A quick history lesson of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling team shows that the Mocs moved to NCAA Division I prior to the 1977-78 season.  That was the 10^th year of legendary head coach Jim Morgan's tenure and the start of six straight Southern Conference titles.

It was a great time to be a Mat Moc. 

A big part of those early Division I teams was 2020 UTC Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee Cary Waller.  Waller joined the Mocs in the fall of 1978 and almost immediately established himself as one of the top competitors in the SoCon.

"I was from Memphis and followed my brother Rick to Chattanooga," stated Waller when asked how he ended up wrestling for UTC.  "He was two years ahead of me and was already on the team and liked it.  I felt like it was a good fit for me."

The younger Waller slid right into the starting spot at 142 pounds and posted an 11-7 record as a freshman.  He was the No. 2 seed in the SoCon Tournament and pinned Marshall's top-seeded Ralph Truitt in the finals. 

That title was the first of three Southern Conference trophies for Waller, as well as three trips to the NCAA Tournament.
 

"We felt like I might have a chance to win that first year," added Waller on his early success.  "I was so excited when I won that I jumped up and yelled.  There was a great photo of that and it was put on a billboard in Chattanooga to congratulate us for winning the tournament."

Waller moved up to 150 pounds as a sophomore and finished second at the league championships.  He earned his second title as a junior in 1981, posting two pins and a decision in the SoCon Tournament.

The 1981 SoCons also saw his brother Rick win his second title at 132 pounds.  The Waller brothers would eventually take home a total of five championships between them.

Cary redshirted the 1982 season, but returned for a fifth year in 1983.  He posted a 13-3 mark at 150, and was also 8-3 in duals at 158.  He stayed at 150 for the SoCon Tournament, capturing his third title with a 9-3 decision over VMI's Ben Walker in the finals.


In the history of SoCon wrestling that dates back to 1930, he is one of 52 with three conference titles in a career.  He is also one of just 18 at UTC to accomplish that feat.

That 1983 team was loaded with Waller, All-American Charlie Heard and four-time SoCon Champion Pat Murphy.  With seven total NCAA Qualifiers, they went on to finish 14^th at the national tournament.  That still stands as UTC's best showing at the NCAA Division I wrestling championships.

"The NCAA Tournament was such a great experience," stated Waller.  "There were 15,000 in there every year and it was tough.  That was a very good team in 1983 with a lot of good wrestlers." 

Waller joins four others who will be inducted into the UTC Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, Feb. 28.  It will be his first time back in the Scenic City in more than 30 years. 

"I was very surprised when I was told I was being considered (for the Hall of Fame)," added Waller.  "It is not something I expected, but I am excited to get back and see some old friends and teammates."