The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling team won seven of the 10 matches in a 26-12 Southern Conference win Friday night at Gardner-Webb.
UTC (6-8, 4-1) got a pin from heavyweight Jared Johnson, ranked No. 9 in the nation, and a 16-0 technical fall from 141-pounder Chase Zemenak plus regular decisions from Alonzo Allen, Chris Debien, Justin Lampe, Bryce Carr and Clay Dent.
The Mocs won the first three matchups for an 11-0 margin, but Gardner-Webb (5-8, 2-4) closed to within 11-9 before Lampe’s 7-3 win at 165 pounds and then to within 14-12 before 19th-ranked Carr won 4-2 at 184.
“That was a huge win for Justin Lampe,” UTC coach Heath Eslinger said in a school release. “I thought we won where we should win and had some guys get bonus points, which helped. Overall it was a good performance to move us into Sunday.”
The Mocs go from Boiling Springs, N.C., to Boone, N.C., for another meet Sunday against another SoCon affiliate member, 16th-ranked Appalachian State. The Mountaineers lead the league with a 5-0 record and are 11-2 overall.
