Wrestling Southern Conference

Mocs Picked to Win SoCon Wrestling Title

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference’s eight wrestling coaches have picked defending regular-season and tournament champion Chattanooga to win the league title again in 2014-15. The coaches also selected a 10-member preseason all-conference team.

The coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams or student-athletes.

Chattanooga picked up the maximum seven first-place votes and topped the preseason poll with 49 total points. The Mocs will be seeking their 10th regular-season and tournament titles in the last 11 years. Since 2004-05, UTC has won the tournament every year but 2010 and the regular season every year but 2011-12.

Three of Chattanooga head coach Heath Eslinger’s charges earned preseason all-conference honors, as Nick Soto (133 pounds), Corey Mock (165) and Levi Clemons (174) each took the nod after winning their respective weight classes last season. Soto will be vying to become a four-time SoCon champion, as he also won the 133-pound title in 2012 and the 125-pound title in 2013.

The Citadel finished second in the preseason poll with 40 points, edging Appalachian State, which garnered 38 points and the remaining first-place vote. The Bulldogs’ Aaron Walker was the preseason selection at 157 pounds, while Marshall Haas took the honor at 197. Each won his weight class at the SoCon Wrestling Championship in 2014.

For the Mountaineers, 2014 SoCon champions Dominic Parisi (125) and Dylan Cottrell (149) earned spots on the preseason team.

Gardner-Webb was fourth in the preseason poll with 32 votes and saw redshirt freshman Chris Vassar earn the preseason nod at 141 pounds.

SIUE was fifth in the poll with 23 points, followed by Davidson with 17. The Wildcats’ Scott Patrick, the 2014 SoCon champion at 184 pounds, was the preseason pick at that weight.

VMI was selected seventh in the preseason poll with 13 points and put heavyweight Juan Adams on the preseason squad.

Campbell rounded out the poll in eighth with 12 points. The Camels are ineligible for the 2014 Southern Conference Wrestling Championship due to APR penalties.

The 2014-15 wrestling season gets under way on Nov. 1, with The Citadel hosting The Citadel Open. Appalachian State, Davidson, Gardner-Webb and VMI are in action the following day.

The Southern Conference Wrestling Championship moves to Asheville, N.C., this season, and will be contested at Kimmel Arena on March 7, 2015.


2014-15 SoCon Wrestling Preseason Coaches Poll
School (First-place votes)    Points
1.    Chattanooga (7)    49
2.    The Citadel    40
3.    Appalachian State (1)    38
4.    Gardner-Webb    32
5.    SIUE    23
6.    Davidson    17
7.    VMI    13
8.    Campbell    12

2014-15 SoCon Wrestling Preseason All-Conference Team
125    Dominic Parisi, Appalachian State*
133    Nick Soto, Chattanooga*^
141    Chris Vassar, Gardner-Webb
149    Dylan Cottrell, Appalachian State*
157    Aaron Walker, The Citadel*
165    Corey Mock, Chattanooga*
174    Levi Clemons, Chattanooga*
184    Scott Patrick, Davidson*
197    Marshall Haas, The Citadel*
HWT    Juan Adams, VMI

* - 2014 SoCon champion at that weight class
^ - 2012 SoCon champion at 133, 2013 SoCon champion at 125

-www.SoConSports.com-