Detroit, Mich. - The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling team competes in the 92nd NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on March 17-19.  Action takes place in Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich., and is covered live by the ESPN family of networks.

Four Mocs are representing Chattanooga at the NCAA Championships this year, including senior Fabian Gutierrez (125), juniors Drew Nicholson (165) and Matthew Waddell (184) and freshman Brayden Palmer (133).  All four earned automatic bids with Gutierrez winning the SoCon title at 125 and Waddell winning the 197-pound championship. Nicholson and Palmer both finished true second place at their respective weight classes. 

UTC posted an 9-10 dual match record under fourth-year head coach Kyle Ruschell. The Mocs were third in the Southern Conference regular season, with both losses going down to the final match.  UTC also finished third at the SoCon Tournament in Boone, N.C., on March 5.

Historically, UTC has won 17 SoCon regular season titles since the league began recognizing a season champ in 1992.  The Mocs have also won 29 SoCon Tournament titles since joining the league in 1978.  Chattanooga has had nine individuals earn 12 All-America honors since joining the NCAA Division I ranks in 1978.  The last to do so was Cody Cleveland, who placed eighth at 141 pounds in 2008.  UTC's highest placer at the Division I Tournament was Charlie Heard, who was runner-up at 118 pounds in 1983. 

CHATTANOOGA LINEUP
125: No. 20 Fabian Gutierrez (Sr. – 20-6)
133: No. 19 Brayden Palmer (Fr. – 25-7)
165: No. 29 Drew Nicholson (Jr. – 18-7)
197: No. 33 Matthew Waddell (Jr. - 17-10) 
(No. = NCAA Tournament Seed)
Head Coach:  Kyle Ruschell (31-30 - 4th Year)

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Thursday, March 17
Session 1 - 1st Round - ESPNU/ESPN+ - 12:00 p.m. (E.D.T.)
Session 2 - 2nd Round and Consolations - ESPN2/ESPN+ - 7:00 p.m.
 
Friday, March 18
Session 3 - Quarters and Consolations - ESPNU/ESPN+ - 11:00 a.m.
Session 4 - Quarters and Consolations - ESPN/ESPN+ - 8:00 p.m.
 
Saturday, March 19
Session 5 - Medal Rounds - ESPN2/ESPN+ - 11:00 a.m.
Session 6 - Finals - ESPN/ESPN+ - 7:00 p.m.

WEIGHT-BY-WEIGHT NOTES
Fabian Gutierrez - Senior - 125
• In his sixth year at Chattanooga, holds a 73-32 career record.
• 20-6 mark this season with eight pins.
• Making his second appearance at the NCAA Championships after qualifying for the third straight year.
• Won the SoCon title for the first time in his career.
• No. 20 seed at 125 pounds and opens against No. 13 Drake Ayala of Iowa (16-6)
• 5-4 against the field in 2021-22 ... 11-12 against the field in his career.
• Recipient of the Joyce Litchford Memorial Scholarship.
• Went 12-3 in dual action and 8-0 in SoCon matches.
• One of three from the SoCon in the field ... Campbell's Korbin Meink (28) placed second at the SoCon Championships to secure a bid at App State's Caleb Smith (25) received an at-large bid.
• His four wins this year against 125-pound qualifiers came against Illinois' Justin Cardani (27), Smith and Meink. 
• No. 23 at 125 in the final regular season Intermat rankings.

Brayden Palmer - Sophomore - 133
• Making his first appearance at the NCAA Championships after finishing second at the SoCon Tournament.
• No. 19 Seed at 133 pounds... Opens the tournament against Northern Iowa's No. 14 Kyle Biscoglia (19-7). 
• 25-7 overall record with a 14-5 dual mark and went 7-1 in league competition. 
• 3-4 against the field. Defeated No. 33 Domenick Zaccone of  Campbell and App State's No. 21 Codi Russell. He went 2-1 against Russell this year. 
• Secured third place at the Southern Scuffle after losing his first match of the tournament. After the opening match, he won seven straight, including four in overtime.
• One of three from the SoCon in the field, including Zaccone and Russell.
• No. 26 at 125 in the final regular season Intermat rankings.

Drew Nicholson - Junior - 165
• Making his second appearance at the NCAA Championships after placing second at the SoCon Tournament.
• No. 29 seed at 165 pounds and opens against Wisconsin's No. 4 Dean Hamiti (24-2)
• 18-7 overall record • 57-40 career mark. 
• 3-3 against the field in 2021-22 ... 3-11 against the field in his career.
• Went 11-3 in dual action and 7-0 in SoCon matches.
• Two of his wins against the field came against App State's No. 20 Will Formato. His other victory came against Gardner-Webb's RJ Mosley, by 3-1 decision in overtime. 
• One of three from the SoCon in the field, including Mosely and Appalachian State's Will Formato.
• Three-time Academic All-SoCon.

Matthew Waddell - Junior - 197
• Making his second appearance at the NCAA Championships after earning an automatic bid for the third year in a row. 
• Earned the automatic bid by winning his first Southern Conference Tournament Title.
• No. 33 seed at 197 and opens against Clarion's No. 32 Will Feldkamp.
• Moved to 197 in the middle of the season after starting the year at 184 pounds.
• 17-20 overall record - 10-1 at 197
• 50-25 career mark. 
• 0-2 against the field in his career. Both came at 184 pounds... Pittsburgh's No. 5 Nino Bonaccorsi (L-MD, 13-1)  and Northern Colorado's No. 27 Alan Cothier (L-D, 11-5). 
• Went 11-7 in dual action and 6-1 in SoCon matches.
• He is the only 197-pound Southern Conference wrestler in the field. Waddell is the second straight Moc to represent the league at 197 pounds after Logan Andrew went to the NCAAs as a freshman last year. 

THREE MOCS NAMED TO ALL-SOCON TEAM
Fabian Gutierrez (125), Brayden Palmer (133) and Drew Nicholson (165) were named All-Southern Conference wrestlers after going 8-0, 7-1 and 7-0 respectfully in league action. It was Gutierrez's second All-SoCon honor and the first for Palmer and Nicholson. 

CASTILLO TABBED SOCON FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
The Orlando, Fla. native went 16-7 at 149 pounds this season and 5-2 in league competition. He concluded the regular season with four straight wins including two major decisions and a tech fall. His only two losses in SoCon duals were to No. 4 Jonathan Millner and No.6 Josh Heil, by a combined total of three points.