Mocs Take on VMI & Davidson on Saturday

1/21/2021 8:45:00 AM

Freshman Logan Andrew in 2-0 in SoCon action at 197.

SoCon tri-meet begins at 11:00 a.m. (E.S.T.) in Davidson, N.C.

The Chattanooga Mocs return to Southern Conference action this weekend at Davidson. UTC takes part in a tri-meet with the Wildcats and VMI on Saturday, Jan. 23, in Belk Arena in Davidson, N.C.

UTC opens the event at 11:00 a.m. (E.S.T.) against the Keydets. That match is immediately followed by the dual against Davidson at approximately 12:30 p.m. Follow both duals with live results on TrackWrestling. Davidson is producing all three for their streaming service on DavidsonWildcats.com. This pay-per-view costs $5.95 for the day. Links to both the broadcast and the live scoring are available on the wrestling schedule page on GoMocs.com.

UTC is 4-2 overall and 2-0 in SoCon action following Sunday’s wins over The Citadel (17-15) and Gardner-Webb (23-13). VMI brings a 1-2 mark that includes a win over Sacred Heart (30-9) on Jan. 9 and losses to Ohio (21-18) and Campbell (39-0) on Jan. 16. Davidson split matches last weekend, winning against Bellarmine (27-16) and falling to Appalachian State (38-0) in SoCon competition.

CHATTANOOGA PROBABLE LINEUP
125: No. 21 Fabian Gutierrez (Sr. - 5-1, 2-0 SoCon)
133: Colton Landers (Jr. - 2-4, 0-2 SoCon)
141: Franco Valdes (Jr. - 3-0, 2-0 SoCon)
     or Matthew Williams (Fr. - 0-0, 0-0 SoCon)
149: Aidan Murphy (Jr. - 2-1, 1-1 SoCon)
     or George Coleman (So. - 0-3, 0-0 SoCon)
157: Weston Wichman (Fr. - 5-2, 1-1 SoCon)
     or Grant Lundy (Fr. - 1-1, 0-0 SoCon)
165: Drew Nicholson (Jr.- 4-2, 1-1 SoCon)
174: Carial Tarter (So. - 2-2, 0-2 SoCon)
184: No. 22 Matthew Waddell (Jr. - 4-2, 1-1 SoCon)
197: Logan Andrew (Fr. - 4-2, 2-0 SoCon)
285: Grayson Walthall (Jr. - 2-4, 1-1 SoCon)
* Rankings are Flo (Jan. 19, 2021)

HEAD COACH KYLE RUSCHELL
Kyle Ruschell is in his third season at UTC owns a 18-18 dual record. The Mocs were 7-9 last season, with three qualifying for the 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 SoCon 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
The Mocs are off to a 4-2 start, including two wins in Southern Conference action last weekend over The Citadel (17-15) and Gardner-Webb (23-13). UTC returns six of 10 starters to the lineup from last year’s team that went 7-9 and placed third at the Southern Conference Tournament.

VMI PROBABLE LINEUP
125: Cliff Conway (Sr. - 2-3, 0-1 SoCon)
133: Luke Fegley (Fr. - 2-5, 0-1 SoCon)
141: Freddy Junko (Fr. - 3-4, 0-1 SoCon)
149: Job Chishko (So. - 5-0, 0-0 SoCon)
      or Josh Yost (So. - 1-3, 0-1 SoCon)
157: Blake Showers (Fr. - 4-2, 0-0 SoCon)
      or Seth Fillers (So. - 4-2, 0-1 SoCon)
165: John Hoover (So. - 1-4, 0-1 SoCon)
174: Joel Diaz (Fr. - 1-4, 0-0 SoCon)
184: Zach Brown (So. - 5-1, 0-0 SoCon)
      or Chase Mielnik (Fr. - 2-4, 0-1 SoCon)
197: Tyler Mousaw (Fr. - 4-1, 0-1 SoCon)
285: Solomon Harris (So. - 0-0, 0-0 SoCon)
      or Brian Jackson (Fr. - 0-0, 0-0 SoCon)

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. 21 in the nation in the Flo rankings with a 5-1 record.

Waddell, a junior from Gilmer, Ga., was 22-9 at 184 pounds last season. He was ranked throughout the year 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. 19 in the country at 184 this week, with a 4-2 mark

DAVIDSON PROBABLE LINEUP
125: ---
133: Kyle Gorant (1-1, 1-1 SoCon)
141: Gavin Damasco (1-1, 1-1 SoCon)
149: David Loniewski (0-2, 0-2 SoCon)
157: Bryce Sanderlin (1-1, 1-1 SoCon)
165: Anthony Spera (0-2, 0-2 SoCon)
174: Jaden Hardrick (0-2, 0-2 SoCon)
184: Gavin Henry (1-1, 1-1 SoCon)
197: Finlay Holston (1-1, 1-1 SoCon)
285: Mitchell Trigg (1-1, 1-1 SoCon)

Junior Tanner Smith is another returning NCAA Qualifier. He went 25-9 last year, but has only competed in one match at 149 pounds this season.

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.

STARTERS OUT
Normal starter for the Mocs, juniors Tanner Smith and Hunter Fortner, are not listed in this week’s probable lineups. Smith is ranked No. 22 at 149 according to FloWrestling this week. His only action of the season was a major decision in the opener against Emmanuel. Forter is 3-2 at 174 and did not compete last weekend.

