BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.---The Chattanooga Mocs split a pair of dual matches Friday afternoon at Gardner-Webb. It started with a 20-15 loss to SIUE and closed with a 26-10 romp over Clarion.

The first match was the difference of two close decisions going the other way. The latter win came from a dominating finish starting at 174, a common theme in Mocs victories this season
 
"I believe in all of our guys to go out and compete, but they have to take advantage of those opportunities when they come," Coach Kyle Ruschell shared. "We didn't do that in the first match. It was good to see us rebound, wrestle hard and beat a good team in Clarion."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The morning was a near miss for the Mocs. Brayden Palmer gave the squad an early 5-3 lead but just one in the next five classes put the group in a 17-8 hole heading into the final three matches.
 
Matthew Waddell's major and Jake Boyd's decision sent the two squads into 285 with the Mocs trailing 17-15. The Cougars clinched the 20-15 win with a 3-0 decision at heavyweight. That would not be duplicated in round two.
 
It was a see-saw matchup through 165. Chattanooga took decisions by Logan Ashton (125), Palmer (133) and Lincoln Heck (157). It was 10-9 after Clarion's major at 165 when the script flipped. Rocky Jordan and Matthew Waddell put an exclamation point on that.
 
Jordan worked quickly in securing a first period tech fall. He reached a 15-point cushion (16-1) in just 2:35 to push the team to a 14-10 lead. Waddell's matchup was the premier with him entering ranked 31st and Clarion's Will Feldkamp at No. 27.
 
Waddell did not have any interest in drama. He took no time putting Feldkamp on his back and securing the fall in 32 seconds. Jake Boyd put any Golden Eagle comeback hopes to bed with a 4-3 decision at 197. Andrew completed the scoring with his own decision at 285.

"A big thrown in the first 10 seconds wasn't something I had planned," Waddell shared. "But when an opportunity presents itself, you've gotta capitalize."
 
SIUE 20, Chattanooga 15
125: Davian Guanajuato (SIUE) 7-2 dec. over Logan Ashton (UTC) – 0-3
133: #27 Brayden Palmer (UTC) 16-0 tech fall (6:35) over Aaron Shulist (SIUE) – 5-3
141: Marcel Lopez (SIUE) 4-3 dec. over Franco Valdes (UTC) – 5-6
149: Caleb Tyus (SIUE) 17-0 tech fall (5:19) over Grant Lundy (UTC) – 5-11
157: Lincoln Heck (UTC) 8-2 dec. over Alec Peralta (SIUE) – 8-11
165: Cardi Wilson (SIUE) 6-2 dec. over Caleb Waddell (UTC) – 8-14
174: Chase Diehl (SIUE) 2-1 dec. over Thomas Sell (UTC) – 8-17
184: #31 Matthew Waddell (UTC) 12-3 maj. dec. over Sergio Villalobos (SIUE) – 12-17
197: Jake Boyd (UTC) 5-2 dec. over Ryan Yarnell (SIUE) – 15-17
285: Colton McKiernan (SIUE) 3-0 dec. over Logan Andrew (UTC) – 15-20
 
Chattanooga 26, Clarion 10
125: Logan Ashton (UTC) 4-0 dec. over Joey Fischer (Clarion) – 3-0
133: #27 Brayden Palmer (UTC) 5-1 dec. over Koen Kish (Clarion) – 6-0
141: Seth Koleno (Clarion) 5-3 dec. over Dayne Dalrymple (UTC) – 6-3
149: Kyle Schickel (Clarion) 7-4 dec. over #25 Noah Castillo (UTC) – 6-6
157: Lincoln Heck (UTC) 5-4 dec. over Trevor Elvin (Clarion) – 9-6
165: Cameron Pine (Clarion) 9-0 maj. dec. over Jackson Hurst (UTC) – 9-10
174: #15 Rocky Jordan (UTC) 16-1 tech fall (2:35) over John Worthing (Clarion) – 14-10
184: #31 Matthew Waddell (UTC) by fall (0:32) over No. 27 Will Feldkamp – 20-10
197: Jake Boyd (UTC) 4-3 dec. over Tyler Bagoly (Clarion) – 23-10
285: Logan Andrew (UTC) 2-1 dec. over Buzzy Maines (Clarion) – 26-10
 
SERIES
SIUE: 12-8-1 | 1-2-1 on a neutral mat
Clarion: 2-3 | 2-2 on a neutral mat
 
3 NOTES TO KNOW

• Fastest career fall for Waddell. Previous was 0:36 against Mason Fiscella of App State on Jan. 25, 2020.
• Palmer's two wins gives him the team lead with eight (8-2). He's contributed a team-high 31 dual points (31-6) this season.
• Undefeated on the day at 133 (Palmer), 157 (Heck), 184 (Waddell) & 197 (Boyd). The quartet scored 30 of the team's 41 points led by Waddell's 10.

 
NEXT 3 MATCHES
Jan. 1-2: Southern Scuffle
Jan. 6: at VMI, 7 p.m.
Jan. 13: West Virginia, 7 p.m.
 
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Wrestling season tickets are on sale now here on GoMocs.com or call (423) 266-MOCS (6627).
 
SOUTHERN SCUFFLE PARKING
Parking is charged for events at McKenzie Arena. There is a 2-day parking pass at $20 for the Southern Scuffle. That will allow patrons to enter and depart at their leisure without being recharged for the 2-day event on Jan. 1-2. Click here for the Scuffle parking.
 
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