Sunday, February 28
Boone, N.C.
All Day
Chattanooga
at
SoCon Tournament
Junior Franco Valdes is the No. 1 seed at 141.
Photo by: Angela Foster
Mocs Head to Boone for Sunday's SoCon Tournament
2/26/2021 1:54:00 PM | Wrestling
Catch all the action on ESPN+.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling team is off to the 84th annual Southern Conference Wrestling Tournament in Boone, N.C., this weekend. The Mocs have won 29 SoCon Tournament titles since joining the league in 1978, including five of the last 10 and 10 of the last 16.
The SoCon was allocated 13 spots for the NCAA Championships, with two each at 149, 184 and 285 pounds. Links for both live scoring and the ESPN+ broadcast are available on the wrestling schedule page on GoMocs.com.
Campbell is the two-time defending champions and winners of three of the last four SoCon Tournaments. The Camels won last year's event with 117 points, followed by Appalachian State (102) and Chattanooga (75).
This year's tournament is another battle after a tight regular season race. Campbell won the regular season with an 8-1 record and 7-0 mark in league duals. Appalachian State was second (7-2, 7-1 SoCon), while the Mocs were third (8-4, 6-2 SoCon).
UTC went down to the last match in losses to both Appalachian State and Campbell during the dual season. The Mocs are looking for their first Southern Conference Tournament title since 2015.
Davidson, which has paused team activities due to positive COVID-19 test results among Tier 1 personnel, and first-year SoCon member Bellarmine, which is transitioning from NCAA Division II, will not compete in this year's championship.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS - SUNDAY - FEB. 28, 2021
Holmes Convocation Center - Boone, N.C.
10:00 a.m. – First-round matches
12:00 p.m. – Semifinals
2:00 p.m. – Consolation quarters (conso semis follow)
5:30 p.m. – Consolation finals
7:00 p.m. – Finals, true-place matches and award presentation
ATTENDANCE
There are no general ticket sales at the SoCon Wrestling Championship, scheduled for Feb. 28 at App State's Holmes Convocation Center in Boone, North Carolina. In addition to the teams, essential staff, workers and administrative personnel on site, a maximum of 13 student-athletes and three coaches per team are permitted to request two non-transferrable tickets each for immediate family members. A clear-bag policy will be in effect at the Holmes Convocation Center.
BROADCAST
The championships are streamed in its entirety on ESPN+. Check for links on the wrestling schedule page on GoMocs.com.
CHATTANOOGA PROBABLE LINEUP
125: No. 24 Fabian Gutierrez (Sr. - 10-2, 7-1 SoCon)
133: Colton Landers (Jr. - 8-4, 6-2 SoCon)
141: Franco Valdes (Jr. - 9-0, 8-0 SoCon)
149: Aidan Murphy (Jr. - 6-3, 5-3 SoCon)
157: Weston Wichman (Fr. - 9-3, 5-2 SoCon)
165: Drew Nicholson (Jr.- 9-3, 6-2 SoCon)
174: Carial Tarter (So. - 5-5, 3-5 SoCon)
184: Matthew Waddell (Jr. – 9-3, 6-2 SoCon)
197: Logan Andrew (Fr. - 7-5, 5-3 SoCon)
285: Grayson Walthall (Jr. – 6-6, 5-3 SoCon)
* Rankings are Flo (Feb. 15, 2021)
MOCS AT THE SOCON TOURNAMENT
The SoCon Tournament has been held 83 times since 1930. The Mocs have won a league-leading 29 tournament titles, despite not joining the league until 1978. VMI is second with nine and Appalachian State is third with eight. A Moc has won the SoCon Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler Award 19 times overall. The last to do it was Kamaal Shakur in 2016.
IT'S ALL IN THE NAME
On first reference, it is acceptable to refer to us as the "University of Tennessee at Chattanooga". After that, we prefer to be called "Chattanooga" or "UTC". Our nickname is "Mocs". Please do not use UT-Chattanooga, Tennessee-Chattanooga or the Moccasins.
HEAD COACH KYLE RUSCHELL
Kyle Ruschell is in his third season at UTC owns a 22-20 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 finished third in the Southern Conference regular season dual meet race with a 6-2 league tally and an 8-4 overall mark. UTC went down to the last match against both Campbell and Appalachian State, the top to finishers in the SoCon this season. The Mocs led Campbell 15-3 before falling in a 17-15 dual on Feb. 5 in McKenzie Arena. UTC lost to Appalachian State 20-13 in another close one in Boone, N.C. on Jan. 31.
UTC returned six of 10 starters to the lineup from the 2019-20 team that went 7-9 and placed third at the Southern Conference Tournament.
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. 24 in the nation in the Flo rankings with an 10-2 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. He was ranked for most of the 2020-21 season, finishing with a 9-3 record.
