The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling program is tied for 12th after the first day of the 22-team Southern Scuffle tournament at UTC’s McKenzie Arena, with four wrestlers for the hosts still alive in the double-elimination brackets with a day to go.
Jackson Hurst (165 pounds) and Sergio Desiante (174 pounds) have advanced to the championship semifinals, while both Blake Boarman and Bryce Luna are battling in the consolation bracket at 133 pounds. All four of those UTC wrestlers are in position for the medal stand, with the question a matter of their place finishes.
Action begins at 10 a.m. Sunday, with the finals set to start at 3 p.m.
Hurst, a redshirt junior whose first day at the tournament was highlighted by an opening 13-12 decision over fifth-seeded Clayton Ulrey of Northern Colorado, is set for a semifinal pairing with Army’s Gunner Filipowski, who has a No. 21 national ranking and is the bracket’s top seed.
“Jackson’s somebody that we look to as a leader of our program,” Mocs coach Kyle Ruschell said in a UTC release. “He wrestles hard and does a lot of the things that we expect our guys to do and is a great role model. It’s great to see him have some success, especially after a tough road trip before the break. The whole team rallied around him, and we were very excited for him because they know how hard he works.”