The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling team is on the road this weekend for a pair of matches in Virginia.  The Mocs visit the Cavaliers in Charlottesville on Friday, Jan. 17, and VMI in Lexington on Sunday, Jan. 19. 
 
Match time at Virginia is set for 7:00 p.m. (E.S.T.) in Memorial Gym.  The event broadcasts on the ACC Network Xtra and a link is on the wrestling schedule page on GoMocs.com.
 
Sunday's action at VMI starts at Noon in Cormack Hall. Catch this one on the SoCon Digital Network through the link on the wrestling schedule page on GoMocs.com.  Live scoring is also available via TrackWrestling. 
 
The Mocs are 4-6 overall and in second place in the SoCon race with a 2-0 league tally.  UTC is coming off a 34-5 win over Gardner-Webb in McKenzie Arena last Sunday.
 
Virginia was ranked most of the season, but dropped out after a second place finish at the Virginia Duals in Hampton last weekend.  The Cavaliers defeated Kent State (23-12) and Old Dominion (23-9) but lost in the finals to No. 23 Rider (12-20).  Virginia is 5-2 overall. 
 
VMI is 4-7 overall and 1-0 in SoCon matches.  The Keydets travel to Virginia on Saturday before hosting the Mocs on Sunday.    
 
IT'S ALL IN THE NAME
On first reference, it is acceptable to refer to us as the "University of Tennessee at Chattanooga". After that, we prefer to be called "Chattanooga" or "UTC". Our nickname is "Mocs". Please do not use UT-Chattanooga, Tennessee-Chattanooga or the Moccasins.
 
CHATTANOOGA PROBABLE LINEUP
125: No. 20 Fabian Gutierrez (Jr. – 10-6, 2-0 SoCon)
133: Colton Landers (So. – 6-3, 1-0 SoCon)       
      Wade Cummings (Jr. – 3-5, 1-0 SoCon)
141: Mason Wallace (So. – 5-7, 0-0 SoCon)
      Aiden Murphy (So. – 1-10, 1-1 SoCon)
149: No. 23 Tanner Smith (So. – 16-6, 2-0 SoCon)
157: Tyler Shilson (So. – 5-7, 2-0 SoCon)
      George Carpenter (Sr. – 4-7, 0-0 SoCon)
165: Drew Nicholson (So. – 8-11, 1-1 SoCon)
174: Hunter Fortner (So. – 5-10, 2-0 SoCon)
184: No. 21 Matthew Waddell (So. – 13-7, 2-0 SoCon)
197: Rodney Jones (Sr. – 10-7, 2-0 SoCon)
285: Grayson Walthall (So. – 4-12, 2-0 SoCon)

HEAD COACH KYLE RUSCHELL
Kyle Ruschell was named head coach of the Mocs on Aug. 10, 2018, and is in his second season guiding the UTC program. He has an 11-13 dual record overall that includes sharing the SoCon Regular Season Title last season with a 7-7 mark and a 5-1 league tally.  He spent the previous eight seasons as an assistant coach at Wisconsin. A former member of the U.S. National Team (2014-15), he was a two-time All-American for the Badgers (2007-10).
 
LAST TWO MATCHES IN MCKENZIE ARENA
UTC's final two home matches will all be in McKenzie Arena.  This includes Sunday, Feb. 2 against Appalachian State and  Friday, Feb. 21, against Indiana. 
 
SCOUTING THE MOCS
• UTC is led by its three ranked wrestlers in No. 20 Fabian Gutierrez (Jr. - 125 - 10-6), No. 21 Matthew Waddell (So. - 184 - 13-7) and No. 23 Tanner Smith (So. - 149 - 16-6).
• Five of Waddell's six losses have come against ranked opponents. 
• Sophomore Colton Landers had a breakout performance at the Southern Scuffle at 133.  He went 4-1 on the opening day, but had to pull out of day 2 due to illness.  He followed that with a nice win against Gardner-Webb and is 6-3 on the year.
• Senior Rodney Jones is off to a 10-7 start at 197.  He is coming off a 2-2 run at the Scuffle and a win against Gardner-Webb.
• Mason Wallace has dropped down to 141 where he went 2-2 at the Scuffle.
 