Junior Tanner Smith is another returning NCAA Qualifier. He went 25-9 last year, but 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 starters for the Mocs, juniors Tanner Smith and Hunter Fortner, are out for the season with injuries. Smith was ranked No. 22 at 149 according to FloWrestling on Jan. 19. His only action of the season was a major decision in the opener against Emmanuel. Fortner was 3-2 at 174 before ending his 2020-21 campaign.
WICHMAN NAMED SOCON FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Weston Wichman is the 2021 Southern Conference Freshman of the Year. He was 9-3 at 157 pounds, earning freshman of the year honors from the league's nine head coaches. The Johnson Creek, Wisconsin, native pinned two opponents this season and holds a 5-2 record in conference duals. He is also a member of the all-freshman team and is the 10th Moc to earn SoCon Freshman of the Year Honors. The last to do it was Tanner Smith in 2019. Others include Kamaal Shakur (2016), Nick Soto (2012), Jake Young (2010), Jason McCroskey (2009), Matt Pitts (2002), Jared Sullivan (2001), Josh Lambrect (2000) and Gerald Carr (1993).
WEIGHT-BY-WEIGHT NOTES
125: Senior Fabian Gutierrez is currently No. 24 in the Flo rankings after posting a 10-2 record in the regular season. He was 7-1 in SoCon action with a pair of pins.
Gutierrez is No. 21 in the latest NCAA coaches rankings released on Feb. 25. Appalachian State's Codi Russell gave Gutierrez his only league loss in the dual on Jan. 31. Russell is No. 18 in the coaches rankings.
Gutierrez has won eight of his last nine, with the 4-3 loss to Russell the only recent blemish on his record. He had close wins over Campbell's Zurich Storm (5-3) and Presbyterian's Benny Gomez (4-3) in the dual season. .
Gutierrez vs. the SoCon Field (4-1 - 2020-21 • Career - 6-2)
2020-21
Jordie White (CIT - 1/17)........................... W-MD, 11-2
Cliff Conway (VMI -1/23).......................... W-Fall (4:33)
No. 23 Codi Russell (App. St. - 1/31)................ L-D, 3-4
Benny Gomez (PC - 1/31).............................. W-D, 4-3
Zurich Storm (CAMP - 2/5)............................. W-D, 5-3
2019-20
Jordie White (Citadel - 2/16)...................... W-MD, 10-2
2018-19
Benny Gomez (PC - 1/1)................................ W-D, 8-3
2017-18
Zurich Storm (Campbell - 11/5)........................ L-D, 3-8
SoCon Tournament Seeds at 125:
1. Russell (ASU), 2. Gutierrez (UTC), 3. Storm (Campbell), 4. Gomez (Presbyterian), 5. White (The Citadel), 6. Concepcion (GWU), 7. Conway (VMI).
All-Time / Last Time: UTC has won the SoCon Tournament at 125 pounds 10 times. The last to do it was Alonzo Allen in 2018.
133: Junior Colton Landers is riding a hot streak into the Southern Conference tournament. He is 8-4 overall and 6-2 in league duals with six wins in a row.
Landers dropped his first two SoCon matches of the year to The Citadel's Jake Rotunda (8-4) and Gardner-Webb's Todd Carter (10-7), but hasn't lost since.
Landers vs. the SoCon Field (6-2 - 2020-21)
2020-21
Jake Rotunda (CIT - 1/17)............................... L-D, 4-8
Todd Carter (GW - 1/17)............................... L-D, 7-10
Sean Carter (App. St. - 1/31).......................... W-D, 4-2
Dominic Chavez (PC - 1/31)...................... W-MD, 13-4
Gabe Hixenbaugh (CAMP - 2/5)..................... W-D, 4-0
SoCon Tournament Seeds at 133:
1. Rotunda (The Citadel), 2. Carter (ASU), 3. Landers (UTC), 4. Hixenbaugh (Campbell), 5. Chavez (Presbyterian), 6. Carter (GWU), 7. Chicella (VMI).
All-Time/Last Time: UTC has won the SoCon Tournament at 133 pounds 10 times. The last to do it was Chris Debien in 2017.
141: Junior Franco Valdes had an outstanding season with a 9-0 record at 141. He was 8-0 in SoCon action with two overtime wins and four majors and was the All-SoCon team pick at 141.
His close matches included a 5-3 sudden victory win over Appalachian State's Anthony Brito and a 4-2 OT decision against Campbell's Spencer Leonhardt.
Valdes is No. 31 in the latest coaches rankings, while Brito checks in at No. 32.
Valdes vs. the SoCon Field (4-0 - 2020-21)
2020-21
Trevon Majette (GW - 1/17)....................... W-MD, 11-3
Freddy Junko (VMI - 1/23)......................... W-MD, 12-3
Anthony Brito (App. St. - 1/31)............. W-D, 5-3 (SV-2)
Jacob Brasseur (PC - 1/31)............................ W-D, 6-3
SoCon Tournament Seeds at 141:
1. Valdes (UTC), 2. Brito (ASU), 3. Majette (GWU), 4. Hanna (Campbell), 5. Brasseur (Presbyterian), 6. Seeley (The Citadel), 7. Junko (VMI).
