University of Tennessee at Chattanooga junior Bryce Carr is the Southern Conference Wrestler of the Week for all competition from Dec. 28 to Jan. 3, the league office announced today.
Carr finished third at 184 pounds in the prestigious Southern Scuffle, presented by Compound Clothing, on Sunday and Monday, topping two ranked wrestlers along the way. Carr was the highest-finishing SoCon student-athlete in the field.
The redshirt junior from Dublin, Georgia, went 5-1 at the tournament, opening with a 12-5 win over Campbell's Ville Heino on Sunday after earning a first-round bye.
He dropped his lone bout of the tournament when he fell 6-4 in the first sudden-victory period to 14th-ranked Drew Foster of Northern Iowa.
Carr won out through the consolation bracket on Monday, starting with a 13-2 major decision over Lehigh's Paul Dunn. He followed with consecutive wins over ranked foes, taking a 4-0 decision over No. 20 Dylan Gabel of Northern Colorado and a 7-4 win over No. 19 Hunter Gamble of Gardner-Webb. Carr secured his third-place finish with a 5-2 win over Edinboro's Dakota Greer.
Carr helped the Mocs to an 11th-place finish in the loaded 23-team field, which featured 10 programs ranked in the NWCA/USA Today Top 25. UTC was the highest-finishing SoCon squad, besting Appalachian State (14th), Gardner-Webb (16th), Campbell (t-17th) and The Citadel (23rd).
Carr is 14-2 on the year and is now ranked No. 17 in the nation, according to today's Intermat top-20. He joins senior Jared Johnson, who moved up to No. 11 at heavyweight after placing sixth at the Scuffle, as the two Mocs with national rankings.
Chattanooga (3-3, 1-0 SoCon) returns to action Sunday when it hosts Campbell (3-3, 0-1). The SoCon dual takes place in Maclellan Gym at 2:00 p.m.
2016-17 SoCon Wrestlers of the Week
Nov. 9 Nathan Kraisser, Campbell
Nov. 16 David Peters-Logue, Appalachian State
Nov. 23 Freddie Rodriguez, SIUE
Dec. 7 Nathan Kraisser, Campbell
Dec. 14 Jake McKiernan, SIUE
Dec. 21 Vito Pasone, Appalachian State
Jan. 4 Bryce Carr, Chattanooga