LEXINGTON, Va.---The Chattanooga Mocs opened Southern Conference action with a 30-9 win at previously unbeaten VMI Friday night. The Mocs improve to 4-7, 1-0 in the SoCon, while the Keydets drop to 5-1, 0-1 in the league.
 
The match started at 157 and was see-saw at first with Mocs wins at 157, 174 and 184, as the hosts captured 165 and 197. There were two majors, two tech falls and a pin over the first five bouts with Chattanooga holding a 15-9 lead before winning the last five decisions for the final tally.
 
"I'm proud of our older guys stepping up with four starters out," Coach Kyle Ruschell stated. "Brayden gutted it out after an exhausting week, and the bonus points from Lincoln, Rocky and Matthew were huge. Grant Lundy looked like Grant Lundy should scrapping for the full seven minutes."
 
The Mocs return to Maclellan Gym for two straight. West Virginia comes to the Scenic City next Friday, while Davidson makes its way there the following Saturday with both matches starting at 7 p.m.
 
WEIGHT-BY-WEIGHT
157
Lincoln Heck dominated his match from start-to-finish in a major decision over Job Chishko. Heck got the early takedown and built serious riding time over the opening 5:00 clinching the riding point before the start of the final period. He scored eight points over the final two minutes to build the major.
Note: Heck is now 12-6 in his career in dual matches
 
165
Caleb Waddell got off to a good start with a takedown into back points for a 4-0 advantage in the first minute. But it was all Braxton Lewis from there in a 14-6 major to even the dual score 4-4.
 
174
It was all Rocky Jordan. He got an early takedown and two sets of back points to go up 8-0 in the first. That continued through the second and third with a tech fall ending proceedings with a 16-0 match score.
Note: Jordan now has out-scored opponents 90-12 in nine duals
 
184
Matthew Waddell wasted little time dispatching Zach Brown. He got a takedown and was building riding time when he saw his opening. He turned Brown to his back and got the fall just 1:23 into the match.
Note: Back-to-back pins in duals for Waddell
 

184 | Matthew Waddell with his 2nd straight dual fall (1:23)

Chattanooga 15, at VMI 4 pic.twitter.com/8tOA7eKmsQ

— ChattanoogaWrestling (@UTCWrestling) January 7, 2023

 
197
Tyler Mousaw took an early lead in the first and built on it with a reverse in the second and then back points to put the match out of distance for Landon Lewis ending in a 15-0 tech fall with riding time.
 
285
Logan Andrew claimed takedowns in each period to methodically put away Josh Evans 7-3 with riding time.
Note: 4-2 in last 6 matches
 
125
Dom DiTomasso got the scoring underway in the second with an escape 25 seconds in after a scoreless first. DiTomasso did a masterful job on top in the third to ride out Anthony Burke for the 2-0 decision.
Note: 1st career dual for DiTomasso
 
133
Brayden Palmer clinched the match with a decision over Dyson Dunham. He did Dunham in with reversals at the end of the second and start of the third period.
Note: Palmer won eight of his last nine
 
141
Franco Valdes got his first win of 2022-23 with a 5-1 decision over Freddy Junko. He thwarted every offensive maneuver in Junko's arsenal while scoring a takedown in the second and again to beat the buzzer in the third.
Note: Valdes is 15-2 in his career in SoCon matchups
 
149
Grant Lundy started the second on top after a scoreless first. He rode Yost out to all but ensure riding time before taking bottom in the third. He reversed Josh Yost 25 seconds into the third and never looked back.
Note: Just Lundy's second SoCon match of his career (1-1)
 
Chattanooga 30, at VMI 9
157: Lincoln Heck (Chatt) 14-2 maj. dec. over Job Chishko (VMI) – 4-0
165: Braxton Lewis (VMI) 14-6 maj. dec. over Caleb Waddell (Chatt) – 4-4
174: #14 Rocky Jordan (Chatt) 16-0 tech fall (5:24) over Jon Hoover (VMI) – 9-4
184: #33 Matthew Waddell (Chatt) Fall (1:23) over Zach Brown (VMI) – 15=4
197: Tyler Mousaw (VMI) 15-0 tech fall (7:00) over Landon Lewis (Chatt) – 15-9
285: Logan Andrew (Chatt) 7-3 dec. over Josh Evans (VMI) – 18-9
125: Dom DiTomasso (Chatt) 2-0 dec. over Anthony Burke (VMI) – 21-9
133: #16 Brayden Palmer (Chatt) 6-4 dec. over Dyson Dunham (VMI) – 24-9
141: Franco Valdes (Chatt) 5-1 dec. over Freddy Junko (VMI) – 27-9
149: Grant Lundy (Chatt) 3-0 dec. over Josh Yost (VMI) – 30-9
 
SERIES
33-6 | In Lexington: 16-3
 
QUOTABLE
"First time starting for us, and it came on an away trip. The guys rallied around him and showed him the ropes. He needs to get to his offense a little better, but he did a great job being strong and riding him out for the win." – Kyle Ruschell on the performance of freshman Dom DiTomasso in his first dual match
 
"Anybody we put out there, we have faith they'll perform and wrestle hard. They're working hard and expecting to get their hands raised." – Ruschell on going into a league match with four starters out
 
NEXT 3 MATCHES
Jan. 13: West Virginia, 7 p.m.
Jan. 21: Davidson, 7 p.m.
Jan. 27: at Presbyterian, 6 p.m.
 
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Wrestling season tickets are on sale now here on GoMocs.com or call (423) 266-MOCS (6627).
 
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