After Josh Condon suffered a cut to his forehead Sunday in the Hokie Open, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling coach Heath Eslinger figured his 157-pounder was done for the day.
"I was ready for him to be done. It was one of the worst cuts I have ever seen," Eslinger said.
The sophomore wasn't ready to be done, though, and got the OK to continue with a quick bandage-and-tape job from athletic trainer Matt Barbo. Although he lost that match 3-1 to Ohio State's Josh Demas, Condon came back through the losers bracket to finish fifth. Included in that run was a pin of Demas.
"Condon had a great showing," Mocs assistant Rocco Mansueto said.
Jason McCroskey finished third at 184 pounds and Niko Brown (197) was fifth. Alex Hudson (149) took a sixth-place medal after having to default (hamstring), and his victims included Dean Pavlou, UTC's starter at 149.
"We were impressed with Jason and Niko for sure, and Hudson had a good tournament," Mansueto said, adding that Brown gave his coaches an unexpected show.
"Niko was continually looking for points and wasn't so reserved in his style. He was opening up earlier, and he got stronger as the tournament progressed."
Levi Clemons was among UTC's varsity entrants, while fellow freshmen Joe DeAngelo, Devante Brown and Shawn Greevy were among those competing for the Chattanooga Wrestling Club.
"It takes a unique freshman to compete in a strong tournament like the Hokie Open and come out with three or four wins," Mansueto said.
Clemons and DeAngelo finished with 4-2 records.
From Saturday's loss to 14th-ranked Kent State and the individual results from the Hokie Open, UTC's coaches feel they have plenty to address.
"We learned some things about all the guys," Mansueto said. "There were at least one or two points that we need to address in their individual workouts."
The Mocs wrestling boosters club will meet at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Foodworks on Manufacturers Road.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com at 423-886-4765.