When Heath Eslinger, his University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling staff and two of their wrestlers decided on redshirt seasons, all involved knew there would be some drawbacks.
It was evidenced last weekend when the Mocs failed to win a team match at the Virginia Duals. They were competing without Mike Pongracz, the 141-pounder who went 22-4 a year ago, and Scottie Boykins, who was ranked among the nation’s top 197-pounders most of the 2015-16 season.
“We made a preseason decision and we’re to the point now where we need to play it out,” Eslinger said this week. “I was actually fairly pleased with performances at the tournament. We wrestled hard, we saw improvement and we saw things we need to improve on.”
Injuries have played a part in UTC’s current 3-7 record, but it’s likely that 174-pound Sean Mappes, who missed the Virginia trip, will be available as the Mocs begin in earnest their Southern Conference season.
They left Friday morning for SoCon foe Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, where they’ll wrestle at 6 tonight.
“They’re a very much improved team,” Eslinger said of the Cougars, who are 1-8 overall and 1-1 in the SoCon.
While Mappes’ participation remains a match-time decision, the Mocs’ lineup is otherwise set. Heavyweight Jared Johnson, who went 4-0 in Virginia, and 184-pound Bryce Carr, who went 3-1 in those duals, lead the way. Both are nationally ranked.
The top matches include Johnson’s bout with Jake McKiernan (18-6), who was pinned by Appalachian State’s Denzel Dejournette. Eslinger said the Cougars’ other top performers were at 125, 141, 174 and 197.
UTC’s Alonzo Allen will go against Freddie Rodriguez (12-5) at 125, Chase Zemenak against Trevor Feagans (12-12) at 141, Mappes against Jake Residori (10-10) at 174 and Clay Dent against Jake Tindle (13-7) at 197. At 2-0, fifth-year senior Tindle is the lone Cougar still unbeaten in conference meets but Eslinger said he felt good about Dent’s chances.
UTC, 3-7 overall, is 1-0 in the conference and, like SIUE, has a win over VMI.
The Mocs will be at home a week from today to face Campbell at noon and Davidson at 2 p.m. at Maclellan Gym.