SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? With two returning Southern Conference individual champions, including All-American Cody Cleveland at 141 pounds, the Chattanooga Mocs wrestling team has been picked to win the 2008-2009 SoCon Wrestling Title in voting done by the league’s head coaches, the conference office announced Tuesday. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
The Mocs received four of a possible six first place votes and 24 overall points. Last season the Mocs won their 23rd SoCon crown and had eight wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Championships, including Cleveland, who finished eighth to earn All-America honors.
Picking up the other two first-place votes was UNC Greensboro, which received 20 total points. The Spartans finished third at last season’s SoCon Wrestling Championships behind the Mocs and Appalachian State and return one SoCon individual champion, Bryon Sigmon at 165 pounds.
Appalachian State, last season’s runner-up in the SoCon Wrestling Championships, was picked to finish third with 17 total points. The Mountaineers were followed by The Citadel (15), and Davidson and VMI, which tied with seven total points. VMI has the only other returning SoCon Individual Champion from last season, Josh Wine at the heavyweight position.
The 2009 Southern Conference Wrestling Championships are scheduled for March 7, at Charleston, S.C., and will be hosted by The Citadel.
2008-2009 Southern Conference Wrestling Preseason Poll
1. Chattanooga (4) 24
2. UNC Greensboro (2) 20
3. Appalachian State 17
4. The Citadel 15
T5. Davidson 7
T5. VMI 7