VIRGINIA PROBABLE LINEUP
125: No. 2 Jack Mueller (Sr. - 6-0)
      or Patrick McCormick (Fr. - 7-5)
133: No. 25 Louie Hayes (Jr. - 14-7)
141: Brian Courtney (So. - 13-8)
149: Denton Spencer (So. - 14-6)
      or Michael Murphy (Jr. - 13-6)
157: Justin McCoy (Fr. - 12-8)
165: Sam Martino (Jr. - 9-8)
      or Krystian Kinsey (So. - 5-7)
174: No. 22 Victor Marcelli (Fr. - 9-6)
184: Michael Battista (Jr. - 12-14)
197: No. 7 Jay Aiello (Jr. - 18-4)
285: No. 21 Quinn Miller (So. - 15-3)
 
SCOUTING VIRGINIA
• Senior Jack Mueller is No. 2 in the nation at 125 and 6-0 on the year, but has not competed since the Cliff Keen Invitational on Dec. 6-7. 
• Louie Hayes checks in at No. 25 at 133 this week.  He went 2-1 at the Virginia Duals. 
• Junior Michael Murphy went 2-0 at the Virginia Duals and is 13-6 at 149.  He is a native of Lookout Mountain and the son of Pat Murphy, a UTC Athletics Hall of Fame and four time Southern Conference Champion (1980-83). 
• Victor Marcelli placed seventh at the Midlands and was 1-2 at the Virginia Duals.  He is currently No. 22 at 174 pounds.
• Jay Aiello placed second at the Midlands then went 3-0 at the Virginia Duals.  That included a 6-1 decision against Rider's 10th-ranked Ethan Laird in the finals.  Aiello is currently No. 7 at 197 pounds. 
• Quin Miller won the Franklin & Marshall Open and went 3-0 at the Virginia Duals.  He is riding an eight-match winning streak and is No. 21 at heavyweight.
 
ALL-TIME VS. VIRGINIA
The Mocs are 1-4 all-time against Virginia, including a 34-11 loss in the last meeting in Maclellan Gym on Dec. 4, 2016.  the last time UTC travel to Charlottesville, the Mocs came away with an epic 19-18 win over the 19th-ranked Cavaliers on Feb. 14, 2016.  UTC was trailing 18-7 with three matches left, but ran off three straight wins, including a pin at heavyweight by Jared Johnson, to grab the dual victory.     

Match-by-Match vs. Virginia (1-4)
Home: 0-1, Away: 1-1, Neutral 0-2
1-11-97 - Atlanta, Ga. - L - 5-32
11-3-12 - Charlottesville, Va. - L - 9-26
1-10-15 - Hampton, Va. - L - 13-18
2-14-16 - Charlottesville, Va. - W - 19-18
12-4-16 - Chattanooga - L - 11-34
 
LAST TIME VS. VIRGINIA
Virginia 34 – No. 24 Chattanooga 11
Maclellan Gym – Chattanooga, Tenn. – Sunday – 12/5/16
125: No. 15 Jack Mueller (UVA) – Tech Fall 18-2 (3:00) – Alonzo Allen (UTC) – UVA 5-0
133: Will Mason (UVA) – Fall 2:13 – Chris Debien (UTC) – UVA 11-0
141: No. 10 George DiCamillo (UVA) – Fall 2:13 – Roman Boylen (UTC) – UVA 17-0
149: Sam Krivus (UVA) – Dec. 9-3 – Dylanger Potter (UTC) – UVA 20-0
157: No. 17 Andrew Atkinson (UVA) – Tech Fall 16-0 (3:17) – Brandon Filosi (UTC) – UVA 25-0
165: Cam Harrell (UVA) – Fall 6:47 – Justin Lampe (UTC) – UVA 31-0
174: Ray Bethea (UVA) – Dec. 7-5 (SV1) – Sean Mappes (UTC) – UVA 34-0
184: Bryce Carr (UTC) – MD 17-5 – Will Schany (UVA) – UVA 34-4
197: Clay Dent (UTC) – Dec. 6-1 – Chance McClure (UVA) – UVA 34-7
285: No. 14 Jared Johnson (UTC) – MD 8-0 – Tyler Love (UVA) – UVA 34-11
 
