North Carolina wrestler Bryce Hepner finished in seventh place in the 165-pound division at the 2026 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, according to a March 21 announcement.
Hepner’s performance marks his first appearance at the national tournament and contributes to North Carolina’s ongoing success in wrestling. His achievement also extends the Tar Heels’ streak of having a podium finisher for eight consecutive national tournaments.
In the seventh-place match, Hepner defeated Ohio State’s Paddy Gallagher by major decision with a score of 9-1. Both athletes were former high school and college teammates. Over the three-day event held at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, Hepner recorded four wins.
This season is Hepner’s first with North Carolina, and he becomes the program’s first All-America honoree at 165 pounds since Ethan Ramos earned that distinction in 2015.
The results highlight both individual accomplishment for Hepner and continued strength for North Carolina wrestling as it maintains its presence on the national stage.