The Chattanooga Mocs wrestling team dropped a tough match at No. 13 Central Michigan 32-6 today. The only points UTC (2-3) was able to put on the board came in a forfeit at 141 by the Chippewas (1-0).
After wrestling two dual meets, then making the 700+ mile trip to Mt. Pleasant, Mich., the Mocs were going to have their hands full with one of the top teams in the nation. Despite not coming away with a win, UTC battled in four matches that were decided by two points or less.
Sophomore Demetrius Johnson overcame a 5-0 deficit at 125 against Matt Steintrager. Johnson reversed Steintrager late in the second period, escaped to open the third and took Steintrager down on the edge of the mat to tie the score at 5-5. Steintrager scored an escape with one minute remaining for the decisive point.
In the only matchup of ranked opponents, No. 16 Joey Knox lost a close one to No. 8 Steven Brown. Brown scored a pair of first-period takedowns and added a reversal in the second period of take control of the match. Knox tried to mount a comeback in the third, tallying an escape early in the period and a takedown in the closing seconds, however, he was unable to close the gap.
True freshman Jake Young continued his strong start to his collegiate career, despite falling in today's action. In just his 10th career match, Young pushed Mike Miller, the nation's top-ranked 174-pounder, well into the third period of their match. Miller and Young traded escapes before Miller scored the decisive takedown in the final frame.
Sophomore Jason McCroskey also had a close match, falling to Ben Bennett 5-4 at 184. The Mocs will be back in action this weekend when they travel to the Wolfpack Open in Raleigh, N.C., on Saturday.
No. 13 Central Michigan 32, Chattanooga 6
125: Matt Steintrager (CMU) dec. Demetrius Johnson, 6-5; CMU leads 3-0
133: No. 9 Scotti Sentes (CMU) pin Josh Statum at 4:49; CMU leads 9-0
141: No. 20 Cody Cleveland (UTC), win by forfeit; CMU leads 9-6
149: No. 19 Tony D'Alie (CMU) maj. dec. Dean Pavlou, 10-2; CMU leads 13-6
157: No. 8 Steve Brown (CMU) dec. No. 16 Joey Knox, 6-5; CMU leads 16-6
165: Tyler Grayson (CMU) dec. Brandon Wright, 8-3; CMU leads 19-6
174: No. 1 Mike Miller (CMU) dec. Jake Young, 3-1; CMU leads 22-6
184: No. 16 Ben Bennett (CMU) dec. Jason McCroskey, 5-4; CMU leads 25-6
197: Eric Simaz (CMU) dec. Niko Brown, 4-0; CMU leads 28-6
285: No. 11 Jarod Trice (CMU) maj. dec. Tom Minwell, 11-1; CMU leads 32-6
Attendance: 344
