UTC wrestlers fall to Illinois

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Arkansas-Oklahoma State Live Blog

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga squandered a 10-0 lead Sunday and fell 29-10 to ninth-ranked Illinois.

The Mocs managed just three wins, taking the first three matches with victories by Kevin Malone (285), Nick Soto (125) and Marvin Lopez (133) before the Illinis reeled off seven straight wins with pins from third-ranked 141-pound B.J. Futrell and eighth-ranked 174-pound Jordan Blanton and a technical fall from 19th-ranked 184-pound Tony Dallago.

Soto, who's ranked seventh nationally, got the Mocs' only bonus points with a 14-1 major decision over Illinois freshman Dominic Olivieri, who wrestled in place of fifth-ranked Jesse Delgado.

Illinois also held out 12th-ranked 197-pound Mario Gonzalez.

For more on this story, check back on the web or see Monday's editions of the Times Free Press.

Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765.