SCOUTING VMI
• The Keydets are under the direction of third-year head coach Jim Gibson. The former Edinboro (‘07) standout is 11-27 in dual matches, including a 6-8 mark in SoCon matches.
• VMI was picked to finish seventh in the preseason SoCon coaches poll.
• Keydets enter the match with a 1-2 mark, including a 30-9 win over Sacred Heart (1/9). VMI had a close loss to Ohio (21-18) and was shut out against Campbell (39-0) on Jan. 16.
• The Keydets were 6-13 overall last season, including a 3-4 mark in SoCon duals.
• Gone from the Keydets’ lineup is All-American Neal Richards. The 2020 SoCon Tournament MVP graduated after last season.
• Sophomore Josh Chishko is 5-0 at 149, while fellow sophomore Zach Brown has a 5-1 mark at 184. Freshman Tyler Mousaw has a 4-1 record at 197.

HEAD TO HEAD
165: Drew Nicholson scored a 7-4 decision over Jon Hoover in last year’s dual. It is the only previous head-to-head in the probable lineups.

ALL-TIME VS. VMI
All-Time: 30-6, Home: 14-3, Away: 15-3, Neutral 1-0
Chattanooga won last year’s meeting 29-9 in Lexington, Va. This is the 37th meeting against the Keydets, but just the second on a neutral mat. The Mocs have won 17 in a row, with the last loss coming on Feb. 22, 2003, in Chattanooga. UTC dropped that one 26-12. The only other neutral match was the first in the series, a 20-18 Mocs win in Boone, N.C., on Feb. 11, 1984.

LAST FIVE MATCHES VS. VMI
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
1-19-20 - Lexington, Va. - W - 29-9

LAST TIME VS. VMI
Chattanooga 29 at VMI 9
Lexington, Va. - Cormack Hall
Sunday - January 19, 2020
125: No.20 Fabian Gutierrez (CHAT) over John McGarry (VMI) (Fall 2:23)
133: Franco Valdes (CHAT) over Cliff Conway (VMI) (Dec 5-3)
141: Mason Wallace (CHAT) over Noah Roulo (VMI) (MD 15-5)
149: No. 23 Tanner Smith (CHAT) over Job Chishko (VMI) (Dec 5-4)
157: Will Lawrence (VMI) over Tyler Shilson (CHAT) (SV-1 7-5)
165: Drew Nicholson (CHAT) over Jon Hoover (VMI) (Dec 7-4)
174: Neal Richards (VMI) over Hunter Fortner (CHAT) (Dec 7-2)
184: Matthew Waddell (CHAT) over Max Gallahan (VMI) (Fall 4:17)
197: Rodney Jones (CHAT) over Zach Brown (VMI) (MD 11-3)
285: Chris Beck (VMI) over Grayson Walthall (CHAT) (Dec 3-2)

SCOUTING DAVIDSON
• Head coach Andy Lausier is in his fourth season at Davidson. He guided the Wildcats to a fifth place finish at the SoCon Tournament. He spent six years as the head coach at Sacred Heart (2013-17) prior to coming to Davidson.
• Davidson is picked to finish fifth in the preseason SoCon Coaches Poll.
• The Wildcats are 1-1 overall, including a 27-16 win against Bellarmine on Jan. 17. Davidson dropped a 38-0 match to Appalachian State that same day in Boone, N.C.
• Will Baldwin (149) is the lone senior on the roster for the Wildcats.
• Junior Kyle Gorant (133) led the team with a 14-11 record last season.

HEAD TO HEAD
184: Matthew Waddell pinned Gavin Henry (0:47) at the 2020 SoCon Tournament.
285: The only rematch from last year’s dual is at heavyweight where Grayson Walthall pinned Davidson’s Mitchell Trigg (4:37).

ALL-TIME VS. DAVIDSON
All-Time: 28-0, Home: 12-0, Away: 11-0, Neutral 5-0
UTC scored a 47-0 shutout in last year’s dual in Davidson, N.C. The Wildcats scored nine points in the Jan. 27, 2019 dual, tying for the most points allowed by UTC against Davidson.

LAST FIVE MATCHES VS. DAVIDSON
12-2-17 - Davidson, N.C. - W - 43-3
1-28-17 - Chattanooga - W - 44-3
1-30-15 - Chattanooga - W - 36-3
1-31-16 - Davidson, N.C. - W - 37-9
11-22-19 - Davidson, N.C. - W - 47-0

LAST TIME VS. DAVIDSON
Chattanooga 47 – Davidson 0
Belk Arena – Davidson, N.C.
Friday – Nov. 22, 2019
125: Fabian Gutierrez (UTC) over Anthony Rautmann (Davidson) (Fall 1:45)
133: Wade Cummings (UTC) over Kyle Gorant (Davidson) (Dec 5-3)
141: Aidan Murphy (UTC) over David Loniewski (Davidson) (Dec 6-5)
149: Tanner Smith (UTC) over Will Baldwin (Davidson) (TF 18-1 6:45)
157: Tyler Shilson (UTC) over Hunter Costa (Davidson) (MD 15-3)
165: Andrew Nicholson (UTC) over Noah Satterfield (Davidson) (MD 24-10)
174: Hunter Fortner (UTC) over Steven Newell (Davidson) (Fall 3:33)
184: Matthew Waddell (UTC) over Lachlan Rosato (Davidson) (Fall 1:21)
197: Rodney Jones (UTC) over Conor Fenn (Davidson) (MD 11-3)
285: Grayson Walthall (UTC) over Mitchell Trigg (Davidson) (Fall 4:37)

SoCon tri-meet begins at 11:00 a.m. (E.S.T.) in Davidson, N.C.

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