St. Edward Grad Bryce Hepner Finds Success at NCAA Wrestling Championships After Transferring to North Carolina

Hepner, a two-time state champion, left Ohio State for the Tar Heels and became an All-American in his first season with the program.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 5:37pm

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Bryce Hepner, a two-time state champion wrestler from St. Edward High School, decided to transfer from Ohio State to North Carolina this year. The move paid off, as Hepner became an All-American for the first time in his career after finishing seventh at the NCAA Wrestling Championships. Hepner faced off against his former Ohio State teammate Paddy Gallagher in the seventh-place match, defeating him by major decision 9-1. Hepner credited the North Carolina coaching staff, particularly head coach Rob Koll and assistant Ben Darmstadt, for helping him regain his confidence and wrestling at his best.

Why it matters

Hepner's decision to transfer from the powerhouse Ohio State program to North Carolina paid dividends, as he was able to find more success and become an All-American in his first season with the Tar Heels. This highlights the importance of finding the right fit for student-athletes, as the change of scenery and coaching staff helped Hepner thrive and showcase his full potential.

The details

Hepner went 4-2 over the three-day NCAA Wrestling Championships, with his only loss coming against the top seed and championship favorite Mitchell Messenbrink of Penn State. Hepner said the fact that he was going against his former school Ohio State weighed heavily on how he wrestled, as he wanted to prove to the coaching staff that he had this level of talent all along. At North Carolina, Hepner felt less pressure to be "the best of the best" compared to Ohio State, allowing him to focus on just wrestling his best.

  • Hepner faced former teammate Paddy Gallagher in the seventh-place match at 165 pounds on Saturday.

The players

Bryce Hepner

A two-time state champion wrestler from St. Edward High School who transferred from Ohio State to North Carolina this year, becoming an All-American in his first season with the Tar Heels.

Paddy Gallagher

Hepner's former teammate at both St. Edward High School and Ohio State, Gallagher was also a two-time state champion and ended his collegiate career with his first All-America finish.

Rob Koll

The head coach of the North Carolina wrestling team, who helped Hepner regain his confidence and wrestle at his best.

Ben Darmstadt

An assistant coach at North Carolina and a two-time All-American wrestler at Cornell, Darmstadt was able to provide valuable technical coaching to help Hepner improve.

Mitchell Messenbrink

The top seed and championship favorite at 165 pounds from Penn State, who defeated Hepner 6-0 in the quarterfinals.

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What they’re saying

“I'm proud of myself for what I was able to do. I wish I could have showcased it in a different arena where it wasn't against Paddy. We battled together for 15 years, not against each other, but against the harshness of the world. Fifteen years of wrestling and the way that we did it, I wouldn't wish it on just anybody. I have nothing but positive things to say about Paddy.”

— Bryce Hepner

“Ohio State is great at everything athletic sport there is, and when you're at OSU, you are under a lot of pressure to be the best of the best. UNC is great at athletics as well, but with wrestling specifically, I didn't feel like I had as many people nipping at my heels here than I had at OSU.”

— Bryce Hepner

“I had a downturn in self-esteem about two months ago, and Koll sat me down and said, 'we know who you are, we've seen what you can do.' And it's very reassuring to hear that rather than hearing your mistakes and your flaws pointed out. I'm so grateful to him for that reason.”

— Bryce Hepner

What’s next

Hepner plans to utilize his final year of eligibility next season, saying he intends to move up to the 174-pound weight class where "whoever's in that bracket next year against me is in trouble."

The takeaway

Hepner's successful transition from Ohio State to North Carolina demonstrates the importance of finding the right fit for student-athletes, as the change in coaching staff and environment allowed him to regain his confidence and reach new heights in his wrestling career. His story highlights the value of supporting athletes' mental well-being and providing a positive, encouraging atmosphere for them to thrive.