The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling team opened the 2017-18 season with a 37-7 Southern Conference win at VMI today. The Mocs won eight of 10 matches in the dual in Lexington, Va.
Junior Connor Tolley scored a fall in the third period at heavyweight to cap an exciting opening match. He is replacing three-year starter Jared Johnson at 285.
No. 12 Bryce Carr also had a pin at 184 in the win. The senior NCAA qualifier put Gage Levine on his back just 39 seconds into the match.
Junior Alonzo Allen opened with a major decision at 125. Freshman Jake Adcock (149), senior Justin Lampe (174) and senior Scottie Boykin (197) also had major decision. Senior Michael Pongracz put six points on the board with a forfeit at 141, while senior Chad Pyke scored a decision in his UTC debut.
“It is always good to start the season with a win,” stated UTC head coach Heath Eslinger. “It is even better when it is a conference win. I thought our effort as a team was good. There are some spots where we have to make some adjustments and get better, but I thought overall the effort of the team was great from warmups to match-time performance.”
The Mocs move down the road to Roanoke, Va., for the Hokie Open tomorrow. Action begins at 10:00 a.m. (E.S.T.) and a link for live scoring is on the wrestling schedule page on GoMocs.com.
“Tomorrow will be a better indication of where we are,” added Eslinger. “We will face some tough competition from all over the country and we look forward to it.”
Chattanooga 37, VMI 7
November 4, 2017
Cormack Hall – Lexington, Va. UTC-VMI
125: Alonzo Allen (CHAT) over Clifton Conway (VMI) (MD 20-8) 4-0
133: Hunter Starner (VMI) over Wade Cummings (CHAT) (MD 14-5) 4-4
141: Mike Pongracz (CHAT) over _________ (VMI) (For.) 10-4
149: Jake Adcock (CHAT) over Dolan Walsh (VMI) (MD 13-4) 14-4
157: Robert DuPont (VMI) over Chase Stephens (CHAT) (Dec 10-8) 14-7
165: Chad Pyke (CHAT) over Blake Hohman (VMI) (Dec 8-2) 17-7
174: Justin Lampe (CHAT) over Cade Kiely (VMI) (MD 16-5) 21-7
184: Bryce Carr (CHAT) over Gage Levine (VMI) (Fall 0:39) 27-7
197: Scottie Boykin (CHAT) over Taylor Thomas (VMI) (MD 17-6) 31-7
285: Connor Tolley (CHAT) over Jake Koch (VMI) (Fall 6:29) 37-7
