SOCON TOURNAMENT NOTES
 
SPARTANBURG, S.C.---The Chattanooga Mocs have a storied history in the Southern Conference. They added to that Thursday afternoon with Isaiah Powe and Sergio Desiante etching their names to the long list of league award winners.
 
It starts with Powe. He's the 12th SoCon Freshman of the Year in program history. The Mocs boast four in the last six seasons: Tanner Smith (2019), Weston Wichman (2021), Noah Castillo (2022) and Powe.

141 | That escalated quickly

Powe📌 pic.twitter.com/UTIabEP4JT

— ChattanoogaWrestling (@UTCWrestling) February 3, 2024

 
He also added All-SoCon at 141 on top of that as one of the top pound-for-pound performers going 21-2 for the year, 13-0 in dual competition. He claimed third place at the Southern Scuffle and Southeast Open (Fr/So). Powe is the 16th 141 (third position) to earn all-league for the Mocs and first since 2021 (Franco Valdes).
 
"Isaiah has been the highlight of our lineup this season," Coach Kyle Ruschell said. "He's been consistent from the start; continually progressing and proving his ability to impact our program. He's done that in becoming a starter as a true freshman. I'm excited to see what he does with his postseason."
 
Sergio Desiante made the All-Freshman team at 174. He went 16-7 for the year ranking third on the team in wins with a 13-4 record in duals. He claimed two wins over ranked opponents and returning NCAA qualifiers – #30 Sal Perrine of Ohio in the opener and #20 D.J. Washington of Indiana in the season's penultimate contest.

184 | SERGE!!!! Big ranked win over #20 D.J. Washington pic.twitter.com/pRVmhBGjQu

— ChattanoogaWrestling (@UTCWrestling) February 24, 2024

 
"I'm very proud of the work Serg has put in," Ruschell continued. "He came to a pivotal point midseason, took responsibility and the difference has been astonishing. He's peaking at the right time."
 
The Mocs are back in action Saturday at the SoCon Championships. The league's grapplers descend on Boone, N.C., to crown individual and team titles. Chattanooga owns the league record for team (29) and individual (159) wins.
 
NEXT UP
March 9: SoCon Championships (Boone, N.C.)
March 21-23: NCAA Championships (Kansas City)
 
2024 SOCON SEASON AWARDS
2023-24 Freshman of the Year
Isaiah Powe, 141, Chattanooga
 
2023-24 Wrestler of the Year
Taye Ghadiali, 285, Sr., Campbell
 
2023-24 All-Southern Conference Team
125 Anthony Molton, Sr., Campbell
133 Ethan Oakley, So., App State
141 Isaiah Powe, Fr., Chattanooga
149 Cody Bond, Sr., App State
157 Tommy Askey, Jr., App State
165 Will Miller, Jr., App State
174 Austin Murphy, Sr., Campbell
184 Caleb Hopkins, Sr., Campbell
197 Levi Hopkins, Sr., Campbell
285 Taye Ghadiali, R-Jr., Campbell
 
2023-24 All-Freshman Team
Tomas Brooker, 184, App State
Grant O'Dell, 165, Bellarmine
Wynton Denkins, 141, Campbell
Chris Earnest, 157, Campbell
Sergio Desiante, 174, Chattanooga
Isaiah Powe, 141, Chattanooga
Patrick Brophy, 197, The Citadel
Wyatt Ferguson, 184, Davidson
Tyler-Xavier McKnight, 149, Davidson
Patrick Jordon, 141, VMI
 
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