University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestler Cody Cleveland has been granted a sixth year of eligibility.
UTC coaches appealed for the hardship immediately after the 2010 NCAA tournament. Cleveland suffered a knee injury at the Hoosier Duals at Indiana over Thanksgiving and subsequently underwent surgery. At the time of the injury, he was 7-0 and ranked fourth in the nation at 141 pounds.
“I’m excited. I have been calling people all day,” said Cleveland, a McCallie graduate. “I had been training as if I was going to get the extra year. I was being optimistic, but it’s nice to know that I have something to train for.”
As a junior, Cleveland was the Southern Conference wrestler of the year. As a sophomore he earned All-America honors.
“It was disappointing to go 0-2 at the nationals as a junior after placing as a sophomore. But I was working hard last year,” he said.
“It puts a returning All-American in the lineup, and his leadership will provide something that maybe a sophomore or freshman can’t give in the same way,” Mocs coach Heath Eslinger said. “Most important, though, this gives him a chance to finish his career the way he wants.”
Cleveland will be the only senior in the lineup next season.
“I feel the best way for me to lead, especially with how young some of the guys are, is by example — win every sprint in practice, that kind of thing,” he said. “I want to be there for all the guys and help them out in any way I can.”
Cleveland will enter the season with a 61-24 collegiate record.