All-Time/Last Time: UTC has won the SoCon Tournament at 141 pounds nine times. The last to do it was Chris Debien in 2019.
149: There are two automatic bids up for grabs at 149. Junior Aidan Murphy moved up from 141 to step in for injured starter Tanner Smith. Murphy went 5-3 after making the move, all in SoCon action.
Murphy won two of his last three and had a gritty showing in a 4-0 loss to Campbell's No. 17 Josh Heil. He also dropped a tight 3-2 decision to The Citadel's Selwyn Porter on Jan. 17 and a 15-5 major decision to No. 21 Jonathan Milner in the dual against Appalachian State on Jan. 31.
Heil is No. 11 in the coaches rankings, while Milner is No. 14.
Murphy vs. the SoCon Field (3-3 - 2020-21)
2020-21
Selwyn Porter (CIT - 1/17)............................... L-D, 2-3
Brandon Bright (GW -1/17)............................ W-D, 3-2
Job Chisko (VMI - 1/23)................................. W-D, 4-0
No. 21 Jonathan Millner (App. St. - 1/31) .... L-MD, 5-15
Reid Stewart (PC - 1/31)................................ W-D, 3-2
No. 17 Joshua Heil (CAMP - 2/5)..................... L-D, 0-4
SoCon Tournament Seeds at 149:
1. Milner (ASU), 2. Heil (Campbell), 3. Chishko (VMI), 4. Porter (The Citadel), 5. Murphy (UTC), 6. Bright (GWU), 7. Stewart (Presbyterian).
All-Time/Last Time: UTC has won the SoCon Tournament at 149 pounds six times. The last to do it was Alex Hudson in 2013.
157: Freshman Weston Wichman has had a strong rookie season for the Mocs. He is 9-3 overall and 5-2 in SoCon action and is the 2021 SoCon Freshman of the Year.
Both of Wichman's losses were by a single point, including an 8-7 decision to Gardner-Webb's Taylor Parks and a 7-6 overtime loss to Appalachian State's Cody Bond.
Wichman did give Campbell's Benjamin Barton his only loss of the season with a 7-3 decision in the dual on Feb. 5. Barton is No. 25 in the coaches rankings, while Bond is No. 31.
Wichman vs. the SoCon Field (3-2 - 2020-21)
2020-21
Grant Speer (CIT - 1/17)........................... W-MD, 11-3
Taylor Parks (GW - 1/17)................................ L-D, 7-8
Cody Bond (App. St. - 1/31).................. L-D, 6-7 (TB-1)
Zachary Phillips (PC - 1/31)........................... W-D, 7-3
Benjamin Barton (CAMP - 2/5)....................... W-D, 7-3
SoCon Tournament Seeds at 157:
1. Barton (Campbell), 2. Bond (ASU), 3. Wichman (UTC), 4. Parks (GWU), 5. Showers (VMI), 6. Phillips (Presbyterian), 7. Speer (The Citadel).
All-Time/Last Time: UTC has won the SoCon Tournament at 157 pounds eight times. The last to do it was Kamaal Shakur in 2016.
165: Junior Drew Nicholson went 9-3 overall and 6-2 in league action at 165 for the Mocs. The three-year starter has won three in a row and five of his last six.
Nicholson is No. 27 in the coaches ranking. This is a loaded class with four total in the rankings. Others include No. 16 Will Formato (ASU), No. 21 Rodrick Mosley (GWU) and No. 33 Dazjon Casto (The Citadel).
Nicholson lost to Formato (1-6) and Mosley (4-12) in the regular season. He scored a 5-3 win over Casto. Nicholson has lost to Casto in both of his two trips to the SoCon Tournament.
Nicholson vs. the SoCon Field (3-2 - 2020-21 • Career - 5-6)
2020-21
Dazjon Casto (CIT - 1/17).............................. W-D, 5-3
RJ Mosley (GW - 1/17)............................... L-MD, 4-12
Jon Hoover (VMI - 1/23).............................. W-MD, 8-0
No. 10 William Formato (App. St. - 1/31).......... L-D, 1-6
Bryton Goering (PC - 1/31)............... W-TF, 21-5 (6:53)
2019-20
Dazjon Casto (CIT - 3/8)................................. L-D, 6-8
RJ Mosley (GW - 3/87)................................... L-D, 2-4
Dazjon Casto (CIT - 2/16).............................. W-D, 6-5
RJ Mosley (GW - 1/12)................................... L-D, 2-4
2018-19
Dazjon Casto (CIT - 3/19)............................... L-D, 3-9
Dazjon Casto (CIT - 2/8)................................ W-D, 8-6
SoCon Tournament Seeds at 165:
1. Formato (ASU), 2. Mosley (GWU), 3. Nicholson (UTC), 4. Casto (The Citadel), 5. Kraisser (Campbell), 6. Hoover (VMI), 7 Ramirez (Presbyterian).
