At first glance, it looks like the 2015-16 Chattanooga wrestling team would be all set at 157 and 165.  Austin Sams is back for his senior year after starting at 157 all of last season, and Justin Lampe is coming off a Southern Conference All-Freshman Team campaign as the starter at 165.

However, Sams is down to his normal 149, while Lampe is bumping up to 174.  These changes in the lineup open up opportunities for others to make a name for themselves.

Look for freshman Kamaal Shakur to earn the nod at 157, with freshman Trey Watson pushing him at that spot.  Shakur was impressive in the room as a redshirt last season, while Watson joins the team as a true freshman from Thompson High School in Alabaster, Ala.

Shakur was a highly touted recruit as a junior at Parkview High School in Lilburn, Ga., and won a USA Wrestling preseason national title as a senior.  An injury kept him from competing his full senior season, but a year of rehab and hard work has him ready to step in at 157.

"This is a weight class we are super-excited about," stated Chattanooga head coach Heath Eslinger.  "Kamaal will take the mat here. He is probably one of the most talented kids we have ever had in our program. 

"He struggled a little bit his redshirt year just to find his lane, but he is on the right path.  He is doing the right things and the sky is the limit for him.  We have to do a good job coaching him and making sure he is ready because he is a guy who can make a lot of noise at a very young age. 

"We've also got Trey Watson.  He came here as a walk-on and earned a spot on the team.  He does everything that is expected of him and he pushes every single person in the wrestling room. I think people are going to see drastic improvements in him and he is going to be a real help." 

165 is a little more open with three competing for the job.  Sophomore Barrett Walthall is coming off a redshirt season and is joined by newcomers Demarco Gatti and Dominic Lampe. 

Walthall, a native of Memphis, Tenn., is dropping down from 174 where he competed as a true freshman in 2013-14.  He had a 6-9 record in tournament action, including a sixth place finish at the Navy Classic.  He was also 1-1 at 184 in a fill-in role in two dual matches. 

"At 165, we have some guys making a sacrifice to get down to that weight," explained Eslinger.  "We don't have a lot of depth, but it will be a fun battle to see who gets that spot.  There is a bit of an unknown here heading into the season, but we've got three guys that are working hard."

Gatti is coming off a third place finish at the Southeastern Championships as a senior at Roswell (Ga.) High School.  Lampe joins his two older brothers on the team, John and Justin, and has a Kentucky state title on his resume. 

"We've got guys who believe that they are the guy for the job," added Eslinger.  "It will be interesting to see, but the season is long.  I am not real concerned with where we start but more about where we finish.  I think one of the biggest challenges with them will be from a weight management standpoint and keeping things under control."

The Mocs are busy preparing for the next week's Blue-Gold Match on Thursday, Oct. 29.  Action begins at 6:00 p.m., at the annual intrasquad scrimmage in Maclellan Gym and admission is free.  Season tickets are on sale now on GoMocs.com or by calling the UTC Ticket Office at (423) 266-MOCS (6627).