Wrestling Mocs are set to face Buckeyes, Hokies
A mid-November visit from Virginia Tech and home meets against Southern Conference rivals Appalachian State and Gardner-Webb highlight the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s 2017-18 wrestling schedule.
There is also the Southern Scuffle, which annually draws most of the nation’s top 25 teams.
The match with Virginia Tech, which finished sixth at last year’s NCAA tournament, is Nov. 17. The Mocs also have a meet against 2017 NCAA tournament runner-up Ohio State, but that one will be in Atlanta. UTC is 7-7 all-time against Virginia Tech and 6-8 against Ohio State.
The Appalachian State and Gardner-Webb matches are on back-to-back Sundays, Feb. 4 and Feb. 11. UTC lost to both last year and eventually finished third in the conference.
“We’re excited about the challenge this schedule presents,” Mocs coach Heath Eslinger said. “We have some high-level competition in both dual and tournament settings.”
The Mocs finished with a disappointing 7-9 record last season, but four of the losses were by three or fewer points, including a 17-16 setback via criteria at Appalachian State.
The record might have been better, but Eslinger and his staff decided it would be prudent and in the athletes’ best interest to
redshirt proven standouts Scottie Boykin (197 pounds) and Michael Pongracz (141). Both will be back this year, joining 2017 NCAA qualifiers Bryce Carr (184) and Chris DeBien (133).
Other starters expected to be in this year’s lineup include Alonzo Allen (125), Justin Lampe (165), Dylinger Potter (149/157) and Chase Zemenek (141/149).
Among the departed are Clay Dent (197), Jared Johnson (285) and Shawn Mappes (174).
There was one major addition to Eslinger’s staff. Ethan Reeve, who led UTC to five conference championships as UTC’s
head coach from 1985 to ’90, has returned as a volunteer coach.
“Coach Reeve brings tradition, wisdom and intensity to our program,” Eslinger said in a news release. “He has been a part of the UTC wrestling family, and he is passionate about seeing this program succeed.”
Reeve spent the past 16 seasons at Wake Forest, guiding the Demon Deacons’ strength and athletic development program. He worked six years before that at Ohio University in strength and conditioning.