“It’s tough. It’s tough as nails. There’s no two ways about it,” said who? Well, a three-time All-American wrestler after clinching a gritty fifth-place finish at the NCAA Championships! Now that’s a line that now echoes louder for the University of North Carolina with their young star stepping into a transformative phase of his career. Okay, ex-young star, who, having entered the transfer portal very recently, announced a major decision that has sent ripples through the collegiate wrestling world. It’s Lachlan McNeil, who’s saying goodbye to Chapel Hill shortly after AJ Ferrari rolled in.
It was Jawn Cena who dropped the big news on X. So what’s next for McNeil’s future? To put it simply, he’s headed to the Great Lakes. “3x All-American Lachlan McNeil has committed to Michigan,” the X post read. Wait, did UNC just lose one of their crown jewels? Yep. Though they also added one a few days back!
3x All-American Lachlan McNeil has committed to Michigan pic.twitter.com/GB963aGpdR
— Jawn Cena (@jawncena69) April 14, 2025
Because while they’ve lost McNeil, AJ Ferrari is now a Tar Heel and is sure to get the crowd rocking at the Carmichael Arena come fall. “And the crazy thing is… North Carolina Wrestling is Just Beginning to Heat GO TAR HEELS BABY,” he wrote in his official announcement of his commitment to the UNC. And while UNC tries to rev up with Ferrari in the driver’s seat, they are also quietly parting ways with their Canadian warrior, who has now left for Michigan.
But while AJ Ferrari is a big get for the team, it’s still going to hurt losing Lachlan McNeil. He ended the 2024-25 season with a 25-7 record. That’s the kind of solid consistency that’s vital for teams. And to add salt to the wound, McNeil isn’t the only departure from Chapel Hill.
Yet another rising star leaves UNC amidst AJ Ferrari joining!
This time it was Illinois, and they landed Spencer Moore. The news came via Justin Basch on X, who posted, “UNC’s Spencer Moore, who was thought to be heading to Presbyterian to be with his wife, will be heading to @IlliniWrestling for his final year of eligibility.” And just like that, yet another gut punch for the UNC now.
It’s not a great feeling for UNC, no doubt. To think your wrestler was leaving to be closer to his wife was one thing. But to now know that he just wanted to leave, period? That one’s gotta sting. While the AJ Ferrari transfer showed that the Tar Heels meant serious business, watching such talents slip away is far from ideal.
Moore represents not just a sporting loss but an academic one too. After all, he was named to the All-ACC Academic Team and to the ACC Academic Honor Roll. According to the UNC website, “To be eligible for consideration for the All-ACC Academic Team, a student-athlete must have earned a 3.00 grade point average for the previous semester and maintained a 3.00 cumulative average during their academic career.” And the Honor Roll? Well, Moore’s move comes just after a record number (620) of Tar Heels made it onto the honor roll last year.
A relentless competitor, he finished this season with a 17-9 record in the 125 lbs weight class. For the Tar Heels, they have some planning to do in the off-season to ensure that these departures don’t destabilize the team. But even with all the chaos and noise, the sight of AJ Ferrari in Chapel Hill is a clear sign that UNC still has some excitement and buzz left. What do you think? Let us know!
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