Wrestling Southern Conference

Four Mocs Earn Preseason All-America Honors

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling team has received its highest individual preseason national wrestling rankings this week with two seniors leading the way.

Matt Pitts, a senior from Calhoun, Ga., and Jon Sioredas, a senior from Chesapeake, Va., are both ranked among the top 10 wrestlers nationally in at least one poll. Pitts is ranked ninth at 125 pounds by both Amateur Wrestling News and The Wrestling Mall. Sioredas, who wrestles at 165 pounds, is ranked No. 8 by The Wrestling Mall and No. 11 by Amateur Wrestling News.

Both wrestlers were ranked at some point during the 2003-04 season. Sioredas compiled a 20-8 overall record with seven pins and claimed the Southern Conference Championship at 165.

Twin brothers Josh and Michael Keefe, of Ringgold, Ga., are also among the nationally-ranked wrestlers. Josh, a sophomore at 133 pounds, checks in at No. 14 by The Wrestling Mall and at No. 17 by AWN. Michael, a sophomore 141-pounder, is ranked 15th and 18th respectively by TWM and AWN.

The highest in-season ranking by a Mocs wrestler last season was No. 12. Both Josh and Michael Keefe established that mark near the end of the year. Josh was the SoCon Champion at 133 while Michael was the runner-up at 141. Both earned berths at the NCAA Championships, joining Pitts, Sioredas and John Davis (184).

The Mocs open the 2004-05 season Nov. 14 at Oklahoma State. The Cowboys are the preseason No. 1-ranked team in both polls.