Earlier this summer UTC wrestling coach Heath
Eslinger was in need of an experienced 125- pounder who is a veteran of the
college mat wars and can go toe-to-toe with the best in the nation.
At 24 and a veteran of two NCAA tournaments, sixth
year senior Sean Boyle is that guy.
A former Michigan wrestler, Boyle trades the Wolverines’
Maze and Blue for the Mocs’ Gold and Blue and teaming with NCAA qualifier and
SoCon champ Nick Soto (133) for a solid one-two punch in the lower weights.
“Sean gives us an immediate contender for
All-American honors at 125 and it’s great to have a seasoned, mature veteran in
the first weight class,” said Eslinger.
Boyle has a pair of fourth place Big 10 finishes and
a career 5-4 NCAA tournament record.
“I am excited to be here at UTC as this is a fresh
start for me with a good coaching staff to wrestle for,” said Boyle who has received a sixth year medical redshirt season
from the NCAA after shoulder surgery and only wrestled a few open tournaments
last season.
Another important reason for Boyle joining the Mocs
is fellow senior Soto.
“This is a great situation for me as Nick and I are
roommates and workout partners and we have the same goals to be All-Americans
and national champions,” said Boyle.
Fresh Start: Boyle sees being at UTC as a fresh
start after pushing through the low points of shoulder surgery and coming up
one match short of earning All-American honors in 2011.
20-Year Career: A 20-year veteran on the mat, Boyle
has an impressive prep resume earning a Senior Nationals title, a pair of
National Prep (Lehigh, Pa.) championships and two Massachusetts state
championships while at Blair Academy with a 188-7 career record.
“I started wrestling at the age of five and thanks
to having an older brother (Casey who wrestled at UNC-Greensboro) who worked
with me from an early age I had success right away,” stated the Lowell, Mass.
native who will be working on his master’s degree the next two years and holds
an undergraduate degree in kinesiology and physical education from Michigan.
Veteran Roster: Boyle adds to the veteran senior lineup
which includes Shawn Greevy (149), Corey Mock (165), Levi Clemons (174), Kevin
Malone (285) and Soto. Mock, Clemons and Soto are past Southern Conference
champs and NCAA qualifiers.
Home Schedule: The Mocs host Purdue and U. of North
Carolina (in Atlanta) in December, the Southern Scuffle (Jan.1-2) and Oklahoma
in February, plus SoCon matches with Davidson, The Citadel, Campbell and VMI.
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net