All-Time/Last Time: UTC has won the SoCon Tournament at 165 pounds eight times. The last to do it was Corey Mock in 2018.
174: Sophomore Carial Tarter gave a gutsy performance at 174 this season. He moved up from 165 in place of injured starter Hunter Fortner. Tarter finished with a 5-5 record and was 3-5 in SoCon action.
Campbell's Austin Murphy is No. 12 in the coaches rankings, while Appalachian State's Thomas Flitz is No. 13.
Tarter vs. the SoCon Field (1-3 - 2020-21)
2020-21
Cole Burke (CIT - 1/17)................................... L-D, 4-8
No. 19 Thomas Flitz (App. St. - 1/31).......... L-MD, 4-17
Victor Tello (PC - 1/31)............................ W-Fall (6:27)
No. 12 Austin Murphy (CAMP - 2/5)........... L-Fall (1:22)
SoCon Tournament Seeds at 174:
1. Murphy (Campbell), 2. Flitz (ASU), 3. Schenk (GWU), 4. Burke (The Citadel), 5. Tarter (UTC), 6. Tello (Presbyterian), 7. Carpenter (VMI).
All-Time/Last Time: UTC has won the SoCon Tournament at 174 pounds five times. The last to do it was Sean Mappes in 2015.
184: There are two bids up for grabs at 184, where junior Matthew Waddell is representing the Mocs. Waddell finished with a 9-3 overall record and a 6-2 mark in SoCon action.
Waddell is 1-2 against the field and is No. 26 in the coaches rankings. Others ranked at this weight include Campbell's Caleb Hopkins (22), Gardner-Webb's Jhaquan Anderson (32) and VMI's Zach Brown (33).
Waddell vs. the SoCon Field (1-2 - 2020-21 • Career - 2-2)
2020-21
Kyle Kretzer (CIT - 1/17)................................. L-D, 1-6
Julian Gorring (App. St. - 1/31).................. W-MD, 11-2
Caleb Hopkins (CAMP - 2/5)........................... L-D, 2-5
2019-20
Julian Gorring (App. St. - 2/2)................... W-Fall (2:53)
SoCon Tournament Seeds at 184:
1. Hopkins (Campbell), 2. Anderson (GWU), 3. Waddell (UTC), 4. Brown (VMI), 5. Gorring (ASU), 6. Kretzer (The Citadel).
All-Time/Last Time: UTC has won the SoCon Tournament at 184 pounds nine times. The last to do it was Bryce Carr in 2018.
197: Freshman Logan Andrew represents the Mocs at 197. He made the SoCon All-Freshman Team with a 7-5 record and a 5-3 mark in league action.
Campbell's Chris Kober is No. 28 in the coaches rankings while VMI's Tyler Mousaw is No. 33. Andrew dropped one-point decisions to both in the regular season.
Andrew vs. the SoCon Field (2-2 - 2020-21)
2020-21
Ben Stemmet (CIT - 1/17)............................ W-D, 10-3
Tyler Mousaw (VMI - 1/23).............................. L-D, 2-3
Mason Fiscella (App. St. - 1/31).................... W-D, 12-5
Chris Kober (CAMP - 2/5)............................... L-D, 3-4
SoCon Tournament Seeds at 197:
1. Kober (Campbell), 2. Mousaw (VMI), 3. Andrew (UTC), 4. Fiscella (ASU), 5. Mora (GWU), 6. Stemmet (The Citadel).
All-Time/Last Time: UTC has won the SoCon Tournament at 197 pounds six times. The last to do it was Scottie Boykin in 2018.
285: Junior Grayson Walthall is battling for one of two spots up for grabs at heavyweight. Walthall is 6-6 overall and 5-3 in league matches.
Walthall only competed against three of the field in the regular season. He is 1-5 against that group all-time.
The Citadel's Michael McAleavey is No. 30 in the coaches rankings.
Walthall vs. the SoCon Field (0-3 - 2020-21 • Career - 1-5)
2020-21
Michael McAleavey (CIT - 1/17)....................... L-D, 1-3
Michael Burchell (App. St. - 1/31)..................... L-D, 1-4
Taye Ghadiali (CAMP - 2/5)............................ L-D, 4-1
2019-20
Michael McAleavey (CIT - 3/8)........... L-TF, 0-16 (4:21)
Michael McAleavey (CIT - 2/16)....................... L-D, 3-5
Michael Burchell (App. St. - 1/25)............. W-Fall (3:53)
SoCon Tournament Seeds at 285:
1. McAleavey (The Citadel), 2. Perrrine (GWU), 3. Ghadiali (Campbell), 4. Burchell (ASU), 5. Walthall (UTC), 6. Spell (Presbyterian), 7. Ramos (VMI).
