The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling team began its season Friday with a 29-14 win over Southern Illinois-Edwardsville outside at Miller Park.
UTC opened with three straight wins, including bonus points in the first two, to build a 12-0 lead. The Mocs dominated the statistics, recording 17 takedowns to five for the visitors, had five two-point near-falls to none for SIUE and produced one pin and two technical falls.
“It was a great first match against an opponent that we know pretty well,” coach Kyle Ruschell said in a UTC release. “They are a team that was in the SoCon two years ago, so getting them back down here was a great first event.
“Being outside was different for our guys, and they all appreciated it. It got a little chilly, but we practice all year that it doesn’t matter what the atmosphere looks like, you just control what you can control. They did that for the most part.”
Junior Fabian Gutierrez got things started with a 13-2 major decision over Gage Datlovsky at 125. Datlovsky struck first with an early takedown, but Gutierrez controlled the action the rest of the way.