Chattanooga wrestler Roman Boylen, left, wrestles NCSU wrestler Will Clark in their round of 16 bout of the Southern Scuffle wrestling tournament at McKenzie Arena on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn.The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling team opens the Virginia Duals with a bout against Old Dominion at 9 this morning, but it is just the start of the day for the Mocs.
Following that first match in Hampton, they'll return to the mat at 1 this afternoon to wrestle Oklahoma. If they lose either of those matches, they'll wrestle again at 3.
"When they have their full lineups, they're both good," Mocs coach Heath Eslinger said of the Monarchs (1-5) and the Sooners (2-3). "But everybody's pretty much in the same boat this time of year with injuries."
The Mocs (3-3) expect to have a fairly healthy lineup, anchored by heavyweight Jared Johnson and Bryce Carr (184 pounds). Also included are Alonzo Allen (125), Chris DeBien (133), Chase Zemenak or Roman Boylen (141), Dylanger Potter (149), newcomer Dalton Clark (157), Dominic Lampe or Trey Watson (165), Sean Mappes (174) and Clay Dent (197).
Carr, ranked 17th nationally, is 14-2, and the 11th-ranked Johnson is 15-4. Both are coming off medalist finishes in UTC's Southern Scuffle last week, with Carr third and Johnson sixth.
Others making the trip are Jake Huffine (133), Barrett Walthall (184) and D.J. Smith (197).
"We have some pretty good guys that are going to see some really good competition, and we have some new faces," Eslinger said. "I am interested to see where they're at. I feel like we have some momentum coming off the Southern Scuffle, and I'd like to see us add to it."
UTC will be in the tournament's national college division, which includes No. 5 Virginia Tech, No. 19 Arizona State, No. 24 Virginia, Bucknell, Campbell, Kent State, Lock Haven, North Dakota State, Old Dominion and The Citadel.
Based on the outcome of today's matches, UTC will be placed in either gold, silver or bronze brackets for two duals Saturday.
Old Dominion is led by Seldon Wright, Jack Dechow and Kevin Beazley. Wright (165) is ranked No. 16 nationally, and Dechow (184) and Beazley (197) is each No. 9 at his weight. Beazley is 13-1, Dechow 14-3 and Wright 11-4.
The Monarchs have lost to Missouri, North Carolina, Northern Iowa, N.C. State and Eastern Michigan this season, and their win came against Eastern Michigan. They have a 3-1 record all-time against UTC, with the Mocs' lone win a 44-0 victory at the 2005 Virginia Duals.
Oklahoma moved up to No. 15 nationally after knocking off then-No. 5 Missouri on Sunday. The Sooners also beat North Dakota State, and their three losses are to Michigan, Oklahoma State and Cornell.
They have ranked wrestlers at 149 (No. 11 Davion Jeffries), 157 (No. 12 Clark Glass) and 285 (No. 19 Ross Larson).
UTC is 1-3 against Oklahoma, beating the Sooners for the first time with a 19-16 win in 2015.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him on Twitter @wardgossett.