Wrestling Southern Conference

UTC wrestlers travel to nationally-ranked Northern Iowa and Illinois

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.---The wrestling team continues with its difficult schedule this weekend by taking on two nationally-ranked opponents on the road. The Mocs will wrestle at No. 20 Northern Iowa Friday and at No. 7 Illinois Saturday.

This will be the third and fourth ranked opponents the Mocs have competed against in dual matches this season. UTC opened the season at No. 1 Oklahoma State and hosted No. 4 Iowa State Nov. 29.

Northern Iowa, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, has four ranked individuals in this week's InterMat NCAA Division I wrestling rankings. Dylan Long at 141 pounds is the highest ranked UNI wrestler at No. 2.

Also representing UNI in the rankings are Eric Haugh, ranked fifth at 174 pounds, Nick Balma, 19th at 157, and Hesston Johnson, 20th at 165.

The Fighting Illini have eight wrestlers ranked among the 10 weight divisions. Alex Tirapelle is the top-rated wrestler at 157 pounds and is an All-American.

The Mocs will also have to contend with fourth-ranked Kyle Ott (125), fourth-ranked Mark Jayne (133), 20th-ranked Cal Ferry (149), 12th-rated Pete Freidl (174), eighth-ranked Brian Glynn (184), sixth-ranked Jason Potter (197) and 18th-ranked Mike Behnke (285).

The Mocs boast two ranked wrestlers in 14th-ranked Matt Pitts (125) and 20th-ranked Jake Yost (157). Pitts was eliminated by Ott at the Missouri Open by pin in late November.

Head Coach Terry Brands is expected to have Josh Keefe and Michael Keefe, 133 and 141 respectively, in his lineup. Also expected to compete are John Cofer or Jacob Harris at 149, Jon Sioredas at 165, Josh Ward at 174, John Davis at 184, either Julio Lopez or Drew Roberts at 197 and Jason Pennington at 285.