The competition moved within striking distance at the Southern Conference wrestling tournament in Asheville, N.C.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga had taken some unexpected hits in the semifinals, allowing competitors to make up some distance. However, the Mocs responded in a fashion that delighted the coaching staff, winning 18 of 20 consolation matches on the way to their fifth straight league championship.
“Total team effort,” coach Heath Eslinger said. “Sporting events don’t always go the way you’d want and the semis didn’t go as well as we had hoped, but our kids responded in the right way and nine of the guys placed third or better.”
The moment the championship trophy had been handed over, though, the mindset shifted from team goals to those of each individual. The NCAA tournament begins Thursday at St. Louis’ Scottrade Center, which will attract more than 20,000 spectators for each of the six sessions spread over three days.
The team title takes a back seat. There are 80 coveted medals, designating All-America status, and UTC has seven shots.