The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling team had two individuals win titles at the Appalachian Open today. Sophomores
Hunter Fortner and
Matthew Waddell took the trophies at 174 and 184 pounds, respectively.
"We had some good results and it was a good test for us," stated head coach
Kyle Ruschell. "That was the first tournament win for Hunter since high school and Waddell took care of business."
Fortner opened with a 7-5 decision over Appalachian State's Barrett Blakely and a pin against Gardner-Webb's Jacob Reames in the semifinals. He beat Campbell's Cole Maddox (MD, 9-0) in the finals to improve to 8-13 overall.
Waddell had first period pins against App. State's Mason Fiscella and Virginia's Dawson Peck in his first two matches. He followed that with an 8-3 decision over Virginia Tech's Cody Howard in the finals.
Junior
Fabian Gutierrez (125) and sophomore
Tanner Smith (149) both went 2-0 before bowing out of the tournament. Sophomore
Aidan Murphy entered the even with a 1-11 record, but went 3-1 for a third place finish at 141. Sophomores
Tyler Shilson (157) and
Drew Nicholson (165) and senior
Rodney Jones (197) all had third place finishes.
Up next for the Mocs is a big home match against Appalachian State on Sunday, Feb. 2. Action begins at 2:00 p.m. (E.S.T.) in McKenzie Arena and tickets are on sale now on GoMocs.com.
The Mocs are hosting an Alumni Weekend in conjunction with the Appalachian State match. The Alumni Party is set for the Holiday Inn Downtown (434 Chestnut Street) on Saturday, Feb. 1. The party begins at 7:00 p.m. and features a performance by former Moc J.R. Ward. Admission is $40 per person. For questions and to RSVP contact Allie Ruschell at
allie.ruschell@gmail.com.
Appalachian Open
Boone, N.C. – Saturday – Jan. 25, 2020
125
Fabian Gutierrez – 2nd Place
Carson Smith (App. St.) – W-MD, 14-0
Sean Carter (App. St.) – W-Fall (2:53)
MF in the finals
133
Wade Cummings
Noah Bernstein (Davidson) – W-TF, 15-0 (4:26)
Kai Orine (N.C. State) – L-D, 5-8
Cole Rhone (Va. Tech) – W-MD, 14-4
Landon Shuford (Campbell) – W-MD, 8-0
Colton Landers (UTC) – L-D, 1-2
Colton Landers
Levi Smith (Fairmont St.) – W-Fall (3.46)
Joseph Heilmann (UNC) – L-D, 5-11
Tyler Delaware (ODU) – W-MD, 8-0
DeAndre Swinson-Barr – W-D, 4-2
Wade Cummings (UTC) – W-D, 2-1
141
Aidan Murphy – 3rd Place
Jarred Papcsy (N.C. State) – W-D, 4-1
Dawson Bates (App. St.) – W-D, 3-1
Dom Latona (Va. Tech) – L-D, 0-6
Brad Irwin (App. St.) – W-For.
Mason Wallace
Anthoney Brito (App. St.) – L-D, 2-5
Jack Darling (Va. Tech) – W-Fall (4:17)
Blake Baker (App. St.) – W-Fall (2:19)
Dawson Bates (App. St.) – W-D, 7-0
Alex Urquiza (N.C. State) – L-D, 6-7
149
No. 24 Tanner Smith
Matt Fields (N.C. State) – W-D, 6-0
Caden Darber (Va. Tech) – W-MD, 10-1
MF in semifinals
157
Tyler Shilson – 3rd Place
Grant Spear (The Citadel) – W-TF, 15-0 (3:05)
Patrick Evans (UVa.) – W-MD, 13-5
Josh McClure (UNC) – L-D, 1-7
Daniel Mancini (Va. Tech) – W-D, 12-11
165
Drew Nicholson – 3rd Place
Donald Cates (Un.) – W-D, 5-4
David Veltri (UVa.) – W-MD, 11-1
Will Formato (App. St.) – L-D, 2-5
Sawyer Davidson (UNC) – W-D, 6-4
174
Hunter Fortner – 1st Place
Cole Maddox (Campbell) – W-MD, 9-0
Jacob Reames (GWU) – W-Fall (2:10)
Barrett Blakely (App. St.) – W-D, 7-5
184
Matthew Waddell – 1st Place
Cody Howard (Va. Tech) – W-D, 8-3
Drew Peck (UVa.) – W-Fall (0:55)
Mason Fiscella (App. St.) – W-Fall (0:36)
Ben Stacey
Cody Howard (Va. Tech) – L-TF, 1-18 (3:00)
Garrett Church (App. St.) – L-D, 5-11
197
Rodney Jones – 3rd Place
Raymon Rodriguez (App. St.) – W-D,4-2
Demazio Samuel (App. St.) – L-D, 1-5
River Henry (ODU) – W-D, 5-1
285
Grayson Walthall
William Baldwin (ODU) – W-Fall (5:22)
T.J. Boyd (Fairmont St.) – W-Fall (2:03)
No. 19 Cary Miller (App. St.) – L-TF, 1-16 (3:19)
Mike Burchell (App. St.) – L-Fall (3:53)