All-Time/Last Time: UTC has won the SoCon Tournament at 285 pounds six times. The last to do it was Matt Koz in 2007.
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.
The SoCon was allocated 13 spots for the NCAA Championships, with two each at 149, 184 and 285 pounds. Links for both live scoring and the ESPN+ broadcast are available on the wrestling schedule page on GoMocs.com.
Campbell is the two-time defending champions and winners of three of the last four SoCon Tournaments. The Camels won last year's event with 117 points, followed by Appalachian State (102) and Chattanooga (75).
This year's tournament is another battle after a tight regular season race. Campbell won the regular season with an 8-1 record and 7-0 mark in league duals. Appalachian State was second (7-2, 7-1 SoCon), while the Mocs were third (8-4, 6-2 SoCon).
UTC went down to the last match in losses to both Appalachian State and Campbell during the dual season. The Mocs are looking for their first Southern Conference Tournament title since 2015.
Davidson, which has paused team activities due to positive COVID-19 test results among Tier 1 personnel, and first-year SoCon member Bellarmine, which is transitioning from NCAA Division II, will not compete in this year's championship.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS - SUNDAY - FEB. 28, 2021
Holmes Convocation Center - Boone, N.C.
10:00 a.m. – First-round matches
12:00 p.m. – Semifinals
2:00 p.m. – Consolation quarters (conso semis follow)
5:30 p.m. – Consolation finals
7:00 p.m. – Finals, true-place matches and award presentation
ATTENDANCE
There are no general ticket sales at the SoCon Wrestling Championship, scheduled for Feb. 28 at App State's Holmes Convocation Center in Boone, North Carolina. In addition to the teams, essential staff, workers and administrative personnel on site, a maximum of 13 student-athletes and three coaches per team are permitted to request two non-transferrable tickets each for immediate family members. A clear-bag policy will be in effect at the Holmes Convocation Center.
BROADCAST
The championships are streamed in its entirety on ESPN+. Check for links on the wrestling schedule page on GoMocs.com.
CHATTANOOGA PROBABLE LINEUP
125: No. 24 Fabian Gutierrez (Sr. - 10-2, 7-1 SoCon)
133: Colton Landers (Jr. - 8-4, 6-2 SoCon)
141: Franco Valdes (Jr. - 9-0, 8-0 SoCon)
149: Aidan Murphy (Jr. - 6-3, 5-3 SoCon)
157: Weston Wichman (Fr. - 9-3, 5-2 SoCon)
165: Drew Nicholson (Jr.- 9-3, 6-2 SoCon)
174: Carial Tarter (So. - 5-5, 3-5 SoCon)
184: Matthew Waddell (Jr. – 9-3, 6-2 SoCon)
197: Logan Andrew (Fr. - 7-5, 5-3 SoCon)
285: Grayson Walthall (Jr. – 6-6, 5-3 SoCon)
* Rankings are Flo (Feb. 15, 2021)
MOCS AT THE SOCON TOURNAMENT
The SoCon Tournament has been held 83 times since 1930. The Mocs have won a league-leading 29 tournament titles, despite not joining the league until 1978. VMI is second with nine and Appalachian State is third with eight. A Moc has won the SoCon Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler Award 19 times overall. The last to do it was Kamaal Shakur in 2016.
IT'S ALL IN THE NAME
On first reference, it is acceptable to refer to us as the "University of Tennessee at Chattanooga". After that, we prefer to be called "Chattanooga" or "UTC". Our nickname is "Mocs". Please do not use UT-Chattanooga, Tennessee-Chattanooga or the Moccasins.
HEAD COACH KYLE RUSCHELL
Kyle Ruschell is in his third season at UTC owns a 22-20 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 finished third in the Southern Conference regular season dual meet race with a 6-2 league tally and an 8-4 overall mark. UTC went down to the last match against both Campbell and Appalachian State, the top to finishers in the SoCon this season. The Mocs led Campbell 15-3 before falling in a 17-15 dual on Feb. 5 in McKenzie Arena. UTC lost to Appalachian State 20-13 in another close one in Boone, N.C. on Jan. 31.
UTC returned six of 10 starters to the lineup from the 2019-20 team that went 7-9 and placed third at the Southern Conference Tournament.
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. 24 in the nation in the Flo rankings with an 10-2 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. He was ranked for most of the 2020-21 season, finishing with a 9-3 record.
Junior Tanner Smith is another returning NCAA Qualifier. He went 25-9 last year, but 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 starters for the Mocs, juniors Tanner Smith and Hunter Fortner, are out for the season with injuries. Smith was ranked No. 22 at 149 according to FloWrestling on Jan. 19. His only action of the season was a major decision in the opener against Emmanuel. Fortner was 3-2 at 174 before ending his 2020-21 campaign.
