The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling team battled hard in a 22-15 loss at No. 19 North Carolina today. The Mocs split their weekend road trip with today's loss and Friday's win at Davidson to fall to 2-4 overall. UNC improved to 2-1 in dual action this season.
The Mocs opened with a big win from junior
Fabian Gutierrez over Jeremiah Derby at 125. Gutierrez ran out to a 10-0 lead after the first period and finished with a 16-0 technical fall. That gave Chattanooga a 5-0 lead in the team race.
The Tar Heels took the next two matches, including a four-point major decision at 141, to grab a 7-5 lead. Sophomore
Tanner Smith had an impressive 9-0 major of his own at 149. A takedown and back points in the second gave Smith a 7-0 lead over Michael Goldfeder that he built on in the final frame.
UNC took the next three matches to run out to a 19-9 lead. That included a six-point pin at 174.
The Mocs tried to mount a comeback, beginning with sophomore
Matthew Waddell at 184. He posted a 9-3 decision over Joey Mazzara to close the Carolina lead to 19-12.
Senior
Rodney Jones followed with an 8-2 win to pull the Mocs to within striking distance at 19-15 with one match left. UNC was able to close out the dual with a win at heavyweight.
Up next for the Mocs is a home match against Ohio on Sunday, Dec. 1. Match time is set for 2:00 p.m. (E.S.T.) at Maclellan Gym. Tickets are on sale now on GoMocs.com.
No. 19 North Carolina 22 – Chattanooga 15
Carmichael Auditorium – Chapel Hill, N.C.
Sunday – Nov. 24, 2019
125:
Fabian Gutierrez (UTC) def. Jeremiah Derby (UNC) – Tech Fall 16-0 – UTC 5-0
133: Jaime Hernandez (UNC) def.
Franco Valdes (UTC) – Dec. 4-1 – UTC 5-3
141: Zach Sherman (UNC) def.
Aidan Murphy (UTC) – MD 14-3 – UNC 7-5
149:
Tanner Smith (UTC) def. Michael Goldfeder (UNC) – MD 9-0 – UTC 9-7
157: AC Headlee (UNC) def.
George Carpenter (UTC) – Dec. 8-6 – UNC 10-9
165: No. 18 Kennedy Monday (UNC) def.
Drew Nicholson (UTC) – Dec. 15-8 – UNC 13-9
174: Clay Lautt (UNC) def.
Hunter Fortner (UTC) – Fall (6:26) – UNC 19-9
184:
Matthew Waddell (UTC) def. Joey Mazzara (UNC) – Dec. 9-3 – UNC 19-12
197:
Rodney Jones (UTC) def. Brandon Whitman (UNC) – Dec. 8-2 – UNC 19-15
285: Andrew Gunning (UNC) def.
Grayson Walthall (UTC) – Dec. 9-3 – UNC 22-15
