The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga team on the wrestling mat today at Missouri won’t be the team that Southern Conference opponents face later this season.
The Mocs, who have struggled to a 5-8 dual-meet record, will wrestle Southern Illinois-Edwardsville with hopes of breaking a two-match losing streak before tackling No. 20 Missouri. They’ll do so, though, without Bucky Johnson (133 pounds), Cody Cleveland (141) and possibly Brandon Wright (174) and Niko Brown (197).
Johnson hasn’t wrestled yet this season as he continues to recover from offseason knee surgery. Cleveland, a former All-American, still is sidelined with a hamstring injury. Wright has been battling the flu, and Brown has been slowed by a rib injury.
“Bucky is coming along. He’s drilling hard,” Mocs assistant coach Rocco Mansueto said. “He’s been able to do sprint laps with the guys, and he’s lifting. He’s doing everything but going live in practice. We’re trying to be careful that we don’t put him in there before he’s ready.
“Cody is coming along, but he definitely will not wrestle against Missouri. Our goal is to have both of them back for The Citadel.”