WICHMAN NAMED SOCON FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Weston Wichman is the 2021 Southern Conference Freshman of the Year. He was 9-3 at 157 pounds, earning freshman of the year honors from the league's nine head coaches. The Johnson Creek, Wisconsin, native pinned two opponents this season and holds a 5-2 record in conference duals. He is also a member of the all-freshman team and is the 10th Moc to earn SoCon Freshman of the Year Honors. The last to do it was Tanner Smith in 2019. Others include Kamaal Shakur (2016), Nick Soto (2012), Jake Young (2010), Jason McCroskey (2009), Matt Pitts (2002), Jared Sullivan (2001), Josh Lambrect (2000) and Gerald Carr (1993).
WEIGHT-BY-WEIGHT NOTES
125: Senior Fabian Gutierrez is currently No. 24 in the Flo rankings after posting a 10-2 record in the regular season. He was 7-1 in SoCon action with a pair of pins.
Gutierrez is No. 21 in the latest NCAA coaches rankings released on Feb. 25. Appalachian State's Codi Russell gave Gutierrez his only league loss in the dual on Jan. 31. Russell is No. 18 in the coaches rankings.
Gutierrez has won eight of his last nine, with the 4-3 loss to Russell the only recent blemish on his record. He had close wins over Campbell's Zurich Storm (5-3) and Presbyterian's Benny Gomez (4-3) in the dual season. .
Gutierrez vs. the SoCon Field (4-1 - 2020-21 • Career - 6-2)
2020-21
Jordie White (CIT - 1/17)........................... W-MD, 11-2
Cliff Conway (VMI -1/23).......................... W-Fall (4:33)
No. 23 Codi Russell (App. St. - 1/31)................ L-D, 3-4
Benny Gomez (PC - 1/31).............................. W-D, 4-3
Zurich Storm (CAMP - 2/5)............................. W-D, 5-3
2019-20
Jordie White (Citadel - 2/16)...................... W-MD, 10-2
2018-19
Benny Gomez (PC - 1/1)................................ W-D, 8-3
2017-18
Zurich Storm (Campbell - 11/5)........................ L-D, 3-8
SoCon Tournament Seeds at 125:
1. Russell (ASU), 2. Gutierrez (UTC), 3. Storm (Campbell), 4. Gomez (Presbyterian), 5. White (The Citadel), 6. Concepcion (GWU), 7. Conway (VMI).
All-Time / Last Time: UTC has won the SoCon Tournament at 125 pounds 10 times. The last to do it was Alonzo Allen in 2018.
133: Junior Colton Landers is riding a hot streak into the Southern Conference tournament. He is 8-4 overall and 6-2 in league duals with six wins in a row.
Landers dropped his first two SoCon matches of the year to The Citadel's Jake Rotunda (8-4) and Gardner-Webb's Todd Carter (10-7), but hasn't lost since.
Landers vs. the SoCon Field (6-2 - 2020-21)
2020-21
Jake Rotunda (CIT - 1/17)............................... L-D, 4-8
Todd Carter (GW - 1/17)............................... L-D, 7-10
Sean Carter (App. St. - 1/31).......................... W-D, 4-2
Dominic Chavez (PC - 1/31)...................... W-MD, 13-4
Gabe Hixenbaugh (CAMP - 2/5)..................... W-D, 4-0
SoCon Tournament Seeds at 133:
1. Rotunda (The Citadel), 2. Carter (ASU), 3. Landers (UTC), 4. Hixenbaugh (Campbell), 5. Chavez (Presbyterian), 6. Carter (GWU), 7. Chicella (VMI).
All-Time/Last Time: UTC has won the SoCon Tournament at 133 pounds 10 times. The last to do it was Chris Debien in 2017.
141: Junior Franco Valdes had an outstanding season with a 9-0 record at 141. He was 8-0 in SoCon action with two overtime wins and four majors and was the All-SoCon team pick at 141.
His close matches included a 5-3 sudden victory win over Appalachian State's Anthony Brito and a 4-2 OT decision against Campbell's Spencer Leonhardt.
Valdes is No. 31 in the latest coaches rankings, while Brito checks in at No. 32.
Valdes vs. the SoCon Field (4-0 - 2020-21)
2020-21
Trevon Majette (GW - 1/17)....................... W-MD, 11-3
Freddy Junko (VMI - 1/23)......................... W-MD, 12-3
Anthony Brito (App. St. - 1/31)............. W-D, 5-3 (SV-2)
Jacob Brasseur (PC - 1/31)............................ W-D, 6-3
SoCon Tournament Seeds at 141:
1. Valdes (UTC), 2. Brito (ASU), 3. Majette (GWU), 4. Hanna (Campbell), 5. Brasseur (Presbyterian), 6. Seeley (The Citadel), 7. Junko (VMI).
