The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga evened its wrestling dual-meet record at 5-5 with a 27-9 defeat of Kent State on Saturday morning in the Virginia Duals at Hampton, Va.
The Mocs had dropped close meets against West Virginia and 10th-ranked Edinboro on Friday to drop into the tournament’s bronze division, where they beat Nebraska-Kearney 30-6 on Friday night.
Saturday’s win was UTC’s second of the season against Kent State, a 23-15 victim earlier. The Mocs got a pin win from Sean Mappes at 174 pounds, a technical fall from Shawn Greevy at 149 and a major decision from Sean Boyle at 125.
The Mocs’ Austin Sams (157) and Jared Johnson (285) went through the two-day event undefeated, and their final-match wins avenged earlier losses to Andy Candiello and Mimmo Lytle, respectively. Nick Soto at 133 also was 4-0 at Hampton.
UTC opens the Southern Conference portion of its schedule Friday in a 6 p.m. meet at Gardner-Webb. The Mocs will wrestle at home next Sunday at 2 p.m. against Campbell.
UTC 27, KENT STATE 9
125–Sean Boyle (UTC) major dec. Edilberto Vinas, 12-4; 133–Nick Soto (UTC) dec. Kyle Lukowich, 7-3; 141–Tyler Small (KS) dec. Michael Pongracz, 5-3 SV1; 149–Shawn Greevy (UTC) tech. fall over Michael Depalma, 17-2; 157–Austin Sams (UTC) dec. Andy Candiello, 8-6; 165–Tyler Buckwalter (KS) dec. Justin Lampe, 4-2; 174–Sean Mappes (UTC) pinned Jerald Spohn, 1:27; 184–John Shrader (UTC) dec. Michael Vollant, 7-4; 197–Cole Baxter (KS) dec. Scottie Boykin, 5-2; 285–Jared Johnson (UTC) dec. Mimmo Lytle, 3-2.