Kamdyn Munro and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling program left no doubt.
The Mocs were ahead 15-13 on Appalachian State heading into the final match of the afternoon at 174 pounds, with the Mountaineers needing a win of any sort to continue the program’s 10-match win streak over the Mocs.
But with a quick takedown 17 seconds in, Munro shut any talk of another close dramatic UTC loss — the program has had a number of those in recent years — in claiming a 20-3 technical-fall victory and giving UTC a 20-13 win over the Mountaineers, halting that loss streak and moving into a three-way tie for first in the Southern Conference along with The Citadel.
“I was just trying to do what we’ve been working on and staying present and just getting to my offense and trying to score as many points as I can,” Munro said. “I feel like recently I haven’t been doing that, so today I feel like I just went out and wrestled, putting as many points up on the board and whatever happens, happens.”
The last time the Mocs (9-5, 6-1) defeated the Mountaineers (9-6, 6-1) was in 2015, which is also the last time UTC won the SoCon championship. There is still a match against Bellarmine in Louisville next week that UTC has to win, and even then it’s likely the Mocs will have to share the title as App State still has Gardner-Webb next week and The Citadel (10-7, 6-1) — which defeated UTC 19-18 on Jan. 31 — wrestles against Virginia Military Institute next week.
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The Bulldogs held on to defeat Davidson 20-14 Sunday afternoon to remain in the three-way tie. App State beat The Citadel 23-13 on Feb. 8.
“Today was a long time coming and it’s the guys — they made a huge jump from the beginning of the season,” UTC head coach Kyle Ruschell said. “They stayed with it and just have done a good job, and now you’re starting to see what they’re capable of, especially coming off that close loss with Citadel.
“This one’s a good one for them, but I told them the job’s not done. We’ve still got a tough one next weekend too, so we’ve got to be ready to go come Sunday.”
(READ MORE: UTC wrestling coach Kyle Ruschell eager for return to top of SoCon)
Along with Munro’s technical-fall victory, the Mocs got wins from Cooper Flynn (125), Ethan Uhorchuk (133), Hunter Mason (141), Cavarius Liddie (157) and Kade Rule (197).
It’s a mostly young UTC team, with six of the program’s 10 starters in either their first or second year in the program. Munro is one of four with multiple years of experience, so playing a role in Sunday’s win meant a lot to him and he noted he was “grateful” to be a part of the program.
“We’re trying to keep this going by keeping the energy high,” he said. “I feel like on the bench recently, the energy has been out of this world, I can’t even describe it. I feel like it always starts with the bench feeding off everyone’s energy. In that match I got tired a little bit, but I heard everyone (encouraging me), and I just fed off of that and it gave me the extra spark that I needed.”
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com.
