The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling team opens the 2020-21 season against NCAA Division II Emmanuel College this weekend.  Match time is set for 2:00 p.m. (E.S.T.) on Saturday, Jan. 2, in Maclellan Gym.
 
"I think it goes without saying that our guys are craving true competition," stated UTC head coach Kyle Ruschell. "2020 has developed a higher appreciation for each and every opportunity we have to compete because as we've all experienced, it can be taken away in a moment.
 
"All we've had for the past nine months has been the process, the grind… and I think it has caused a new level of gratitude for just that. When all you have is the preparation, without any promise of the battle you're preparing for, you learn whether or not you really love the sport."
 
Spectators will not be allowed for this match, but the contest will broadcast on ESPN+.  Chris Goforth (play-by-play) and Torrez Finney (analyst) have the call.  Check the wrestling schedule page on GoMocs.com for a link to the broadcast and live scoring via TrackWrestling. 
 
COVID-19 forced the start of the 2020-21 season to Jan. 2.  The Mocs were originally scheduled to compete in a number of events and duals prior to the holiday break, but had to make adjustments due to the pandemic.  UTC competes in a quad-dual at Oklahoma State next weekend, before beginning the Southern Conference schedule at Gardner-Webb on Jan. 17. 
 
"This group of guys loves wrestling and are ready to put it all out there," added Ruschell. "We're excited to host Emmanuel and I think this will be a great season opener to see our improvements and gauge where exactly we're at with our lineup."
 
PROBABLE LINEUP VS. EMMANUEL
125: No. 19 Fabian Gutierrez (Sr.)
133: Colton Landers (Jr.)
141: Franco Valdes (Jr.)
     or Aidan Murphy (Jr.)
149: No. 21 Tanner Smith (Jr.)
157: Weston Wichman (Fr.)
     Grant Lundy (Fr.)
     Caleb Waddell (Fr.)
165: Drew Nicholson (Jr.)
174: Hunter Fortner (Jr.)
184: No. 13 Matthew Waddell (Jr.)
197: Logan Andrew (Fr.)
285: Grayson Walthall (Jr.)
* Rankings are Flo (Dec. 27, 2020)
 
HEAD COACH KYLE RUSCHELL
Kyle Ruschell is in his third season as head coach of the Mocs and owns a 14-16 dual meet record. The Mocs were 7-9 last season, with three qualifying for the 2020 NCAA Tournament before it was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  His first year was an impressive one that included a share of the 2019 Southern Conference regular season title and four individuals advancing to the NCAA Championships. 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).
 
SCOUTING THE MOCS
UTC returns six of 10 starters to the lineup from last year's team.  Senior Fabian Gutierrez and junior Matthew Waddell represented the Mocs on the preseason All-SoCon team.  Both qualified for the 2020 NCAA Championships before it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Gutierrez, a senior from Commerce City, Colo., went 17-9 last season, including a 6-0 mark in SoCon dual action.  He was runner-up at the SoCon Tournament before earning an at-large bid to the NCAAs.  He is currently No. 19 in the nation in the Flo rankings. 
 
Waddell, a junior from Gilmer, Ga., was 22-9 at 184 pounds.  He was ranked throughout the season and earned an automatic bid to the NCAAs with a second place showing at the SoCon Tournament.  He also won the Appalachian Open and placed fourth at the Southern Scuffle. Flo ranks him No. 13 in the country at 184 heading into the 2021 season. 
 
Junior Tanner Smith is another returning NCAA Qualifier.  He went 25-9 last year and is No. 21 at 149 pounds. 
 
Other returning starters include juniors Drew Nicholson (165), Hunter Fortner (174) and Grayson Walthall (285).  Nicholson was 16-16 last season, while Fortner posted a 12-17 record.  Walthall had six pins with an 8-12 record at heavyweight. 
 
EMMANUEL PROBABLE LINEUP
125: Deven Perez (Jr.)
      Anthony Cruz (Fr.)
      Tyler Snowden (Fr.)
      Eli Holton (Fr.)
133: Allen Stone (Fr.)
      Martrez Huff (So.)
141: Nick Voiles (Jr.)
149: Dalton Flint (Sr.)
157: Jesse DeJames (So.)
165: Jonathan Oldknow (Fr.)
174: Myles Williams (Jr.)
184: Markis Hill (So.)
      Hayden Snowden (Fr.)
197: Seth Bell (Sr.)
285:
 
SCOUTING EMMANUEL
The Lions are coming off a 4-18 record in 2019-20, including a 1-5 mark in South Atlantic/Conference Carolinas action.  Emmanuel is coached by Link Davis, who is beginning his sixth season.  Senior Dalton Flint (141) and junior Myles Williams (174) were both picked as "Wrestlers to Watch" in the South Atlantic/Conference Carolinas preseason poll.  Both advanced to the semifinals at the 2020 NCAA Division II Super Regionals.
 
HEAD TO HEAD
There are no head-to-head results available for this dual.
 
ALL-TIME VS. EMMANUEL
This is the first meeting between these two teams. 
 
MOCS PICKED THIRD IN THE SOCON PRESEASON
Chattanooga was picked to finish third in the Southern Conference race with 53 points, including one first-place vote. The Mocs also went 4-2 in the conference last year, finishing with a 7-9 record overall. Appalachian State received six first-place votes and 61 points to top the 2020-21 preseason poll. Campbell was second with 57 votes.  Gardner-Webb (40), Davidson (32), The Citadel (29), VMI (21), Bellarmine (17) and Presbyterian (7) rounded out the listings.
 
MOCS GETTING THE JOB DONE IN THE CLASSROOM
UTC topped the 3.0 mark as a team for the eighth time in the fall of 2020.  The Mocs had a 3.094 GPA in the fall and had a program-record 22 on the A.D. Honor Roll with a 3.0 GPA.  UTC has posted a 3.0 in each of the last five semesters.