Three UTC wrestlers begin NCAA tourney quest

Johnson leads a trio of Mocs at NCAA wrestling tournament

UTC's Chris Debien and Citadel's Andrew Szalwinski compete in the 133 lb. weight class Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017 at UTC's Maclellan Gym.
UTC's Chris Debien and Citadel's Andrew Szalwinski compete in the 133 lb. weight class Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017 at UTC's Maclellan Gym.
photo Bryce Carr looks to the bench as Sean Mappes reaches for a take down during the blue vs. gold matches Thursday night at Maclellan Gym.

Jared Johnson is ready to be done with wrestling.

Almost.

The heavyweight, who will leave the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a master's degree, has twice been to the NCAA tournament. This time, on what is likely his last wrestling trip, he wants to become the Mocs' first All-American since Cody Cleveland in 2008.

"Hopefully he'll take advantage of the opportunity," coach Heath Eslinger said. "He's got a good draw and he's ready. It helps to wrestle people we don't wrestle all the time. He's put in the work."

UTC departed around noon Tuesday for the tournament that starts today in St. Louis, with Eslinger also taking Chris DeBien (133 pounds) and Bryce Carr (184).

"Bryce is consistent. He can score points" Eslinger said. "Obviously, we've watched videos of the guys they have early, but now is not the time to go changing things."

Johnson (26-7), who enters the tournament as the 11th seed in his 285-pound weight class, is 4-5 against the 33-man field and 11-15 overall. His opener is against Northwestern's Conan Jennings (17-14), and if Johnson wins he'll meet either sixth-seeded Austin Schafer (22-1) of Oklahoma State or Campbell's Jere Heino (22-7), who beat him in a Southern Conference semifinal early this month.

Wrestlers who finish eighth or better earn All-America status.

Carr and DeBien will make their first appearances at an NCAA tournament, but each has been on a prominent national stage previously.

Carr (25-4) was a junior college national champion two years ago at Darton State in Albany, Ga. The 13th-seeded junior also placed third at UTC's talent-laden Southern Scuffle in January. He has a 7-4 record against the wrestlers in his NCAA bracket, and all four of his losses were by one point or in overtime.

He'll open against Army's Samson Imonode (24-10), and a win would pit him against either Hunter Ritter (19-14) of Wisconsin or Oklahoma State's fourth-seeded Nolan Boyd (21-4).

DeBien (17-9) likely has the toughest opener of the three, catching fifth-seeded Stevan Micic (24-5) of Michigan. DeBien, who went through the SoCon's regular season and tournament unbeaten, is riding a 12-match winning streak.

"He won his first three matches of the year and then lost nine of his next 12 before the 12-match streak," said Eric Phillips, his father and coach at Cleveland High School. "He only lost seven matches total during his high school career, and I think I'm most proud of the character he showed hanging in there through that losing streak and staying the course to rebound."

DeBien has been on the national scene for years - including a technical-fall loss to Micic when the two were high school sophomores - but the Mocs sophomore won or medaled in at least six national events, including a championship at the senior nationals before starting his UTC career. If he wins his opener, he'll wrestle either Austin Eicher (21-16) of Michigan State or 12th-seeded Josh Alber (23-5) of Northern Iowa.

"We knew he could wrestle and win at this level. Things have fallen into place for him," Eslinger said of the four-time state champ. "He's coming back from an ACL tear, and this is not an easy go - managing academics and wrestling. He had to learn to carry the weight. Chris has a very high wrestling IQ, and he can wrestle in any position."

The tournament begins at noon Eastern, with the second championship round and consolation rounds at 7 tonight.

Wrestling resumes at 11 a.m. Friday with two sessions, and Saturday's medal rounds start at 11 a.m. with the championship finals at 8 p.m. All rounds will air on ESPN and/or ESPN3 (online).

Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him on Twitter @wardgossett.

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