Edwardsville, Ill. – For the first time in nearly a month, the Chattanooga Wrestling team was back in action. The Blue and Gold traveled to Edwardsville, Ill. to face the 23^rd-ranked University of Illinois and the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars.

After UTC jumped out to an early 12-3 lead, the Illini came back to defeat the Mocs 19-12 in the opening match of the day. The Mocs followed up the defeat with a 30-12 win over the hosts.

Fabian Gutierrez began the day with a 6-0 decision over Illinois' Justin Cardani. After an Illinois victory at 133, Franco Valdes gave the Mocs a 6-3 advantage with a 4-3 decision at 141.

UTC doubled its lead with Noah Castillo's 6-4 decision at 149 pounds. The reigning Southern Conference Freshman of the Year, Weston Wichman, continued the Mocs' streak of decisions with a 6-1 win at 157 pounds to put UTC up 12-3.

The Illini began to fight back, winning three straight matches by decision at 165, 174 and 184 to tie the match at 12. At 197, Illinois picked up the match's first major decision with a 12-2 victory to take a 16-12 lead. The Illini completed their comeback with a decision at 285 to complete the 19-12 victory.

The second dual began with back-to-back wins for UTC by forfeit at 125 and 133. After SIUE picked up its first decision with a 3-1 victory at 141, the Mocs posted three straight wins with Castillo 8-5 decision at 149, a Wichman pin at 157 and another Cougars forfeit, this time at 165 pounds.

After SIUE's second decision of the afternoon at 174, Matthew Waddell picked up his first victory of the tri-meet, a 7-2 decision at 184 pounds to put the Mocs up 30-6. The Cougars won the final two matches of the day by decision as UTC took the contest 30-12.

Wichman's pin was the third of his career and first this season.

MATCH 1: #23 ILLINOIS 19 – CHATTANOOGA 12

125: Fabian Gutierrez (UTC) DEC Justin Cardani (ILL), 6-0
133: Lucas Byrd (ILL) DEC Brayden Palmer (UTC), 13-10
141: Franco Valdes (UTC) DEC We Rachal (ILL), 4-3
149: Noah Castillo (UTC) DEC Christian Kanzler (ILL), 6-4
157: Weston Wichman (UTC) DEC Joe Roberts (ILL), 6-1
165: Danny Braunagel (ILL) DEC Drew Nicholson (UTC), 6-2
174: DJ Shannon (ILL) DEC Carial Tarter (UTC), 3-1
184: Zac Braunagel DEC Matthew Waddell (UTC), 5-2
197: Nikita Nepomnyaschiy MD Thomas Sell (UTC), 12-2
285: Luke Luffman DEC Grayson Walthall (UTC), 6-1

MATCH 2: CHATTANOOGA 30 – SIU-Edwardsville 12
125: Fabian Gutierrez (UTC) over (SIUE), FOR
133: Brayden Palmer (UTC) over (SIUE), FOR
141: Saul Ervin (SIUE) DEC Franco Valdes (UTC), 3-1
149: Noah Castillo (UTC) DEC Caine Tyus (SIUE), 8-5
157: Weston Wichman (UTC) F Max Kristoff (SIUE), 3:43
165: Drew Nicholson over (SIUE), FOR
174: Kevin Gschwendtner (SIUE) DEC Carial Tarter (UTC), 7-4
184: Matthew Waddell (UTC) DEC Sergio Villalobos (SIUE), 7-2
197: Ryan Yarnell (SIUE) DEC Thomas Sell (UTC), 4-2
285: Colton McKiernan (SIUE) DEC Matthias Ervin (UTC), 3-0

Series history:
UTC moves to 8-0 against SIUE and is now 0-2 vs. Illinois.

Up next:
UTC concludes the 2021 calendar year with a tri-meet in Morgantown, W. Va. vs. West Virginia and Cleveland State on Monday, Dec. 20.

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