North Carolina opens the college baseball preseason ranked No. 1 in Baseball America’s Top 25 poll, the first time atop the poll for the Tar Heels.

The Tar Heels return their entire weekend rotation from a year ago, a group that combined for 22 wins and all posted sub-2.00 ERAs in 2012.

N.C. State came in at No. 8.

Also from the ACC: No. 16 Georgia Tech and No. 20 Florida State.

South Carolina, last year’s College World Series runner-up, is No. 7.

WRESTLING

Duke University redshirt freshman Conner Hartmann and redshirt sophomore Brandon Gambucci both landed spots in the first of three coaches’ panel rankings released by the NCAA. Gambucci comes in at No. 23 at 133 pounds, while Hartmann is 27th in the 197-pound division.

HALL OF FAME

Shaw University Dean of Students and former Athletic Director Alfonza Carter was named to the 2013 Class of the John B. McLendon, Jr. CIAA Hall of Fame.

Carter, who earned his bachelor’s degree in 1973 from N.C. A&T, has served at Shaw in a variety of roles including Assistant VP for Student Affairs, Director of Admissions and Recruitment, athletic director, men’s basketball coach, women’s basketball coach and Interim Dean of Enrollment Management.

During his tenure as Athletic Director, the men’s basketball program advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight, the women’s basketball program reached the Final Four, and the men’s tennis team won seven straight CIAA tennis championships.

Six individuals and one team comprise the 2013 class. They will be enshrined on March 2 at the Charlotte Convention Center at 11 a.m.