The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling team came close again in its first two meets Friday in the Virginia Duals — but lost them both before beating NCAA Division II power Nebraska-Kearney 30-6.
The Mocs (4-5) face Kent State at 10 this morning in the final day of the tournament at Hampton, Va.
UTC, which lost two of its three previous dual meets by a total of four points, first lost to West Virginia (21-19) and then to 10th-ranked Edinboro (21-17).
In the opener against West Virginia, the Mocs split the 10 meets but got bonus points only from Shawn Greevy (a pin at 149 pounds) and Austin Sams (a major decision at 157) while giving up two pins. Tenth-ranked 125-pound Sean Boyle was one of the pin victims, losing to Mountaineers freshman Zeke Moisey. The other pin was sustained by newcomer Justin Lampe.
Boyle rebounded with a win against Edinboro as UTC again won five of the 10 bouts. Again, though, bonus points made the difference. Edinboro secured extras from second-ranked Mitchell Port at 141, third-ranked David Habat at 149, Patrick Jennings at 174 and Victor Avery at 184.
UTC’s only bonus points came from 133-pound Nick Soto, who registered a technical fall at 133.
Boyle, Levi Clemons (174), John Shrader (184) and Scottie Boykin (197) won major decisions and heavyweight Jared Johnson had a 16-0 technical fall against Nebraska-Kearney, which is ranked No. 3 in Division II, and Soto edged DII’s No. 1-ranked Daniel DeShazer 11-10. Boykin scored a major decision over another No. 1.
Soto, Sams and Johnson each went 3-0 for the day.
WEST VIRGINIA 21, UTC 19
125–Zeke Moisey (WV) pinned Sean Boyle, 2:27; 133–Nick Soto (UTC) dec. Cory Stainbrook, 7-2; 141–Mike Morales (WV) dec. Mike Pongracz, 9-3; 149–Shawn Greevy (UTC) pinned Louis Colonna, 2:57; 157–Austin Sams (UTC) major dec. Roman Perryman, 13-4; 165–Ross Renzi (WV) pinned Justin Lampe, 2:00; 174–Levi Clemons (UTC) dec. Weston Vonegidy, 8-5; 184–Jakob Scheffel (WV) dec. John Shrader, 5-3; 197–Jake A. Smith (WV) dec. Scottie Boykin, 3-2; 285–Jared Johnson (UTC) dec. Anthony Vizcarrondo, 2-0.
EDINBORO 21, UTC 17
125–Sean Boyle (UTC) dec Kory Mines, 5-2; 133–Nick Soto (UTC) tech. fall over Anthony Rivera, 20-4; 141–Mitchell Port (E) major dec. Mike Pongracz, 12-1; 149–David Habat (E) major dec. Shawn Greevy, 14-5; 157–Austin Sams (UTC) dec. Kasey Davis, 7-6; 165–Casey Fuller (E) dec. Justin Lampe, 8-6; 174–Patrick Jennings (E) pinned Levi Clemons, 2:25; 184–Victor Avery (E) major dec. John Shrader, 13-1; 197–Scottie Boykin (UTC) dec. Vincent Pickett, 6-4 SV1; 285–Jared Johnson (UTC) dec. Warren Bosch, 7-2.
UTC 30, NEBRASKA-KEARNEY 6
125–Sean Boyle (UTC) major dec. Connor Bolling, 19-6; 133–Nick Soto (UTC) dec. Daniel DeShazer, 11-10; 141–Mike Pongracz (UTC) dec. Keith Surber, 3-1; 149–Destin McCauley (UNK) dec. Shawn Greevy, 10-3; 157–Austin Sams (UTC) dec. Chase White, 11-5; 165–Devin Aguirre (UNK) dec. Justin Lampe, 13-6; 174–Levi Clemons (UTC) major dec. Chance Bila, 14-3; 184–John Shrader (UTC) major dec. Casey Powell, 11-1; 197–Scottie Boykin (UTC) major dec. Romero Cotton, 15-6; 285–Jared Johnson (UTC) tech. fall over Ivan DeLeon, 16-0.