CSU-Bakersfield’s Russell Rohlfing, behind, scores on UTC’s Mason Wallace to win in overtime during their Southern Scuffle wrestling tournament round of 16 bout at McKenzie Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, in Chattanooga, Tenn. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga senior wrestler Alonzo Allen got 2019 off to a good start.
Allen reached the quarterfinals Tuesday in the championship bracket of the 125-pound class of the Southern Scuffle – billed as the nation’s top in-season collegiate wrestling tournament – hosted by UTC at McKenzie Arena. He registered wins in the first two rounds before falling to second-seeded Rico Montoya of Northern Colorado.
“Overall, I think I did pretty good today,” said Allen, a defending Southern Conference champion. “In that last match I just let that kid outwrestle me, but if I can keep the momentum going through tomorrow, I’ll be on that podium.”
Allen’s two wins didn’t come easily. Tied 5-5 after two periods in the first round, he scored a third-period escape and takedown to beat Audey Ashkar from Binghamton.
Allen (12-4) nearly gave away his second-round bout against Rider’s Richie Koehler. After an early takedown in the final period gave the Moc a commanding 12-4 lead, a flurry of points from Koehler – including a near fall with just over a minute left – tightened the match. Allen fended Koehler off, however, to win 14-12.