All-Time/Last Time: UTC has won the SoCon Tournament at 141 pounds nine times. The last to do it was Chris Debien in 2019.
149: There are two automatic bids up for grabs at 149. Junior Aidan Murphy moved up from 141 to step in for injured starter Tanner Smith. Murphy went 5-3 after making the move, all in SoCon action.
Murphy won two of his last three and had a gritty showing in a 4-0 loss to Campbell's No. 17 Josh Heil. He also dropped a tight 3-2 decision to The Citadel's Selwyn Porter on Jan. 17 and a 15-5 major decision to No. 21 Jonathan Milner in the dual against Appalachian State on Jan. 31.
Heil is No. 11 in the coaches rankings, while Milner is No. 14.
Murphy vs. the SoCon Field (3-3 - 2020-21)
2020-21
Selwyn Porter (CIT - 1/17)............................... L-D, 2-3
Brandon Bright (GW -1/17)............................ W-D, 3-2
Job Chisko (VMI - 1/23)................................. W-D, 4-0
No. 21 Jonathan Millner (App. St. - 1/31) .... L-MD, 5-15
Reid Stewart (PC - 1/31)................................ W-D, 3-2
No. 17 Joshua Heil (CAMP - 2/5)..................... L-D, 0-4
SoCon Tournament Seeds at 149:
1. Milner (ASU), 2. Heil (Campbell), 3. Chishko (VMI), 4. Porter (The Citadel), 5. Murphy (UTC), 6. Bright (GWU), 7. Stewart (Presbyterian).
All-Time/Last Time: UTC has won the SoCon Tournament at 149 pounds six times. The last to do it was Alex Hudson in 2013.
157: Freshman Weston Wichman has had a strong rookie season for the Mocs. He is 9-3 overall and 5-2 in SoCon action and is the 2021 SoCon Freshman of the Year.
Both of Wichman's losses were by a single point, including an 8-7 decision to Gardner-Webb's Taylor Parks and a 7-6 overtime loss to Appalachian State's Cody Bond.
Wichman did give Campbell's Benjamin Barton his only loss of the season with a 7-3 decision in the dual on Feb. 5. Barton is No. 25 in the coaches rankings, while Bond is No. 31.
Wichman vs. the SoCon Field (3-2 - 2020-21)
2020-21
Grant Speer (CIT - 1/17)........................... W-MD, 11-3
Taylor Parks (GW - 1/17)................................ L-D, 7-8
Cody Bond (App. St. - 1/31).................. L-D, 6-7 (TB-1)
Zachary Phillips (PC - 1/31)........................... W-D, 7-3
Benjamin Barton (CAMP - 2/5)....................... W-D, 7-3
SoCon Tournament Seeds at 157:
1. Barton (Campbell), 2. Bond (ASU), 3. Wichman (UTC), 4. Parks (GWU), 5. Showers (VMI), 6. Phillips (Presbyterian), 7. Speer (The Citadel).
All-Time/Last Time: UTC has won the SoCon Tournament at 157 pounds eight times. The last to do it was Kamaal Shakur in 2016.
165: Junior Drew Nicholson went 9-3 overall and 6-2 in league action at 165 for the Mocs. The three-year starter has won three in a row and five of his last six.
Nicholson is No. 27 in the coaches ranking. This is a loaded class with four total in the rankings. Others include No. 16 Will Formato (ASU), No. 21 Rodrick Mosley (GWU) and No. 33 Dazjon Casto (The Citadel).
Nicholson lost to Formato (1-6) and Mosley (4-12) in the regular season. He scored a 5-3 win over Casto. Nicholson has lost to Casto in both of his two trips to the SoCon Tournament.
Nicholson vs. the SoCon Field (3-2 - 2020-21 • Career - 5-6)
2020-21
Dazjon Casto (CIT - 1/17).............................. W-D, 5-3
RJ Mosley (GW - 1/17)............................... L-MD, 4-12
Jon Hoover (VMI - 1/23).............................. W-MD, 8-0
No. 10 William Formato (App. St. - 1/31).......... L-D, 1-6
Bryton Goering (PC - 1/31)............... W-TF, 21-5 (6:53)
2019-20
Dazjon Casto (CIT - 3/8)................................. L-D, 6-8
RJ Mosley (GW - 3/87)................................... L-D, 2-4
Dazjon Casto (CIT - 2/16).............................. W-D, 6-5
RJ Mosley (GW - 1/12)................................... L-D, 2-4
2018-19
Dazjon Casto (CIT - 3/19)............................... L-D, 3-9
Dazjon Casto (CIT - 2/8)................................ W-D, 8-6
SoCon Tournament Seeds at 165:
1. Formato (ASU), 2. Mosley (GWU), 3. Nicholson (UTC), 4. Casto (The Citadel), 5. Kraisser (Campbell), 6. Hoover (VMI), 7 Ramirez (Presbyterian).
