No. 25 Chattanooga downs Gardner-Webb
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling team fought off a tough Gardner-Webb squad for a 24-13 Southern Conference win in Maclellan Gym on Friday night. The Mocs trailed 10-9 through five matches but won four of the last five for the team victory.
Gardner-Webb brought an experienced lineup that included two seniors and six juniors. The Bulldogs had a pair of senior-freshman matchups to start the night, but UTC battled hard in both losses. The 25th-ranked Mocs improved to 9-3 overall and 4-0 in SoCon matches. GWU fell to 3-4 and 2-1 in league action.
Freshman Alonzo Allen opened against GWU senior Cortez Starkes at 125. Allen got to Starkes' leg a number of times but had a hard time finishing the shot. Starkes posted a late takedown for the 6-5 decision.
Freshman Cody Hill matched up against Bulldog senior Tyler Ziegler at 133. This one also went down to the wire, with Ziegler's late score giving him a 3-2 win.
Trailing 6-0, the Mocs sent their hottest wrestler out at 141 in junior Michael Pongracz. He came into the night with a 16-2 record and quickly took control of his match with Ryan Hull. Leading 10-0 in the second period, Pongracz tied the team scored with a pin with two seconds on the clock.
Gardner-Webb responded in a big way at 149 when junior Ryan Mosley scored a major decision over sophomore Chase Zemenak. UTC freshman Kamaal Shakur came back with a win over Christopher Vassar to close the gap to 10-9.
The Mocs were in trouble at 165 when Dominic Lampe gave up back points and was nearly pinned in the first period against Kyle Ash. Trailing 4-0 heading into the second period, Lampe went on the attack. He scored five takedowns the rest of the way for the 10-9 victory. That put the Mocs up 12-10, a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the way.
Senior Sean Mappes had a statement win at 174 with his major decision over Brett Stein. The Bulldogs tried to start a run when Hunter Gamble followed with a decision over McCoy Newberg at 184. That shrunk the Mocs' lead to 16-13 with two matches left.
Junior Scottie Boykin clinched the team win with an impressive first-period tech fall against Gray Jones at 197. Boykin scored a pair of takedowns then posted 12-straight back points for the win.
No. 11-ranked junior Jared Johnson rounded out the scoring with his 4-0 decision over Boyce Cornwell at heavyweight.
UTC gets a break for the next week before traveling to Davidson on Jan. 31. The Mocs’ final home match of the season is against No. 25 Appalachian State on Feb. 5.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will return to Paul Porter Arena next Friday, Jan. 22, to host SoCon foe Campbell at 7 p.m. (Big South Network).
No. 25 Chattanooga 24; Gardner-Webb 13
125: Cortez Starkes (Gardner-Webb) over Alonzo Allen (Chattanooga) (Dec 6-5)
133: Tyler Ziegler (Gardner-Webb) over Cody Hill (Chattanooga) (Dec 3-2)
141: Mike Pongracz (Chattanooga) over Ryan Hull (Gardner-Webb) (Fall 4:58)
149: Ryan Mosley (Gardner-Webb) over Chase Zemenak (Chattanooga) (MD 10-2)
157: Kamaal Shakur (Chattanooga) over Christopher Vassar (Gardner-Webb) (Dec 9-4)
165: Dominic Lampe (Chattanooga) over Kyle Ash (Gardner-Webb) (Dec 10-9)
174: Sean Mappes (Chattanooga) over Brett Stein (Gardner-Webb) (MD 10-2)
184: Hunter Gamble (Gardner-Webb) over McCoy Newberg (Chattanooga) (Dec 7-4)
197: Scottie Boykin (Chattanooga) over Drew Barrett (Gardner-Webb) (TF 17-1 3:00)
285: Jared Johnson (Chattanooga) over Boyce Cornwell (Gardner-Webb) (Dec 4-0)
Campbell tops VMI to snap losing streak
LEXINGTON, Va. – Campbell picked up its first win of the season as it defeated the Keydets of VMI 24-15 on Friday night. The Camels improve to 1-11 on the season and 1-2 in Southern Conference competition, while VMI falls to 2-7 and 0-4.
The Keydets got out to an early lead as Dalton Henderson picked up a 12-0 major decision over Collin Stewart at 125 pounds. Nathan Kraisser gave the Camels a two-point lead (6-4) when he pinned Benni Pachello in 5:46 for his 26th win of the season.
Lukas Stewart added another three team points as he picked up the 6-3 decision over Hunter Starner. VMI came back to go up 12-9 on back-to-back major decisions from Stevan Smith (149 pounds) and Neal Richards (157 pounds).
Paul Duggan tied the match at 12-all when he earned a 9-2 decision over Shabaka Jones, but Mark Darr gave the Keydets the 15-12 lead when he beat Matthew Olauson in sudden victory 11-9.
Campbell kicked it into gear and won out the remaining three weight classes to break a 21-dual losing streak and give the Camels their first win of the season. Ville Heino earned five points from a 22-7 technical fall over Derek Thurman giving him his 20th win of the season.
Austin McNeill earned his first collegiate win over Taylor Thomas at 197 pounds with a close 7-6 decision, giving the Camels a 20-15 lead. Jere Heino closed up the match with a 16-7 major decision over Sicaatasi Mathis, securing the Campbell victory of 24-15.
The Camels take to the mat again on Friday, Jan. 22, at 7 p.m. when they travel to Boiling Springs, N.C., to compete against SoCon opponent Gardner-Webb.
The Keydets return to action next Saturday at the Appalachian State Open slated for Saturday, Jan. 23, in Boone, North Carolina.
VMI then hosts the All-Academy Championships the following Saturday, Jan. 30, beginning at 10 a.m. at Cameron Hall.
Campbell 24, VMI 15
125: Dalton Henderson (VMI) over Collin Stewart (Campbell) (MD 12-0)
133: Nathan Kraisser (Campbell) over Bennie Pachello (VMI) (Fall 5:46)
141: Lucas Stewart (Campbell) over Hunter Starner (VMI) (Dec 6-3)
149: Stevan Smith (VMI) over Zane Knight (Campbell) (MD 16-5)
157: Neal Richards (VMI) over Quentin Perez (Campbell) (MD 15-5)
165: Paul Duggan (Campbell) over Shabaka Johns (VMI) (Dec 9-2)
174: Mark Darr (VMI) over Matthew Olauson (Campbell) (SV-1 11-9)
184: Ville Heino (Campbell) over Derek Thurman (VMI) (TF 22-7 6:29)
197: Austin McNeil (Campbell) over Taylor Thomas (VMI) (Dec 7-6)
285: Jere Heino (Campbell) over Sivaatasi Mathias (VMI) (MD 16-7)