Wrestling Southern Conference

Chattanooga?s Soto Named Wrestler of the Week

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Chattanooga sophomore Nick Soto has been named the Southern Conference wrestler of the week for all competition through Nov. 6. The selection is made by the league office.

Soto went 6-1 during the first weekend of the season, including a 2-1 dual mark. He turned in three pins.

The 2012 SoCon Freshman of the Year and league champion at 133 pounds, Soto entered this season ranked No. 14 nationally at 125.

Chattanooga opened the season with a trio of dual matches Saturday in Charlottesville, Va., with Soto earning a forfeit win against Ohio before pinning Anderson’s Keenan Simmons in just 43 seconds. The Mocs topped the Bobcats 21-12 and Anderson 37-6.

In Chattanooga’s 26-9 loss to No. 16 Virginia, Soto took his only loss of the week, falling 3-0 to No. 9 Matthew Snyder.

The following day, Soto went 4-0 to earn the 125-pound title at the Hokie Open in Salem, Va. The Spring Hill, Fla., native opened his day with a pin of King College’s Tanner Bates in 2:47. He followed that with another pin against North Carolina's Brian Bokoski (4:29) and a major decision (10-2) against Appalachian State's Dominic Parisi.

Soto picked up his biggest win of the weekend in the title match, upsetting No. 6 Jarrod Garnett of tournament host Virginia Tech 10-9 for his third career victory over a top-10 opponent. Soto moved up to No. 8 nationally after the weekend.

The wrestler of the week award is the third of Soto’s career. He also took the honor twice last season (Dec. 21 and Jan. 4).

Chattanooga is back in action Sunday at the Wolfpack Open in Raleigh, N.C.

Also nominated: Dominic Parisi (Appalachian State), Eric Montoya (Campbell), Undrakhbayar Khishignyam (The Citadel), Kevin Birmingham (Davidson), Alex Medved (Gardner-Webb) and Juan Adams (VMI).


2012-13 SoCon wrestlers of the week
Nov. 7    Nick Soto, Chattanooga
-www.SoConSports.com-