HEAD TO HEAD VS. VIRGINIA
• 149 - Virginia's Denton Spencer scored a 2-1 win over UTC's Tanner Smith at the Wolfpack Open on Nov. 18, 2018.
 
VMI PROBABLE LINEUP
125: John McGarry (Fr. - 6-14, 1-0 SoCon)
133: Cliff Conway (Jr. - 4-16, 0-1 SoCon)
141: Noah Roulo (Fr. - 3-8, 0-0 SoCon)
149: Job Chishko (Fr. - 17-12, 1-0 SoCon)
157: Will Lawrence (Jr. - 10-11, 1-0 SoCon)
165: Jon Hoover (Fr. - 3-18, 0-1 SoCon)
174: No. 19 Neal Richards (Sr. - 25-6, 1-0 SoCon)
184: Max Gallahan (Sr. - 8-13, 1-0 SoCon)
197: Zach Brown (Fr. - 11-15, 0-1 SoCon)
285: Robbie Adelstein (So. - 2-12, 0-1 SoCon)
      or Chris Beck (Sr. - 8-5, 0-0 SoCon)
 
SCOUTING VMI
• Senior Neal Richards is the defending SoCon Champion at 174 pounds.
• VMI's four wins equal last year's total and are the most since going 6-8 in 2014-15.
• VMI defeated Cal Baptist (22-21) on a tiebreak at the VMI Quad on Jan. 10.  The Keydets lost to Clarion (33-8) and Cleveland State (30-6) at the event, and to Sacred Heart (30-9) on Sunday.  
 
ALL-TIME VS. VMI
The Mocs have won 16-straight in the series against VMI, including last year's 32-8 victory in Maclellan Gym on Jan. 20.  UTC is 29-6 overall in the rivalry that dates back to 1984.  The last time the Mocs lost to VMI was Feb. 22, 2003 (26-12) in Chattanooga.  The Mocs have won 11 in a row in Lexington, Va., with the last loss (27-13) coming on Feb. 10, 1996.      
  
Match-by-Match vs. VMI (29-6)
Home: 14-3, Away: 14-3, Neutral 1-0
Last Loss in the Series - Won 16 in a Row
2-22-03 - Chattanooga - L - 12-26
Last 10 Meetings
2-18-10 - Lexington, Va. - W - 33-9
2-20-11 - Chattanooga - W - 31-6
2-20-12 - Lexington, Va. - W - 41-0
2-23-13 - Chattanooga - W - 36-3
2-23-14 - Lexington, Va. - W - 37-3
1-25-15 - Chattanooga - W - 35-3
12-10-15 - Lexington, Va. - W - 31-6
11-10-16 - Chattanooga - W - 41-5
11-4-17 - Lexington, Va. - W - 41-5
1-20-19 - Chattanooga - W - 32-8
 
