UTC';s Brayden Palmer.
photo by Sam Janicki
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s wrestling team concluded its nonconference prep at the Virginia Duals on Saturday in Hampton, Va. The Mocs fell to Kent State 18-13 and South Dakota State 35-10.
After Kent State opened the dual with a narrow 6-5 decision at 125, Brayden Palmer (133) and Franco Valdes (141) gave Chattanooga a 6-3 lead with decisions to round out the lightweights.
After a strong debut in Blue and Gold yesterday, Lincoln Heck picked up a major decision at 157 (20-9) to give the Mocs a 10-6 advantage.
Drew Nicholson added to the Mocs’ lead with a 4-1 decision at 165 pounds.
Kent State won the last four bouts of the day to secure the win with four decisions all within four points.
UTC concluded the dual vs. South Dakota State. Following a UTC forfeit at 125 pounds and a Palmer 12-0 major decision, the Mocs held a 4-3 lead. The Jackrabbits won at 141 to regain the lead but Noah Castillo’s 8-3 decision put the Mocs back on top. SDSU won five of the final six bouts to take a 35-10 victory. Matthew Waddell took down SDSU’s Cade King at 184, 6-0.
Kent State improved to 3-4, while SDSU is now 6-1 following its victory over UTC. The Mocs dropped to 3-8.
The Mocs open Southern Conference action in two weeks on Jan. 28 at Gardner-Webb.
CHATTANOOGA 13, KENT STATE 18
125: Jake Ferri (KENT) over No. 22 Fabian Gutierrez (UTC) (DEC 6-5)
133: Brayden Palmer (UTC) over Brandon Fenton (KENT) (DEC 4-0)
141: Franco Valdes (UTC) over Louis Newell (KENT) (DEC 3-2)
149: Kody Komara (KENT) over Noah Castillo (UTC) (DEC 2-1)
157: Lincoln Heck (UTC) over Enrigue Munguia (KENT) (MD 20-9)
165: Drew Nicholson (UTC) over Brady Chrisman (KENT) (DEC 4-1)
174: Michael Ferre (KENT) over Carial Tarter (UTC) (DEC 7-4)
184: Colin McCracken (KENT) over Matthew Waddell (DEC 6-3)
197: Tyler Bates (KENT) over Nicholas Benton (DEC 8-4)
285: Jacob Cover (KENT) over Matthais Ervin (DEC 4-0)
CHATTANOOGA 10, SOUTH DAKOTA ST. 35
125: Tanner Jordan (SDSU) over UTC (Forfeit)
133: No. 21 Brayden Palmer (UTC) over Gabriel Tagg (SDSU) (MD 12-0)
141: No. 5 Clay Carlson (SDSU) over Franco Valdes (UTC) (DEC 6-2)
149: Noah Castillo (UTC) over Daniel Kimball (SDSU) (DEC 8-3)
157: Kenny O’Neil (SDSU) over Lincoln Heck (UTC) (DEC 3-2)
165: No. 29 Tanner Cook (SDSU) over Drew Nicholson (UTC) (Fall 1:24)
174: No. 10 Cade DeVos (SDSU) over Carial Tarter (UTC) (TF 15-0, 5:26)
184: Matthew Waddell (UTC) over Cade King (SDSU) (DEC 6-0)
197: No. 21 Tanner Sloan (SDSU) over Nicholas Benton (UTC) (Fall 3:33)
HWT: No. 23 A.J. Nevills (SDSU) over Grayson Walthall (UTC) (Fall 1:54)