UTC wrestler Sean Mappes turns VMI's Mark Darr on his head during a home match in January 2015. Mappes is now a senior starter with a SoCon title and two trips to the NCAA championships among his accomplishments.Jared Johnson might never have envisioned himself as a heavyweight, but he has spent the past two seasons - after a carb-laden diet and weight-training regimen - ranked among the nation's top 15 college wrestlers in that weight class.
"He has been a picture of consistency," University of Tennessee at Chattanooga coach Heath Eslinger said. "He is what you'd expect of a true student-athlete."
Johnson is among six seniors who will be recognized this afternoon when UTC (6-9, 4-2 Southern Conference) wrestles its final home dual meet of the season, against The Citadel (2-9, 1-4) at 2 p.m. at Maclellan Gym. Joining him will be fellow starters Clay Dent and Sean Mappes plus Austin Gould, D.J. Smith and Barrett Walthall.
Johnson and Mappes are two-time NCAA championships qualifiers, with Mappes a former SoCon champion and Johnson a two-time conference medalist.
When asked what stood out about this group, Eslinger responded immediately.
"I have had zero worries that they were going to be successful," he said. "We're sending six phenomenal young men out into the world, and they're going to make a positive difference.
"Some of them haven't been in the lineup, but they've stuck it out, been great in the classroom and have worked hard in practice. There are certain times you get kids through and you count it as a success. These six, though, we're excited to send out. They're great men and they're difference-makers."
Johnson and Mappes have graduated already and are working on master's degrees, "and the rest are on track to graduate in May," Eslinger said. "I never gave their graduations a thought because it's been a given with each of these guys."
The Mocs have been led all season by Johnson (22-6) at 285 and Bryce Carr (21-4) at 184, but Alonzo Allen (125), Chris DeBien (133), Justin Lampe (165) and Mappes (174) have reached double-digit win totals.
Top performers for The Citadel, which is coming off a loss to Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, are Ty Buckiso (149), who is 20-15 overall, Aaron Walker (157) and Sawyer Root (197). Walker is 5-0 in the conference, while Buckiso and Root are 4-1.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him on Twitter @wardgossett.