The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling team is bringing back an old tradition when it hosts VMI for a Candlelight Dinner Match on Thursday, Nov. 10. The 24th-ranked Mocs welcome the Keydets to Maclellan Gym for a 7:00 p.m. (E.S.T.) contest.
This is an evening wrestling fans should not miss. Instead of pulling out the bleachers in the lower section of Maclellan Gym, UTC is bringing in tables of eight, with formal place settings, for a full mat-side meal during the match.
Doors open at 6:00 p.m.
and valet parking is available at the Douglas Street entrance to those who purchased the Candlelight experience.
Fans with a dinner ticket will be closest to the action and enjoy the meal catered by Taziki's Mediterranean Café. Members of the wrestling team not competing will work the room as your hosts and servers.
Space is limited and filling up fast. Fans can purchase a full table, or individual places, by contacting the Mocs Club at (423) 425-5866 or mocsclub@utc.edu. Cost is $400 for an eight-person table, or $50 per individual ticket. This includes valet parking, a ticket to the match, and the meal during the match.
Regular general admission seating is available in the upper levels for season and single-match ticket holders who do not purchase mat-side seats for the Candlelight Dinner event.
CHATTANOOGA MOCS PROBABLE LINEUP
125: Fabian Gutierrez (Fr. - 0-0) or Alonzo Allen (So. - 0-1)
133: Chris Debien (So. - 1-0)
141: Roman Boylen (So. - 1-0)
149: Dylanger Potter (Fr. - 0-0) or Zach Shareef (So. - 0-0)
157: Trey Watson (So. - 0-1)
165: Justin Lampe (Jr. - 1-0)
174: Sean Mappes (Sr. - 1-0)
184: Bryce Carr (Jr. - 1-0)
197: Clay Dent (Sr. - 1-0)
285: No. 11 Jared Johnson (Sr. - 1-0)
UTC opened the 2016-17 with a 40-12 win over Southeastern on Chamberlain Field on Saturday. The Mocs moved outside to post seven wins against the NAIA Fire. UTC scored pins in four of the last five outings to overcome a 12-11 deficit halfway through the match.
Senior Jared Johnson leads the way with a No. 11 national ranking at heavyweight. He is one of five upperclassmen in the bottom half of the lineup. Senior Sean Mappes is coming off an NCAA appearance.
Head Coach Heath Eslinger is in his eighth at UTC. A two-time Southern Conference Coach of the Year, he owns an 87-45 (.659) career dual record. He has guided the Mocs to six SoCon regular season and six SoCon tournament titles.
VMI KEYDETS PROBABLE LINEUP
125: Dalton Henderson (Sr. - 5-2)
133: Hunter Starner (Jr. - 1-3)
141: Darren Ostrander (So. - 2-2)
149: Stevan Smith (So. - 3-3)
157: No. 18 Neal Richards (So. - 0-0)
165: Cade Kiely (Fr. - 1-3)
174: Shabaka Johns (Sr. - 1-3)
184: Chris Beck (Fr. - 2-3)
197: Taylor Thomas (Fr. - 0-3)
285: Sam Bouis (Fr. - 1-0)
VMI dropped its season opener last weekend against Virginia Tech. The Keydets also took part in the Southeast Open on Sunday.
Sophomore Neal Richards is No. 18 at 157 after advancing to the NCAAs as a freshman. He is yet to compete this season. Senior Dalton Henderson placed fifth at Sunday's Southeast Open.
Thursday's match is the SoCon opener for both teams. UTC is picked to share the league title with Appalachian State, while VMI is No. 7 in the league's coaches preseason poll.
Chattanooga is an astonishing 41-2 in seven seasons of league duals under Head Coach Heath Eslinger. Seniors Scottie Boykin and Michael Pongracz are both on the preseason All-SoCon team, but both are expected to redshirt this season.
UTC is 26-6 all-time against VMI. The Mocs are on a current 13-match winning streak that dates back to the 2003 season. Chattanooga won last year's meeting 31-6 on Dec. 10 in Lexington, Va.
Chattanooga is No. 24 in both the Intermat Dual Meet Rankings and the NWCA Coaches Poll this week. Senior Jared Johnson is the lone individual ranked, checking in at No. 11 at heavyweight in the Intermat Top 20.