All-Time/Last Time: UTC has won the SoCon Tournament at 165 pounds eight times. The last to do it was Corey Mock in 2018.
174: Sophomore Carial Tarter gave a gutsy performance at 174 this season. He moved up from 165 in place of injured starter Hunter Fortner. Tarter finished with a 5-5 record and was 3-5 in SoCon action.
Campbell's Austin Murphy is No. 12 in the coaches rankings, while Appalachian State's Thomas Flitz is No. 13.
Tarter vs. the SoCon Field (1-3 - 2020-21)
2020-21
Cole Burke (CIT - 1/17)................................... L-D, 4-8
No. 19 Thomas Flitz (App. St. - 1/31).......... L-MD, 4-17
Victor Tello (PC - 1/31)............................ W-Fall (6:27)
No. 12 Austin Murphy (CAMP - 2/5)........... L-Fall (1:22)
SoCon Tournament Seeds at 174:
1. Murphy (Campbell), 2. Flitz (ASU), 3. Schenk (GWU), 4. Burke (The Citadel), 5. Tarter (UTC), 6. Tello (Presbyterian), 7. Carpenter (VMI).
All-Time/Last Time: UTC has won the SoCon Tournament at 174 pounds five times. The last to do it was Sean Mappes in 2015.
184: There are two bids up for grabs at 184, where junior Matthew Waddell is representing the Mocs. Waddell finished with a 9-3 overall record and a 6-2 mark in SoCon action.
Waddell is 1-2 against the field and is No. 26 in the coaches rankings. Others ranked at this weight include Campbell's Caleb Hopkins (22), Gardner-Webb's Jhaquan Anderson (32) and VMI's Zach Brown (33).
Waddell vs. the SoCon Field (1-2 - 2020-21 • Career - 2-2)
2020-21
Kyle Kretzer (CIT - 1/17)................................. L-D, 1-6
Julian Gorring (App. St. - 1/31).................. W-MD, 11-2
Caleb Hopkins (CAMP - 2/5)........................... L-D, 2-5
2019-20
Julian Gorring (App. St. - 2/2)................... W-Fall (2:53)
SoCon Tournament Seeds at 184:
1. Hopkins (Campbell), 2. Anderson (GWU), 3. Waddell (UTC), 4. Brown (VMI), 5. Gorring (ASU), 6. Kretzer (The Citadel).
All-Time/Last Time: UTC has won the SoCon Tournament at 184 pounds nine times. The last to do it was Bryce Carr in 2018.
197: Freshman Logan Andrew represents the Mocs at 197. He made the SoCon All-Freshman Team with a 7-5 record and a 5-3 mark in league action.
Campbell's Chris Kober is No. 28 in the coaches rankings while VMI's Tyler Mousaw is No. 33. Andrew dropped one-point decisions to both in the regular season.
Andrew vs. the SoCon Field (2-2 - 2020-21)
2020-21
Ben Stemmet (CIT - 1/17)............................ W-D, 10-3
Tyler Mousaw (VMI - 1/23).............................. L-D, 2-3
Mason Fiscella (App. St. - 1/31).................... W-D, 12-5
Chris Kober (CAMP - 2/5)............................... L-D, 3-4
SoCon Tournament Seeds at 197:
1. Kober (Campbell), 2. Mousaw (VMI), 3. Andrew (UTC), 4. Fiscella (ASU), 5. Mora (GWU), 6. Stemmet (The Citadel).
All-Time/Last Time: UTC has won the SoCon Tournament at 197 pounds six times. The last to do it was Scottie Boykin in 2018.
285: Junior Grayson Walthall is battling for one of two spots up for grabs at heavyweight. Walthall is 6-6 overall and 5-3 in league matches.
Walthall only competed against three of the field in the regular season. He is 1-5 against that group all-time.
The Citadel's Michael McAleavey is No. 30 in the coaches rankings.
Walthall vs. the SoCon Field (0-3 - 2020-21 • Career - 1-5)
2020-21
Michael McAleavey (CIT - 1/17)....................... L-D, 1-3
Michael Burchell (App. St. - 1/31)..................... L-D, 1-4
Taye Ghadiali (CAMP - 2/5)............................ L-D, 4-1
2019-20
Michael McAleavey (CIT - 3/8)........... L-TF, 0-16 (4:21)
Michael McAleavey (CIT - 2/16)....................... L-D, 3-5
Michael Burchell (App. St. - 1/25)............. W-Fall (3:53)
SoCon Tournament Seeds at 285:
1. McAleavey (The Citadel), 2. Perrrine (GWU), 3. Ghadiali (Campbell), 4. Burchell (ASU), 5. Walthall (UTC), 6. Spell (Presbyterian), 7. Ramos (VMI).
All-Time/Last Time: UTC has won the SoCon Tournament at 285 pounds six times. The last to do it was Matt Koz in 2007.
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.
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Tuesday, September 30
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