When he steps into the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s refurbished wrestling room, coach Heath Eslinger is likely to have three or four lists in his back pocket.
There could be a medical list for those on the sideline with a supplement for those still limited by physical ailments, a returnees list, a starters’ list and a newcomers list.
Among the injured is Demetrius “Bucky” Johnson, the Mocs’ 125-pounder who’s likely out until at least mid-January recovering from a surgery to repair a torn ACL suffered in a jet ski accident. Enter Prescott Garner, a NCAA qualifier who transferred from the U.S. Naval Academy.
Also on the injured list for at least two or three weeks are Jake Young (174), Brandon Wright (165) and freshman heavyweight Kevin Malone. Wright’s sideline time will be brief, but Malone is recovering from a torn muscle in his chest. Young, whose official return to the team is January, may wind up not wrestling this year, but coaches are hopeful he can return in time to challenge for the starting role before the Southern Conference tournament.
Enter freshmen Levi Clemons, a two-time state champion from Florida and a former champion in the nationals at Fargo, N.D., and Dalton Temple, a multiyear Georgia state tournament medalist. Both, however, are freshmen.
“More than half of our weight classes have both depth and talent,” said Rocco Mansueto, the Mocs’ top assistant. “It’s a good problem to have when you have two guys at each weight that are toe-to-toe, and as a coach looking at a lineup you’d be happy to have either one on the mat representing the program.”
The weight classes where the Mocs appear to be strong are at 125, 133, 149, 157 and 197. With Garner a likely starter at 125, it’s possible that Johnson will challenge first at 133, where there is little experience entering the season. Such a move would certainly make the Mocs a more seasoned postseason team.
UTC coaches are likely to be looking for talent at 165 pounds and quite possibly at 174 and heavyweight as they continue recruiting.
“The weights where we need help are not as numerous as last year, but there are certain weights where we need more depth and others where we need more talent,” Mansueto said.
As the Mocs hit that wrestling room, which has been brightened and sports new wall-to-wall, goldish-yellow workout mats, Eslinger remains optimistic.
“I don’t know if you could make me more optimistic,” the second-year coach said.
UTC had its problems late in the 2009-10 season, losing a starter or two to injury and another one to disciplinary decisions by the coaching staff.
“I think we as a staff are more excited this year because we feel there are rewards to be reaped from the effort the guys put in over the summer,” he said.
There also is a subtle swing in the coaches’ emphasis as well as they look for improved performance, perhaps more than won-lost results.
“We’re trusting that adequate progress on a daily basis will get us to our desired goals, and that includes every facet of [wrestlers’] lives – athletically, socially and academically,” Eslinger said. “The goals are the same, but the fun part is that the kids believe in the goals. We don’t have to sell them on the goals and how to attain those goals.”
Obviously those goals are to win the Southern Conference regular-season and tournament championships – they finished a disappointing fourth in the tournament last season – and to get wrestlers on the awards stand (All-America status) at the NCAA tournament. There are other goals as well.
UTC had four Academic All-Americans last season – Johnson, Dean Pavlou, Jason McCroskey and Brandon Wright – and would have had five or even six if Cleveland had been able to register enough matches before his injury and if Dan Waddell hadn’t missed the year with a knee injury.
“There are tangible goals for the team, and one of those is to be the No. 1 team in the country academically,” Eslinger said.
Another major goal is away from the mat but an important goal nonetheless. Eslinger said the Mocs are still $10,000 shy of their fundraising goal for this season. He hopes to have it raised before the alumni meet on Oct. 16.
Possible starters, likely battles
125 – Sophomore transfer Prescott Garner, a transfer from U.S. Naval Academy by way of Clackamas Community College in Oregon City, Ore., is the likely starter.
133 – Redshirt freshman Cody Hood might be the front-runner because the rest are freshmen. It’s likely that high school All-American Devante Brown will lead the challengers, and it’s probable that Bucky Johnson, the Mocs’ starter the last two seasons at 125, will challenge once he recovers from knee surgery.
141 – Former NCAA All-American Cody Cleveland is far and away the leader although he’s coming off knee surgery to repair a torn ACL. Shawn Greevy is likely to battle fellow freshman Trevor Herron for the backup role.
149 – Dean Pavlou won the job last year as a true freshman and wound up winning the Southern Conference and an NCAA bid. He will have his hands full with fellow sophomore Alex Hudson.
157 – Another serious battle between returning starter Josh Condon and former NCAA qualifier Dan Waddell, who missed last season with knee and shoulder injuries.
165 – There is little depth here, although Condon or Waddell could wind up moving up to challenge Brandon Wright once the incumbent recovers from minor knee surgery.
174 – It’s a wide-open battle between freshmen Levi Clemons and Dalton Temple, at least until incumbent Jake Young’s anticipated return in January. Young is recuperating from ACL surgery.
184 – A Southern Conference champion last season, Jason McCroskey is locked into the weight. True freshman John Salada will get some matches – if nothing else, wrestling unattached in open tournaments.
197 – Two transfers, Robert Prigmore from Lehigh and Sam Kuntz from Rutgers, will challenge returning starter Niko Brown.
285 – Matt Lettner will be the man, especially after Carson-Newman transfer Tom Minwell decided to enter the work force while finishing graduation requirements. The only sure backup, and he’s recovering from a torn pectoral muscle, is true freshman Kevin Malone. It’s possible one of the 197-pounders could move up in a pinch.
Mocs’ 2010-11 schedule
(All home meets at Maclellan Gym)
Oct. 16 Alumni meet, 10 a.m.
Oct. 28 Blue-Gold match, 7 p.m.
Nov. 6 vs. Kent State at Winston-Salem, N.C., 1 p.m.
Nov. 7 Hokie Open at Blacksburg, Va., all day
Nov. 14 Liberty University, 2 p.m.
Nov. 14 Cumberland University, 4 p.m.
Nov. 20 at Gardner-Webb, 10 a.m.
Nov. 21 ACC Challenge at Chapel Hill, N.C., all day
Nov. 26 at Iowa, TBA
Dec. 17 at Stanford, TBA
Dec. 19 Reno Tournament of Champions at Reno, Nev, all day
Jan. 3 Ohio University at Athens, Ohio, 6 p.m.
Jan. 7-8 at Virginia Duals in Hampton, Va., all day
Jan. 15 at Missouri in Columbia, 7 p.m.
Jan. 30 The Citadel, 2 p.m.
Feb. 5 at UNC-Greensboro, TBA
Feb. 6 at Appalachian State in Boone, N.C., 2 p.m.
Feb. 13 Davidson, 2 p.m.
Feb. 20 VMI, 2 p.m.
March 3 Southern Conference tournament at Boone, N.C.
March 17 NCAA tournament at Philadelphia
Read a story and view a slide show on the wrestling Mocs’ Habitat for Humanity work: