Sports

Josh Lambrecht Hired as Mocs Wrestling Assistant

Monday, August 03, 2009 - by B.B. Branton

Former University of Chattanooga wrestler and three-time NCAA D-I All-American Josh Lambrecht has been hired as an assistant coach with the Mocs' wrestling program head coach Heath Eslinger announced today.

Lambrecht wrestled for the Mocs in 2000, was Southern Conference champion at 197 pounds, named Southern Conference Freshman of the Year as well as Freshman All-American by USA Wrestling.

The former Florida high school state champ transferred to Oklahoma where he was a three-time NCAA All-American, finishing 7th (2001), 2nd (2002) and 3rd (2003) at the NCAA tournament and a Big 12 champion as a junior.

“Josh is a great addition to our staff,'' said Eslinger. ''His credentials speak for themselves. He has won at the highest level and his success will spread to every individual on our team.''

He and Eslinger were college teammates in 2000 when Eslinger won third second SoCon title as a senior and was SoCon Wrestler of the Year. They led the Mocs to the conference title under coach Mark Leen and competed in the NCAA tournament.

“Josh is also one of the most decorated wrestlers from the state of Florida which is obviously a state where we need to win the recruiting battle,'' Eslinger stated. “His wrestling and his reputation are second to none there and that was a factor in us bringing him to Chattanooga.''

Wrestling for national power Brandon (Fla.) High School a decade ago, Lambrecht was Florida 6A state champ and awarded 6A wrestler of the year honors as a senior. He served as an assistant coach at his alma mater this past season.

While at Brandon, Lambrecht was senior class vice president in 1998 and received the Brian Burnett Memorial Award given to an outstanding young man of character, leadership, scholarship and athletic ability.

''More important than wrestling or residency, Josh brings a tremendous amount of character with him,'' stated the former Bradley Central state champ. “He is in tune with developing great young men and not just wrestlers and that will always be our number one goal.''

Josh Lambrecht … Chattanooga assistant wrestling coach … three-time NCAA All-American at Oklahoma … 7th (2001), 2nd (2002), 3rd (2003) at NCAA tournament … OU team captain, 2002, 2003 … OU outstanding wrestler, 2002 … B.A. degree in Sociology … 2000 SoCon champion … SoCon Freshman of the Year … FCA Scholarship recipient for Univ. of Chattanooga … 1998 Florida 6A state champion at Brandon H.S. … 1998 Florida 6A wrestler of the year … 3rd in the state in 1997 … senior class vice president … Josh was a member of the Brandon teams which were part of the national record-setting 459 consecutive dual meet win steak, 1974-2008 … teammate of head coach Heath Eslinger at Chattanooga … Two-time Brandon state champion Bret Gustafson (1996-97), was a four-time SoCon champ (1988, 1990-01-02) for UTC.

Contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net

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