Mocs boosted by return of Boykin, Pongracz
Last season wasn’t a normal one for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling program.
For the first time in Heath Eslinger’s eight seasons as head coach, the Mocs failed to reach double digits in wins. The two losses against Southern Conference competition set a new high — or low — and the program finished fourth in the SoCon tournament, their lowest placement since Eslinger’s first season in 2009-10.
There were a couple of key pieces missing, however, and with their return expectations are back to normal, or even higher.
Michael Pongracz and Scottie Boykin chose to redshirt the 2016-17 season. With their return, the Mocs feel good about their chances to win their sixth conference tournament championship under Eslinger, and he has a pair of wrestlers hungry to get back out on the mat in competition.
“Their leadership is vital,” Eslinger said early this week. “They just bring an energy to our program that’s healthy. Energy can be positive and negative, but those two guys bring a ton of positive energy to our program.”
The Mocs begin their season Saturday afternoon with a match at Virginia Military Institute before traveling to Roanoke, Va., to compete Sunday in the Hokie Open.
Boykin was 22-8 in 2015-16, ranking as high at No. 9 in the country. Pongracz went 22-6 two seasons ago and attempted to make the jump up to 149 pounds last season before realizing his body wouldn’t be able to take the additional weight.
Both admitted it was “tough” watching last season’s Mocs go 7-9 overall and 5-2 against conference competition.
“I think it just made us grow as people and individuals,” Pongracz said. “Some of our guys were able to get more experience on and off the mat. We were a very young team last year
and only had a few people graduate, so it was good for us.”
Two Mocs — Chris Debien (No. 20, 133) and Bryce Carr (No. 12, 184) — were included in the Intermat preseason national rankings. Having missed last season, Boykin and Pongracz were not, but each will have chances to move in quickly.
Boykin (197) faces Ohio State’s top-ranked Kollin Moore and second-ranked Jared Haught of Virginia Tech this semester, while Pongracz (141) has matches lined up against North Carolina State’s Kevin Jack, the nation’s second-ranked 141-pounder, and seventh-ranked Joey McKenna of Ohio State.
The Mocs face second-ranked Ohio State, eighth-ranked Virginia Tech and 11th-ranked N.C. State in dual meets, so they’ll have plenty of opportunities to pull off big wins — not just as individuals, but as a team.
“I think it’s kind of put everything in perspective,” Boykin said. “Wrestling is hard, but it’s not very long. This year, looking back, I just realize the opportunities are so great. I beat two dudes who were All-Americans last year, so I know we’re right there. The opportunity is small, but we’ve got to take advantage of these opportunities.
“It’s a game of inches, so we’ve got to do everything right and trust the process.”
Said Eslinger: “The thing I’m most excited about is the overall maturity of our program. We have a very mature group of guys that are fun to be around. They come in, do the right things — not just when they feel like it but because it’s who they are.
“That as a coach is what gives you hope that great days are ahead. With talent, you live on edge; sometimes talent can leave you hanging, but when there’s an element of maturity, discipline and togetherness, it’s exciting because there’s not a lot of things that can stop it.
“That’s the fun of going into this season, cranking up some competition. There’ll be good and bad as we talk through the ebb and flow of this season, but I do believe that we have a corporate group of people that are truly moving in the same direction.”
Alonzo Allen (125), Chase Stephens (157), Chad Pyke (165), Justin Lampe (174) and Connor Tolley (285) join Pongracz, Carr and Boykin as probable starters Saturday against the Keydets — UTC’s first season-opening SoCon match since wrestling Davidson on Nov. 8, 2008. Two weight classes have two wrestlers listed as options: Wade Cummings or Colton Landers at 133 and Jake Adcock or Roman Boylen at 149.
In the Hokie Open, Allen and Cody Hill will compete at 125, Jake Huffine at 133, Pongracz and Debien at 141, Adcock and Boylen at 149, Trey Watson at 157, Pyke at 165, Lampe at 174, Carr at 184, Boykin at 197 and Tolley at 285.
Scuffle tickets on sale
Tickets for UTC’s Jan. 1-2 Southern Scuffle at McKenzie Arena are on sale at GoMocs.com. Reserved seats cost $60 for twoday tickets, $35 for one day. General admission costs $35 for two days, $20 for a single day, with $5 discounts for groups of 10 or more.
There also are hospitality passes that include two full meals each day plus a two-day reserved seat. Those cost $150. For more information on the hospitality option email Brent-McMillian@ utc.edu or call 423-425-5273.
Season tickets remain on sale as well.
Contact Gene Henley at ghen ley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.