Chattanooga Wins 2007 Mat Jam With Seven Individual Titles
Raleigh, N.C. -- Chattanooga won seven of the 10 individual crowns as they took their third straight Southern Conference wrestling championship at Mat Jam 2007 on Saturday in Raleigh, N.C. The tournament, hosted in conjunction with the Atlantic Coast Conference wrestling championships, was held at Reynolds Coliseum.
The Mocs racked up 117.5 points while second-place UNC Greensboro had 75. VMI placed third with 41, The Citadel was fourth with 38.5, and Appalachian State ended up fifth with 36.5. Davidson finished sixth with 34.5 points. Chattanooga’s Chris Bono was named the Southern Conference Coach of the Year after the tournament.
In the 125-pound final, top seed Javier Maldonado of Chattanooga took a 6-2 decision against second seed Jeff Hedges of UNC Greensboro to win his second consecutive SoCon championship. Maldonado advanced to the finals with a 13-3 major decision against fifth seed Tyler Sim of The Citadel. Third seed Ben Altman of Davidson placed third at 125 pounds after an 11-4 decision over Sim. Altman was named the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year at the end of the night.
SoCon Wrestler of the Year, top seed, and seventh-ranked in the latest USA Today/InterMat/National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) poll, Matt Keller of Chattanooga dominated the 133-pound bracket. He advanced to the finals with a 17-0 technical fall in 3:36 against fourth seed Frank Celorrio of Davidson and won by major decision in the finals by a score of 18-5 against third seed Mitchell Johnson of UNC Greensboro to claim his second straight championship. Second seed Tyler Anthony of VMI finished third at 133 pounds with a 7-0 decision over Celorrio.
At 141 pounds, top seed and 17th-ranked Michael Keefe of Chattanooga made it three champions in a row for the Mocs as he earned a 15-8 decision against second seed Chris Bencivenga of UNC Greensboro. Third seed Jarn Avola of Davidson placed third with a pin of fourth seed Brandon Franklin of VMI in 1:47.
The championship bout at 149 pounds between top seed and seventh-ranked Aaron Martin of Chattanooga, and second seed and eighth-ranked Scott Ervin of Appalachian State, went into overtime with the score tied at two. In the third overtime period, Ervin picked up an escape point and was able to hold off Martin from tying the bout to claim the title with a 3-2 decision. For his efforts, Ervin was named the tournament’s outstanding wrestler. Third seed Sam Alvarenga of VMI placed third with a 5-2 decision over fourth seed Levi Duyn of The Citadel.
In the 157-pound bracket, top seed Jacob Yost of Chattanooga pinned second seed Travis Piccard of The Citadel in 2:40 to win Chattanooga’s fourth title of the night. Third seed Eddie Hutchinson of Appalachian State ended up third with a 2-0 decision over fourth seed Nathan Berryman of UNC-Greensboro.
Top seed Tim Sayers of Chattanooga made it five championships for the Mocs as he earned a 6-2 decision against second seed Mark Ring of UNC Greensboro at 165 pounds. Placing third was third seed Trebor Clavette of Davidson with a 4-0 decision against fourth seed Tommy Hutchison of Appalachian State.
Top seed Joe Lowe from UNC Greensboro made it a third straight SoCon championship at 174 pounds as he won a 12-5 decision against 16th-ranked Lloyd Rogers of Chattanooga. Second seed Neal Martin of Appalachian State took third place with a 9-2 decision over fourth seed Darius Caldwell of The Citadel.
At 184 pounds, top seed Josh Edmondson of Chattanooga claimed a 3-1 decision against second seed John Dickerson of The Citadel in the finals. Fourth seed Sam O’Hair of Davidson finished third after winning a 7-2 decision against third seed Daniel Carrasco of Appalachian State.
VMI received a championship from top seed Cornelius Murray at 197 pounds as he won a 5-2 decision against third seed Nicholas Clark of UNC Greensboro. Second seed Mike Waters of Davidson claimed third with an 8-0 major decision over fourth seed Nick Lorenzano of Chattanooga.
In the 285-pound bracket, top seed and 17th-ranked Matt Koz of Chattanooga faced off against second seed Scott Buhman of VMI. Koz won the seventh individual championship for the Mocs as he earned a 5-1 decision over Buhman. Fourth seed Joseph Sheffield of UNC Greensboro took third place with a 6-4 decision against fifth seed John Buck of The Citadel.
Outstanding Wrestler: Scott Ervin, Appalachian State
Freshman of the Year: Ben Altman, Davidson
Coach of the Year: Chris Bono, Chattanooga
Final Team Standings
1. Chattanooga, 117.5
2. UNC Greensboro, 75
3. VMI, 41
4. The Citadel, 38.5
5. Appalachian State, 36.5
6. Davidson, 34.5
2007 Southern Conference Finals
125 ? Maldonado (UTC) dec. Hedges (UNCG), 6-2
133 ? Keller (UTC) maj. dec. Johnson (UNCG), 18-5
141 ? Keefe (UTC) dec. Bencivenga (UNCG), 15-8
149 ? Ervin (ASU) dec. Martin (UTC), 3-2; TB2
157 ? Yost (UTC) fall Piccard (CIT); 2:40
165 ? Sayers (UTC) dec. Ring (UNCG), 6-2
174 ? Lowe (UNCG) dec. Rogers (UTC), 12-5
184 ? Edmondson (UTC) dec. Dickerson (CIT), 3-1
197 ? Murray (VMI) dec. Clark (UNCG), 5-2
285 ? Koz (UTC) dec. Buhman (VMI), 5-1
At-Large Bids
149 ? Aaron Martin (UTC)
149 ? Sam Alvarenga (VMI)
174 ? Neal Martin (ASU)
174 ? Lloyd Rogers (UTC)
First Alternate ? 141 ? Chris Bencivenga (UNCG)
Second Alternate ? 149 ? Levi Duyn (CIT)