The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling team posted a 29-9 win at VMI this afternoon. The Mocs won seven of the 10 bouts to improve to 5-7 overall and 3-0 in the Southern Conference race. The loss drops the Keydets to 4-9 and 1-1 in league duals.
Chattanooga jumped out to a 6-0 lead after a pin in the first match at 125. Junior Fabian Gutierrez earned the fall in the first period over John McGarry. It was the 11th win of the season for the 20th-ranked Gutierrez.
The Mocs actually ran out to a 16-0 lead with wins in the first four matches. Sophomore Franco Valdes posted a 5-3 decision over Cliff Conway at 133, while sophomore Mason Wallace scored a 15-5 major decision over Noah Roulo at 141.
Sophomore Tanner Smith scored his second win of the weekend with a 5-4 decision over Job Chishko. Smith, ranked No. 23 at 149, gave up a reversal in the first and a takedown in the second, but won the match on riding time.
VMI got on the board with an overtime win at 157, but sophomore Drew Nicholson responded with a 7-4 decision over John Hoover at 165. It was also Nicholson’s second win of the road trip.
VMI’s 19th-ranked Neal Richards gave the Keydets their second win at 174. They also took three points at heavyweight to close out the match.
Sophomore Matthew Waddell, No. 21 at 184 this week, scored a pin over Max Gallahan in the second period. It was his team-leading fifth pin of the year as he won for the seventh time in his last nine matches. Senior Rodney Jones closed out the Mocs scoring with a major decision at 197.
Up next for the Mocs is the Appalachian Open in Boone, N.C., on Jan. 26. That is followed by a huge home dual against the Mountaineers on Feb. 2 in McKenzie Arena. Be sure to get your tickets now for that SoCon matchup at 2:00 p.m.
Chattanooga 29 at VMI 9
Lexington, Va. - Cormack Hall
Sunday - January 19, 2020
125: No.20 Fabian Gutierrez (CHAT) over John McGarry (VMI) (Fall 2:23)
133: Franco Valdes (CHAT) over Cliff Conway (VMI) (Dec 5-3)
141: Mason Wallace (CHAT) over Noah Roulo (VMI) (MD 15-5)
149: No. 23 Tanner Smith (CHAT) over Job Chishko (VMI) (Dec 5-4)
157: Will Lawrence (VMI) over Tyler Shilson (CHAT) (SV-1 7-5)
165: Drew Nicholson (CHAT) over Jon Hoover (VMI) (Dec 7-4)
174: Neal Richards (VMI) over Hunter Fortner (CHAT) (Dec 7-2)
184: Matthew Waddell (CHAT) over Max Gallahan (VMI) (Fall 4:17)
197: Rodney Jones (CHAT) over Zach Brown (VMI) (MD 11-3)
285: Chris Beck (VMI) over Grayson Walthall (CHAT) (Dec 3-2)