UTC picked second in SoCon wrestling poll,

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling team was a close second in the Southern Conference coaches’ poll released Friday.

The Mocs received four of the eight first-place votes and earned 45 points, which was one behind last season’s SoCon tournament champion, Campbell.

“The good news is they don’t give out trophies in the preseason,” UTC coach Heath Eslinger said in a release. “However, our league is getting tougher and that is good for everyone.

“We are looking forward to the challenge ahead.”

Four Mocs — Alonzo Allen (125 pounds), Chris Debien (133), Bryce Carr (184) and Scottie Boykin (197) — were selected to the 10-wrestler preseason all-conference team.

Debien finished 18-11 last season, including wins in 12 of his final 14 matches, and won the tournament championship at 133 pounds. He enters the season No. 20 in the Intermat rankings. Carr, who is No. 12 in the country at 184, was 26-6 with six pins last season, with all six of his losses either coming in overtime or by a single point.

Allen was 16-13 last season at 125 pounds, while Boykin — who redshirted last season — was 26-6 and undefeated against SoCon competition in 2015-16.

The Mocs start the season Nov. 4 at Virginia Military Institute, with the home opener Nov. 17 against eighthranked Virginia Tech.