and would stop to chat with anyone.

When I heard the news of former UNC basketball great Eric Montross passing on Sunday, it hit close to home.

I never had the opportunity to see Montross play live, as his college days were before my time, but I met him at a young age and credit him for my love of basketball.

I’ve been fortunate to meet several respectful athletes over the years, but none come close to how kind Montross was in every interaction I had with him.

I don’t recall my first time meeting Montross, but he was one of the first people (besides my dad) to help cultivate my love for basketball. He came back to Chapel Hill, where we won the 1993 NCAA Championship with the Tar Heels, after his NBA career and shared his love of the game with aspiring young basketball players.

I happened to be one of those kids. I have fond memories of going to 4 C’s Basketball Camp at Smith Middle School in Chapel Hill, with one of the basketball stars I learned from being Montross. When I was a bit older, Montross coached one of my rec league basketball teams.

I didn’t realize it at the time because he was a family friend on mine, but I was learning basketball from a piece of UNC royalty. Looking back, that was probably one of the coolest experiences of my athletics upbringing.

Outside of my playing days, I became friends with Eric’s only son, Andrew. I was never in Andrew’s close friends circle, but I knew him from youth basketball.

We both went to Carrboro High School. Me being the sports fan that I am, I would always go see Andrew’s games. I actually tried out for the team one year – didn’t make it, but I recall setting screens and running sets with the younger Montross.

Even though he wasn’t my coach anymore, I would always say hello to Eric in public. I have fond memories of shaking hands with him, then having deep conversations about life and sports.

I feel so bad for Eric’s wife Laura, his daughter Sarah and Andrew – all of whom embodied that selfless, friendly spirit Eric shared.

It’ll be sad not seeing that bright smile light up Chapel Hill anymore.

Thanks for all the memories and sharing your love of basketball with me, Big E.

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Ryleigh Heck captures well-deserved National Player of the Year honor

UNC Field Hockey sophomore Ryleigh Heck, who scored the winning shootout goal in the 2023 National Championship, is also Player of the Year.

If it weren’t for sophomore Ryleigh Heck, there’s a strong chance the UNC Field Hockey team wouldn’t be celebrating its 11th National Championship.

With the Tar Heels and Northwestern Wildcats failing to break a 1-1 tie in overtime, a shootout ensued. Carolina took a one-goal lead in the shootout, only for Northwestern to score two straight and grab that lead right back.

UNC tied the shootout at two on its next attempt, which then set up the visiting Wildcats for a sudden death conversion attempt. Tar Heels goalie Maddie Kahn saved Northwestern’s attempt, which then gave Heck a chance to win it all.

Heck did exactly that, drawing Wildcats goalie Annabelle Skubitz out of net. Heck spun around, put the ball on her stick, then blasted it into the goal and sent Chapel Hill into pandamonium.

As a result of her National Championship performance, which was just a microcosm of her successful Year Two as a collegiate field hockey player, Heck was tabbed the National Field Hockey Coaches Association’s National Player of the Year.

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Heck ended her sophomore season with 13 goals, second-most on the Tar Heels behind freshman Charly Bruder, who started the title game scoring with a 33rd-minute tally. Heck and Bruder were the lone Tar Heels with double-digit goals, as Paityn Wirth was the next closest with seven goals.

With Heck expected to come back next year, barring a transfer, UNC should be a favorite to repeat and capture its 12th Natty.

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UNC Women’s Field Hockey punches ticket to title game

The UNC Women’s Field Hockey team will play for the national championship on Sunday afternoon under Erin Matson.

Erin Matson had a historic playing career at the University of North Carolina leaving a legacy that will be tough to match. And now, in her first year as the head coach, Matson has the program back in the national championship.

With a 2-0 win on Friday over Virginia in the Final Four, Matson’s Tar Heels have punched their ticket to Sunday’s title game.

Ryleigh Heck’s goal was all UNC needed as she scored to give the Tar Heels a 1-0 lead over the Cavaliers. They added another goal in the third quarter with Sietske Brüning’s penalty score. That sealed the deal as the Tar Heels kept the Cavaliers from scoring.

With the win, UNC moves on to the title game and will play either Duke or Northwestern at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.

UNC is looking for the program’s fifth tile in the previous six years, winning four since 2018. They have been in the title game in each of the last six years, with the only loss coming to Northwestern in 2021.

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Mastroianni and Moreno named to National Team for international lacrosse event

Ally Mastroianni and Jamie Ortega, two of the greatest lacrosse players to come through UNC, will soon be playing with the National Team.

Women’s lacrosse has been one of the best athletic programs at UNC in recent years, with the Tar Heels capturing NCAA Championships in 2013, 2016 and 2022.

The Tar Heels have also been a model of consistency, making every NCAA Tournament since 2005. They’ve produced career record-holders in the past five seasons, including Jamie Ortega (goals, points), Katie Hoeg (assists), Taylor Moreno (saves) and Ally Mastroianni (draw controls).

All of the above stars have since graduated, but the latter two are still continuing to capture headlines in the lacrosse world.

On Friday, Sept. 29, Moreno and Mastroianni were named to the USA Lacrosse roster for the World Lacrosse Super Sixes event.

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The Super Sixes will take place from Friday, Oct. 6-Sunday, Oct. 8 in Oshawa, Canada. USA will compete against the likes of Canada, India, Haiti, Kenya and Haudenosaunee, a Native American tribe located predominantly in Upstate New York.