LAST TIME VS. VMI
Chattanooga 32 – VMI 8
Sunday – Jan. 20, 2019 – Maclellan Gym
125: Fabian Gutierrez (CHAT) over Derek Shockey (VMI) (TF 18-1 6:04) – UTC 5-0
133: Jake Huffine (CHAT) over Hunter Starner (VMI) (MD 10-0) – UTC 9-0
141: Chris Debien (CHAT) over Dom Gallo (VMI) (Dec 5-2) – UTC 12-0
149: Tanner Smith (CHAT) over Zach Schmitt (VMI) (Fall 2:02) – UTC 18-0
157: Mason Wallace (CHAT) over Darren Ostrander (VMI) (Dec 4-2) – UTC 21-0
165: Drew Nicholson (CHAT) over Luke Niksic (VMI) (MD 12-4) – UTC 25-0
174: Neal Richards (VMI) over Hunter Fortner (CHAT) (TF 21-6 4:53) – UTC 25-5
184: Max Gallahan (VMI) over Trey Watson (CHAT) (SV-1 10-4) – UTC 25-8
197: Rod Jones (CHAT) over Chris Beck (VMI) (Dec 5-3) – UTC 28-8
285: Connor Tolley (CHAT) over Trey Momon (VMI) (MD 12-4) – UTC 32-8
 
HEAD TO HEAD VS. VMI
• 141 - Mason Wallace scored an 11-1 major decision over Noah Roulo at the Southern Scuffle.
• 174 - Hunter Fortner has lost twice to Neal Richards.  Richards pinned him at the Hokie Open earlier this season.  Richards also posted a 21-6 tech fall in last year's dual meet on Jan. 20. 
 
MOCS HAVE A BRUTAL NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
UTC has definitely scheduled up in non-conference action this season. The Mocs hosted Army (L, 18-12) and Illinois (L, 22-10) earlier in the season.  UTC also traveled to No. 2 Iowa (L, 39-0), No. 19 North Carolina (L, 22-15), No. 11 Iowa State (L, 7-26) and No. 5 Virginia Tech (L, 28-3).  UTC still has this week's match at Virginia and closes out the season with its third Big 10 opponent Indiana on Feb. 21.
 
SMITH NAMED STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Sophomore Tanner Smith is the current General Shale Southern Conference Student-Athlete of the Week for all competition from Dec. 24 to Jan. 8. The selection is made by the league office.  Smith notched a fifth-place finish at 149 pounds at the Southern Scuffle on Jan. 1-2. The sophomore from New Carlisle, Ohio, posted a 7-2 record during the two-day tournament which was highlighted by a 7-6 decision over 20th-ranked Russell Rohlfing of Cal State Bakersfield and a pin of Oregon State's Daxton Gordon. Smith now boasts a record of 15-6 for the season.  Smith is a business analytics major and currently holds a 3.85 grade point average.  SoCon Student-Athlete of the Week winners are chosen from all sports and required to have a minimum 3.3 GPA.
 
MOCS GETTING THE JOB DONE IN THE CLASSROOM
UTC topped the 3.0 mark as a team sixth time in the fall of 2019 with a 3.01 GPA.  The Mocs put 14 on the Dean's List and 17 on the A.D. Honor Roll.  Sophomore Tanner Smith and freshman Weston Wichman both had 4.0 GPAs.
 
SMITH & JONES MAKE PRESEASON ALL-SOCON TEAM
The Mocs were represented by sophomore Tanner Smith at 149 and senior Rodney Jones at 197 on the preseason All-SoCon team.  Smith was the 2019 SoCon Freshman of the Year after posting a 12-9 record and qualifying for the NCAA Championships.  He was also a member of the SoCon All-Freshman team and was runner-up at the SoCon Tournament.  Jones qualified for the NCAAs at 197 pounds last year by taking the SoCon's second automatic bid at that weight.  He defeated The Citadel's Sawyer Root on a last second reversal in the second place match to secure his first trip to the national tournament.
 
ATTENTION ALL WRESTLING ALUMNI
We need all UTC wrestling alumni to take the C Club Challenge for $100.  Joining the C Club directly benefits Mocs wrestling, and the program with the highest percentage of alumni who join get an extra $5,000 added to their budget.  Visit www.gomocs.com/cclub to join.