Bucky Johnson, who was expected to start at 133 pounds for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling team this season, is expected back before the Mocs open their conference schedule at home on Jan. 30 against The Citadel.
Johnson has been recovering from a knee injury sustained during a boating accident last summer. The junior won a Southern Conference title and earned a berth in the NCAA tournament in 2009.
Cody Cleveland, the school’s top 141-pounder and a former All-American, also is expected to be ready for the Citadel meet. He’s had a hamstring injury.
The Mocs have added T.J. Mitchell, a 133-pound candidate who is transferring from Virginia Tech, but he will not be eligible until next fall.
Jake Young, the 2010 SoCon freshman of the year, is headed for a redshirt season. Like Johnson, he was injured while riding a personal watercraft in the summer.
“He’s likely to be cleared [by surgeons] about conference tournament time,” coach Heath Eslinger said of Young. “He’s been rehabbing and working out as much as he could, but he’ll probably take a redshirt this year.”
Other probable redshirt candidates are true freshmen Devonte Brown (133), Greg Sheperd (133) and heavyweight Kevin Malone. While wrestling unattached, Malone has won one tournament and placed second in another.
“I’m not big on redshirts in their first years,” Eslinger said. “If you’re leaving 15 kids at home every weekend, they are not as likely to feel like they’re a part of the team.”
One who did not redshirt is Shawn Greevy, who has filled in for Cleveland at 141. He came up with a win-clinching victory last week at Ohio University and scored a pin Friday against 25th-ranked Arizona State in the Virginia Duals.
“It’s been great for him to get this experience, even though he won’t be the guy once Cody returns,” Eslinger said. “This year has still been good for him. He has really blossomed.”
The wrestling team has done its part to boost UTC’s academic standing. Led by Johnson’s 3.8, the Mocs had 16 wrestlers with grade point averages of at least 3.0 and eight at 3.5 or better last semester.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765.