STATS | MATCH NOTES
 
CHATTANOOGA---The Chattanooga Mocs are finally home. Dec. 16…mark it down, circle the date and get to Maclellan Gym for the home openers as Little Rock and Queens visit. Matches start with the two visitors at 2:30 p.m., before the hosts take the mat for the final two bouts.
 
The first comes against Little Rock at 4 p.m., followed by Queens at 5:30 p.m. The Trojans are a well-regarded Pac-12 opponent, while Queens is in its second year as a DI program and wrestles as an independent.
 
The first home bouts are not only good for the obvious reasons, but also come as the fall term closes coming off finals week.
 
"It's always nice to wrestle in front of your home fans," Coach Kyle Ruschell began. " Guys sleeping in their own beds...classes done for the semester...there aren't many outside factors to affect performance.
 
"So, it's all about you're at home, you know? Where to go to cut your weight, where to go to eat, you know everything. It's always good to have that, especially right after finals week where you know it might be stressful. Now it's relaxed, and you go compete."
 
The Mocs look to build on a 3-1 start that includes wins over Ashland, Kent State and Buffalo along with a narrow road defeat at Ohio.
 
"Continue to build on what we did last time out," Ruschell continued. "We have to pressure guys and try to get them to make mistakes. Then, it's executing our offense and making everything really, really hard for (the opposition).
 
"If we do that, we'll be all right. If we don't, it's going to be a long day."
 
The Chattanooga matches air on ESPN+ with scoring on track (links for both are below). Reminder that the main entrance for Big Mac is now the southeast corner along the Vine Street plaza next to the University Center off Terrell Owens Way. Accessible entry is at the Douglas Street doorway.
 
Commencement exercises are ongoing throughout the day Saturday across the street at McKenzie Arena. Parking on Vine Street on the east side of campus in lots 10 and 12 alongside the Lupton Hall (formerly the Lupton Library) is a good start. Here is an interactive parking map to aid in options.
 
Chattanooga Duals – Dec. 16 – Boiling Springs, N.C.
2:30 p.m.: Little Rock (3-1) vs. Queens (2-4)
4 p.m.: Chattanooga (3-1) vs. Little Rock (3-1)
5:30 p.m.: Chattanooga (3-1) vs. Queens (2-4)
 
MEDIA
TV: ESPN+ (Chris Goforth & T.J. Ruschell) – Little Rock | Queens
Results: Track – Little Rock | Queens
 
PROBABLE LINEUP
125: #14 Brayden Palmer (6-0) or Ty Tice (3-2)
133: Blake Boarman (4-0) or Ethan Lipsey (7-4)
141: Dayne Dalrymple (3-2) or Eli Knight (1-0)
149: #12 Noah Castillo (3-0)
157: Jackson Hurst (4-3) or Austin Paradice (3-2)
165: Kamdyn Munro (6-2)
174: Sergio Desiante (6-1)
184: Landon Lewis (2-8)
197: David Harper (1-1)
285: Logan Andrew (0-0) or Kaleb Snodgrass (2-2)
 
COACH KYLE RUSCHELL
- 6th season: 43-42 record (1st season: 2018)
- 1-1 vs. Little Rock | 0-0 vs. Queens
- Coached six individual SoCon Champs & 18 NCAA Qualifiers at Chattanooga.
- Former assistant at Wisconsin (2011-18)
- 4-time NCAA Qualifier & 2-time All-America at Wisconsin (2007-10)
 
SERIES
Little Rock: 1-1
1st Meet: 1-10-21 | Stillwater, Okla. | W | 23-16
Last Meet: 11-5-22 | Jacksonville, Fla. | L | 5-28
 
Queens: 0-0
 
RANKINGS
125: Brayden Palmer | High: 12 (WrestleStat)
149: Noah Castillo | High: 12 (Flo)
 
NOTES

• Junior Noah Castillo (12) & senior Brayden Palmer (14) are both ranked in the top 20 in the FloWrestling rankings at 149 and 125, respectively.
• Coach Kyle Ruschell is a big proponent of getting the first takedown in a match. That's even truer with the new scoring with takedown threes. The Mocs are 25-2 in dual matches when securing the first takedown, 4-9 otherwise.
• The Mocs earned bonus points in 16 of their 29 dual match wins. The squad is averaging a major per match with 116 points scored (4.0 per win).

 
MACLELLAN MATCH DAYS
New this year...the main entrance to Maclellan Gym is on the Vine Street side. All fan seating is in the upper and lower sections there across from the scorer's table.
 
Ticket sales, player pass and public entry are at the corner closest to the University Center on Terrell Owens Way on the campus side of the building. Accessible sales (and entry) and credential access are at the Douglas Street doorway.
 
TICKETS
Tickets are on sale on GoMocs.com. Both season and single match are available. Season tickets include the Southern Scuffle, Jan. 1-2.
 
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