Mastroianni and Ortega both played at Carolina from 2018-2022. Mastroianni holds the school record with 360 draw controls, while Ortega, arguably the greatest offensive player to come through Chapel Hill, holds school records with 334 goals and 466 points.

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Best North Carolina Tar Heels gear for 2023 football season

Gear up, UNC fans. It’s time for another season of Tar Heels football.

The University of North Carolina Tar Heels are back. With fall right around the corner, it’s time to gear up for another optimistic year out in Tar Heel land.

That makes right now the perfect time to show off your UNC fandom and support your Tar Heels. Luckily, there’s way more than one way to do just that.

Fans can, and should, be covered from head-to-toe in North Carolina hats to Tar Heel sneakers for the upcoming season.

But don’t stop there. From the tailgate, to home, to wherever you’re on the road, you can show off your North Carolina pride.

Check out our collection of the top UNC Tar Heels gear ahead of the 2023 season below:

Hamdy Refaee named UNC assistant fencing coach

The North Carolina fencing team named Hamdy Refaee as the new assistant coach.

The UNC fencing team has added [autotag]Hamdy Refaee[/autotag] to their coaching staff, naming him the new assistant coach.

The announcement came Friday that Refaee would join the Tar Heels after working as an instructor at Tim Morehouse Fencing Club for the past two years. In a press release by Go Heels, North Carolina’s head coach Matt Jednak stated his thoughts on Refaee joining the program.

“We are very excited to have Hamdy join our family,” Jednak said. “He is not only an amazing coach, but an amazing person. His character and energy show that he has always been a Tar Heel. Our team is going to benefit greatly from all the experiences he brings with him. I personally feel very blessed that he is with us.”

Refaee comes to UNC with experience as the assistant fencing coach for the US Air Force Academy for three years. Refaee also had two stints with the Egyptian National team, winning a few tournaments, including placing for a bronze medal at the World Junior Championships in 2016.

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UNC diver Vazquez Montano wins Silver at World Aquatic Championships

Aranza Vazquez Montano, a diver at UNC, won two individual medals and helped win a team medal at the World Aquatic Championships this week.

The college sports season is just a month away, with fans anticipating the start of football, volleyball, soccer and field hockey season.

There’s plenty to be excited about if you’re a UNC fan, particularly around the Drake Maye-led football team coming off an appearance in the ACC Championship Game.

Carolina fans should also be excited about one of its Winter athletes.

Diver Aranza Vazquez Montano, a rising senior, claimed her second medal of the 2023 World Aquatic Championships on Tuesday by winning silver in diving’s mixed three-meter and 10-meter team event.

Vazquez helped Mexico score 455.35 points in its second-place, 10-meter team finish. She won her first medal earlier that day, finishing third in the one-meter springboard competition.

There was another Tar Heel connection in the competition, as former diver Anton Down-Jenkins helped New Zealand to a 13th-place finish.

Vazquez will have a few more chances to add onto her medal total, as the Championships run until Sunday, July 30. She can compete in Wednesday’s 10-meter Women’s Platform event, two 3-Meter Springboard events on Thursday, a 3-meter Springboard event on Friday and a 3-meter Springboard Mixed Synchro event on Saturday.

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UNC Volleyball schedule announced

The North Carolina Tar Heels Volleyball schedule has been announced, with some notable teams listed.

The North Carolina Volleyball schedule is here, and it is jam-packed with action.

The Tar Heels will open its season in Tucson, Arizona, with a doubleheader on August 25th to take on Pacific and Arizona. They will wrap up their Arizona views the following day with a meeting against UC Davis.
UNC will host its first game in Chapel Hill on August 31st, West Virginia.

The Tar Heels have a handful of notable opponents, with the first key matchup against 4th-ranked Pittsburgh on September 24th.
On October 22nd, the Heels travel to Georgia to take on the 16th-ranked Yellow Jackets. The last notable matchup to watch for is last season’s National Champion runner-up Louisville on November 12th.

Last season, the Tar Heels finished 17-12, going 9-9 in the conference. The biggest takeaway from last year was UNC’s inability to protect home court with a 7-6 record inside Carmichael Arena.

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Pirates possibly entertaining UNC commit Walker Jenkins at top pick

There’s a strong possibility that UNC baseball commit Walker Jenkins will be the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top overall selection in the MLB draft.

Walker Jenkins continues to be one of the hottest names in this year’s MLB Draft, as the UNC baseball commit and two-time Gatorade N.C. Player of the Year put together an impressive high school career that has him near the top of draft boards.

According to BaseballAmerica senior writer Kyle Glaser, there’s an increasing possibility that Jenkins might be the first overall player selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Though Jenkins will no-doubt be taken Top 10, why is he suddenly a possibility to go number one over the likes of LSU pitcher Paul Skenes (Golden Spikes Winner), LSU outfielder Dylan Crews and University of Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford?

This is because the Pirates are shopping a below-slot number to Jenkins. If the Pirates pick Jenkins below-slot, they have more money to use on later draft picks.

If Jenkins chooses not to sign with the Pirates, Pittsburgh’s slot value is removed from the bonus pool. It’s pretty tough to turn down the distinction of being a top overall pick, though.

Glaser says there’s a lot of belief Langford will be taken over Jenkins, but fans won’t know until the draft kicks off tonight at 7 p.m.

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