The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling team ushered in the 2018-19 season and the Kyle Ruschell era at the Hokie Open in Roanoke, Va., today.  The Mocs put four individuals on the podium in the Open division and another five in the freshman sophomore bracket.

The 125 finals in the open division was all Chattanooga, with sophomore Fabian Gutierrez facing off against senior Alonzo Allen.  Allen got in on a shot late in the first quarter, but Gutierrez put him on his back for the pin at the 2:55 mark. 

It was the second NCAA Qualifier in a row Gutierrez turned away in his run to the title.  He defeated Indiana's Eiljah Oliver 6-1 in the semifinals and finished with a 4-0 record.

"Our guys did a good job competing today," stated Ruschell following his head coaching debut.  "They prepared well and we had some good results."

Other placers in the open division include seniors Rodney Jones and Connor Tolley who both took sixth place at 197 and heavyweight, respectively. 

Freshman Ryan Resnick and junior Ben Stacey both place third in the freshman/sophomore division.  Resnick grinded at 157 with four matches that were all decided by two points.  Stacey finished with a 3-2 mark at 197. 

Freshman Davion Fairley defeated teammate Aiden Murphy in the fifth place match at 141 in the freshman/sophomore draw, while freshman Mason Wallace rounded out the Mocs on the podium with a fifth place showing at 149. 

Up next for the Mocs is the first home dual of the season on Sunday, Nov. 11, against No. 21 North Carolina.  Match time is set for 2:00 p.m. (E.S.T.) in Maclellan Gym and tickets are on sale now on GoMocs.com. 

Chattanooga Results
125
Alonzo Allen – 2^nd Place
                De'andre Swinson (App. St.) – W-D, 4-0
                Paxton Rosen (Campbell) – W-TF, 20-5
                Joseph Heilmann (UNC) – W-D, 4-1
                Fabian Gutierrez (UTC) – L-Fall (2:55)

Fabian Gutierrez – 1^st Place
                Korbin Meink (Campbell) – W-D, 6-4
                Joey Melendez (UNC) – W-Fall (4:42)
                Elijah Oliver (Indiana) – W-D, 6-1
                Alonzo Allen (UTC) – W-Fall (2:55)

133
Wade Cummings
                Patrick Washington (App. St.) – L-D, 3-5
                Codi Russell (App. St.) – L-D, 4-7

Jake Huffine
                Patrick Washington (App. St.) – W-Fall (2:42)
                Austin Warner (Campbell) – W-MD, 11-2
                Zach Sherman (UNC) – L-D, 3-6
                Colton Landers (UTC) – W-D, 8-6
                Garrett Pepple (Indiana) – L-D, 0-5

Colton Landers
                No. 20 Matthew Schmitt (WVU) – L-TF, 4-19
                Franco Valdes (UTC) – W-D, 3-1
                Kolten Radaz (Campbellsville) – W-D, 9-3
                Jake Huffine (UTC) – L-D, 6-8

Franco Valdes
                Joe Ballantyne (UNCP) – W-Fall (4:57)
                No. 14 Korbin Myers (Va. Tech) – L-MD, 4-15
                Colton Landers (UTC) – L-D, 1-3

141
Chris Debien
                Jon Miller (UNCP) – W-D, 14-7
                Will Clark (NCSU) – W-D, 6-1
                A.C. Headlee (UNC) – L-D, 3-8
                A.J. Leitten (NCSU) – L-MD, 8-16

Davion Fairley (Fr/So) – 5^th Place
                Taquel Young (Emmanuel) – W-MD, 11-2
                Sammy Peticos (UNCP) – W-D, 8-7
                Gray Hart (Virginia) – L-D, 3-4
                Jarred Papcsy (NCSU) – W-D, 4-3
                Lionardo Quezada (George Mason) – W-D, 7-5
                Aidan Murphy  (UTC) – W-D, 4-2

Aiden Murphy (Fr/So) – 6^th Place
                Lionardo Quezada (George Mason) – W-D, 10-4
                Alex Urquiza (NCSU) – L-D, 5-12
                Caleb Ziebell (Davidson) – W-D, 8-4
                Sammy Peticos (UNCP) – W-MD, 16-3
                Davion Fairley (UTC) – L-D, 2-4

149
Zach Shareef
                Gino Esposito (UNC) – L-D, 4-5
                No. 8 Mitch Finesilver (Duke) – L-TF, 1-16

Tanner Smith
                Kyler Rea (WVU) – W-MD, 8-0
                No. 18 Josh Heil (Campbell) – L-D, 5-9
                Aidan Conroy (Davidson) – W-MD, 11-1

Mason Wallace (Fr/So) – 5^th Place
                Troy Nation (Campbell) – W-D, 10-4
                Jerrod Hunziker (VMI) – W-MD, 10-2
                Caden Darber (Va. Tech) – L-D, 6-8
                Bobby Pryhocki (Campbell) – W-Fall (2:02)
                Troy Nation (Campbell) – W-TF, 18-1
                Tony Negron (NCSU) – W-MD, 14-5

157
Ryan Resnick (Fr/So) – 3^rd Place
                Alex Rivera (Campbell) – W-D, 5-3
                William Formato (App. St.) – W-D, 6-4
                Kolby Ho (George Mason) – L-D, 8-10
                Allen Swanson (Campbell) – L-D, 3-4

165
Drew Nicholson (Fr/So)
                Tyler Barnes (NCSU) – L-D, 1-3
                Nick Giantonio (Newberry) – W-MD, 19-8
                Mason Eaglin (Duke) – L-D, 0-7

Trey Watson
                Matt Kirkland (Limestone) – L-D, 8-10
                Nick Kiussis (WVU) – L-Fall (2:10)

184
Dominic Lampe
                Garrett Church (App. St.) – W-Fall (4:01)
                No. 7 Chip Ness (UNC) – L-MD, 4-12
                Conor Fenn (Davidson) – W-D, 8-7

197
Rodney Jones – 6^th Place
                Demazio Samuel (App. St.) – W-D, 4-1
                Sawyer Root (Citadel) – L-D, 2-3
                Zack Willard (App. St.) – W-D, 10-3
                Drake Pauwels (Campbell) – W-D, 5-4
                Tyler Love (UVA) – L-MD, 1-15

Ben Stacey (Fr/So) – 3rd Place
                Mason Fiscella (App. St.) – W-D, 8-2
                Finlay Holston (Davidson) – W-MD, 16-2
                Noah Adams (WVU) – L-MD, 3-12
                Cody Howard (Va. Tech) – W-For.

285
Connor Tolley – 6^th Place
                No. 16 Cory Daniel (UNC) – L-D, 3-8
                Laith Alsous (Campbell) – W-D, 11-6
                Brandon Ngati (WVU) – W-D, 4-3
                David Smith (WVU) – L-Fall (1:32)