The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling team is on the road for the last two scheduled matches of the regular season this weekend. The Mocs travel to The Citadel on Friday with the Southern Conference title on the line, and visit No. 19 Virginia on Sunday.
UTC is currently 10-4 overall and 5-1 in league duals, following last week's loss to Appalachian State. Despite the setback, the Mocs can still tie for the SoCon regular season title with a win at The Citadel.
Match time against the Bulldogs is 6:00 p.m. (E.S.T.) in McAlister Fieldhouse in Charleston, S.C.
It is a three-team chase with the Mountaineers at 5-1. App. State and Gardner-Webb have already secured their piece of the trophy at 6-1. UTC has won the SoCon regular season 15 times since the league started awarding a season trophy in 1992.
The Citadel enters the match with a 5-8 overall record and 2-4 in SoCon action. Live scoring and live video links are available on the wrestling schedule page on GoMocs.com.
The Virginia match is Sunday, Feb. 14, at 1:00 p.m. in Charlottesville. The Cavaliers are No. 19 in this week's Intermat Dual Meet rankings and the USA Today/NWCA Division I Coaches Poll.
UTC is still competing for a spot in the NWCA National Duals on Feb. 22. One team from the Southern Conference will be selected early next week. This weekend's competion will determine who goes from the SoCon.
Chattanooga Mocs (10-4, 5-1 SoCon) Probable Lineup
125: Alonzo Allen (Fr. - 10-10, 2-3 SoCon)
133: Cody Hill (So. - 4-12, 1-4 SoCon) or Cody Minnick (Fr. 0-2, 0-1 SoCon)
141: Michael Pongracz (Jr. - 18-3, 5-1 SoCon)
149: Chase Zemenac (So. - 4-2, 2-1 SoCon)
157: Kamaal Shakur (Fr. - 21-5, 6-0 SoCon)
165: Dominic Lampe (Fr. - 15-9, 4-2 SoCon)
174: Sean Mappes (Jr. - 14-8, 4-1 SoCon)
184: John Lampe (Sr. - 16-4, 5-0 SoCon)
197: Scottie Boykin (Jr. - 16-6, 6-0 SoCon)
285: No. 11 Jared Johnson (Jr. - 19-4, 5-1 SoCon)
Junior Jared Johnson leads the team with his 19-4 overall record and No. 11 national ranking at heavyweight. Freshman Kamaal Shakur has the most wins at 21-5 at 157, while junior Michael Pongracz is 18-2 at 141.
Head Coach Heath Eslinger is in his seventh season at UTC. A two-time Southern Conference Coach of the Year, he owns an 84-45 (.651) career dual record.
The Mocs have dominated the SoCon, winning the league 30 times since joining in 1978. Chattanooga was picked to win again this year, but it is a tight race. Gardner-Webb and Appalachian State are done with SoCon matches at 6-1.