The UTC wrestling team travels to Raleigh, N.C., for the Wolfpack Open this weekend. The Mocs (2-3) will take 18 wrestlers to the open meet that begins at 10 a.m. (E.S.T.) in Reynolds Coliseum.
Chattanooga is 2-3 in dual meets in 2009, including wins over Gardner-Webb and Anderson last weekend. The Mocs' three losses have been to Kent State, at Virginia Tech and at No. 13 Central Michigan.
Chattanooga's lineup includes:
125: Demetrius Johnson - So. - 5-5
133: Josh Statum - Sr. - 4-3
133: Josh Sandoval - Fr. - 3-3
149: Dean Pavlou - Fr. - 6-5
149: Alex Hudson - Fr. - 0-0
157: Joey Knox - Sr. -
157: Bond Davis - Jr. - 4-3
157: Kelly Felix - Jr. - 1-2
157: C.J. Baron - Jr. - 0-0
165: Brandon Wright - So. - 8-2
165: Josh Condon - Fr. - 4-2
174: No. 19 Jake Young - Fr. - 8-2
184: Jason McCroskey - So. - 4-5
184: Tyler Roberson - So. - 2-2
197: Niko Brown - Fr. - 4-4
197: Stephen Garrett - Jr. - 0-2
285: Tom Minwell - Jr. - 6-3
285: Matt Lettner - Jr. - 2-3
Early registration for the NC State Open included wrestlers from No. 19 Virginia, No. 21 Old Dominion and No. 23 Virginia Tech, along with wrestlers from Hofstra, North Carolina, Newberry, Gardner-Webb, Auburn, Utah Valley and several unattached wrestlers.
MOCS IN THE RANKINGS
Chattanooga has a pair of Mocs ranked this week in the IntermatWrestle.com rankings. Senior Cody Cleveland is No. 11 at 141 after a 5-0 start. He has three pins and a 11-6 decision against No. 7 Chris Diaz (VT) early this season. Freshman Jake Young is No. 19 in the 174 rankings. He won the Hokie Open in his first tournament of the season. His only two losses have come by two points or less. He dropped a 3-1 decision in the final seconds against No. 1 Mike Miller of Central Michigan last weekend.
YOUNG WINS HOKIE OPEN IN COLLEGIATE DEBUT
Freshman Jake Young had an impressive start to his collegiate career, winning the 174 class at the 2009 Hokie Open. The Ooltewah, Tenn., native posted a 6-1 record in his first weekend of college wrestling.
FOUR MOCS ON THE PRESEASON ALL-SOCON TEAM
A two-time Outstanding Wrestler at the SoCon Tournament, senior Cody Cleveland was honored as the top wrestler at 141 pounds, and he was joined by teammates sophomore Demetrius Johnson (125), senior Joey Knox (157) and sophomore Jason McCroskey (184).
TWO MOCS RANKED IN THE PRESEASON
Senior Cody Cleveland enters the season ranked No. 20 at 141 while fellow senior Joey Knox is No. 16 at 157 according to InterMatWrestle.com.
MOCS PICKED TO WIN SIXTH STRAIGHT SOCON
The UTC wrestling team has been predicted to win the 2010 Southern Conference Wrestling championship, in voting by the league's head coaches. The Mocs, who carry a 25-match unbeaten streak in league dual matches into the season, have won the past five SoCon regular season and tournament championships. Under the direction of first-year head coach Heath Eslinger, UTC picked up four of the six first-place votes in the balloting.