With just two days before the start of the 2014 Southern Scuffle, presented by Defense Soap and Flips Wrestling, Chattanooga Mocs head wrestling coach and junior 133-pounder Nick Soto met with the local media to discuss the upcoming event.
The Scuffle takes place on Jan. 1-2 in Chattanooga's McKenzie Arena. Tickets are on sale now on GoMocs.com and complete information on the tournament can be found on TheSouthernScuffle.com.
#LetsScuffle Previews: 125 | 133 | 141 | 149 | 157 | 165 | 174 | 184 | 197 | 285
Below are some excerpts from today's presser. For the complete press conference, check out the attached videos.
Nick Soto, junior, 133 lbs.
On wrestling in the Southern Scuffle
“It's exciting. I love the sport and when you have really good competition like we are going to have just gives you a euphoric feeling.”
On what makes the Southern Scuffle Exciting
“Coach Eslinger and the whole coaching staff does a great job with this event. Everyone that helps does an amazing job and it seems to just keep getting better with every single year. I think this is a little different than the NCAA Tournament. I mean, David Taylor and Kyle Dake were right there. You could go up and touch them if you wanted to. You are involved in it. You see their personalities being that close to them.”
On the Mocs going into the Scuffle
“The team is doing awesome. We have some great energy and I just expect the guys to go out and wrestle like they know how and do the best they can.”
Head Coach Heath Eslinger
On hosting the Southern Scuffle
“We are excited to be hosting the Southern Scuffle again. Last year, we thought it grew a little bit and we are equally as excited about it this year because we are starting to see we can host a great tournament and event. We have a great city, community and University. When you put those things together we can do more than just host a wrestling tournament. We want to have a premiere event in our sport.”
On the quality of wrestling coming to McKenzie Arena
“I think this year's quality is unbelievable. If you look at the weight classes, it is absolutely loaded. Kids you think are going to be seeded aren't being seeded and I think we keep building quality. I believe we have also increased the quantity of the tournament, and some of those team we have added – Stanford, Central Michigan, Pitt, Iowa State – We are adding very competitive teams. It's going to be interesting. It is a great mid-season test in preparation for the NCAA Tournament and I believe that's why so many people like it. Our administration does a great job of hosting the event and the athletes make it a great tournament.”
On the Mocs going into the Scuffle
“I think we are wrestling well. I am a guy who thinks our team has to show up and wrestle well every time we wrestle. I know certain spots mean more with different trophies, but I think the way we are wrestling and our attitude is good right now. Our kids know how to wrestle. If we can keep their attitude where it needs to be then I believe we will wrestle and compete well.”
