CHATTANOOGA – As the Chattanooga Mocs' wrestling team continues preparation for its season opener in 16 days, GoMocs.com continues its season preview introducing the wrestling program by class. This edition will feature the 141 and 149 weight classes.
141
Dayne Dalrymple - Fr., Memphis, Tenn.
Went 179-30 throughout his high school career at Christian Brothers High School, including a 37-2 mark senior year. Dalrymple finished in the top three at states all four years and was a two-time state champion (junior and senior seasons). He was the Freshman of the Year, a two-time All-American and four-time honor roll recipient. Last summer Dalrymple won the Fargo Nationals in Greco-Roman.
Head Coach Kyle Ruschell on Dalrymple: "He was a national champion in Greco this summer. We've got Drew [Nicholson] and Grayson [Walthall] who came from the same high school. They're both all about work ethic and training hard and Dayne is also one of those guys. He is a kid that gets in the wrestling room, does the extra things, goes as hard as he can, and the only thing we have to do is polish him up a little bit and fix the minor details."
Colton Landers – Jr., Cleveland, Tenn.
Landers enters his fifth year as a Moc. He sat out his first year and has accumulated a 23-18 record in his last three seasons. He is moving up a weight class this year after previously competing at 133 pounds. Last season at 133, he went 10-6 and 6-2 in Southern Conference action. Prior to the SoCon tournament, Landers won six straight matches to conclude the regular season.
Ruschell on Landers: "He's another one of those guys that has been in our lineup for a long time. Colton is going up a weight class so hopefully he feels a little better and builds some strength. He's one of those guys that is really hard to score on and makes guys wrestle his style. If he can continue to develop like he did last year, who knows that this guy can do."
Hunter Noland – Fr., Dalton, Ga.
Noland compiled a 111-2 record in the last two seasons in high school and is a three-time Georgia State Champion. He competed for head coach and former UTC All-American Michael Keefe. Noland was a 6A State runner-up freshman year. He was a NHSCA Freshman All-American and 2020 NHSCA All-American.
Ruschell on Noland: "Hunter is very athletically gifted; he's one of the best athletes I've ever coached. He is explosive and has the desire to win. If we can bring him along, who knows what he can do. He can be on the top of the podium come March later on in his career.
Franco Valdes – Jr., Miami, Fla.
Valdes enters his fifth season with Chattanooga Wrestling. He has competed in the last three seasons and has a 12-5 record in dual action and a 22-20 overall record. Last season, Valdes competed in the 141 weight class and went 9-0 in duals and 10-1 overall. He earned All-SoCon honors after going 8-0 in league action and was named to Academic All-SoCon and Academic All-NWCA teams.
Ruschell on Valdes: "Last year he had a great year and had a hiccup at the conference tournament. Franco is a guy who can hang with anybody the way he moves with his in and out and his finishes. We need to get him a little better on top so he can build some riding time, but this kid is gifted."
149
Matthew Williams – Fr., Fair Play, S.C.
Williams enters his second season at UTC after competing last season at 141 and went 1-3. His win last season came against Presbyterian's Khalid Brinkley. Prior to Chattanooga, Williams was a three-time state champion at West-Oak High School in Westminister, S.C. He wrestled for former Moc and 2001 SoCon Champion Adam Duncan. He went 177-20, was a four-time state finalist and only had eight losses in his final three seasons.
Ruschell on Williams: "Matthew knows the history of Chattanooga wrestling and understands what this program is all about. He is strong and is very basic, but basic's win. That's what I'm excited for with him. Last season was a weird year so we didn't get to see him compete as much but now he knows what the college scene is like and this year should be great for him."
Noah Castillo – Fr., Orlando, Fla.
Castillo enters his second year at UTC and sat out last season as a redshirt. Prior to coming to Chattanooga, he was a three-time state champion at Lake Highland Prep in Orlando, Fla. Castillo finished fourth at the Ironman and took the Class 1A title at 152 pounds as a senior. He was ranked as high as No. 6 in the nation during his senior season (Flo).
Ruschell on Castillo: "Noah was a big recruit for us two years ago but last year he was dealing with a few injuries and redshirted. He's back this season and healthy. His Florida swagger is going to come out as he goes in and out, he's on his legs and he's very slick. Noah's a tough kid and we're excited to see him come up throughout his freshman year. He's a great talent."
George Coleman – So., Pittsgrove, N.J.
Coleman begins his fourth season at UTC. He sat out his first year as a redshirt. In his last two years, he has two wins and has received two SoCon Honor Roll accolades in his time at UTC. In high school, Coleman was a two-time District 32 Champion and two-time region placer at St. Augustine Prep in Pittsgrove, N.J.
Ruschell on Coleman: "George is one of those guys that you look at and think 'man he does a lot of good things.' He's a great team player and has been around the program the last few years so he knows what it takes. We're excited to see him continue to develop this season."
Lincoln Heck – Fr., West Wyoming, Pa.
Heck sat out last season at UTC as a redshirt. He made the Dean's List and the A.D. Honor Roll both semesters and earned the SoCon Commissioner's Medal with a 4.0. Prior to UTC he was a four-year letter winner at Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School in Kingston, Pa.
Ruschell on Heck: "Lincoln is another one you didn't get to see compete too much last season. He is a P.A. boy from Wyoming Seminary, and he knows a lot of technique. The kid is strong and flexible, we just need to keep him on the mat and keep him healthy. We haven't seen too much of him over the last year and a half so I'm excited to get him into tournaments, like the rest of the guys, and see where he's at."
Grant Lundy – Fr., Cleveland, Tenn.
Lundy went 4-2 at 157 in his first year competing as a Moc. He held a 1-0 record in duals and 3-2 in tournaments. He is a two-time SoCon Honor Roll recipient. Lundy went to Cleveland High School and was a Tennessee State AAA Champion at 145 pounds as a senior. He posted a 37-1 record as a junior.
Ruschell on Lundy: "He had a great offseason. Grant got to step into a few extra matches last season and he knocked off a great talent in Finesilver from Duke in a tournament over the summer. He is a kid who comes in every day, works really hard and tries to get better. He loves this sport and you look at him and you think 'that's Chattanooga Wrestling right there.'"
The 2021-22 Chattanooga Wrestling season gets underway with the Blue and Gold Scrimmage on Saturday, Oct. 30 prior to the homecoming football game vs. Furman. The scrimmage is slated to begin at 10 a.m. in the First Horizon Pavilion.
The squad will kick off the regular season with a dual at home on Nov. 6 vs. Cumberland. To purchase season tickets, click here.
