UTC Mocs logoUTC 24, MICHIGAN STATE 13125 -- Sean Boyle dec. Mitch Rogaliner, 10-8; 133 -- Javier Gasca (M) major dec. Nick Soto, 11-3; 141 -- Mike Pongracz major dec. Garth Yenter, 9-0; 149 -- Shawn Greevy dec. Nick Trimble, 6-4; 157 --Roger Mildmo (M) dec. Austin Sams, 6-1; 165 -- Corey Mock tech. fall over Ryan Watts, 17-2; 174 -- Sean Mappes pinned Nick Proctor, 2:12; 184 -- John Rizqallah (M) dec. John Shrader, 1-0; 197 -- Nick McDiarmid (M) dec. Scottie Boykin, 7-5; 285 -- Jared Johnson dec. Chris Nash, 4-0.UTC 34, NORTHERN ILLINOIS 9125 -- Sean Boyle major dec. Derek Elmore, 9-0; 133 -- Nick Soto major dec. Jordan Northrup, 11-3; 141 -- Mike Pongracz tech. fall over Tyler Argue, 17-2; 149 -- Shawn Greevy dec. Gabe Morse, 8-4; 157 -- Andrew Morse (NIU) pinned Austin Sams, 2:03; 165 -- Corey Mock pinned Shaun'Qae McMurtry, 0:55; 174 -- McCoy Newberg major dec. Bryce Gorman, 10-0; 184 -- John Lampe major dec. Quinton Rosser, 17-6; 197 -- Shawn Scott (NIU) dec. Scottie Boykin, 7-3;285 -- Jared Johnson major dec. Arthur Bounce, 11-2.UTC 20, KENT STATE 15125 -- Sean Boyle dec. Edilberto Vinas, 9-3; 133 -- Nick Soto dec. Mackenzie McGuire, 5-4; 141 -- Mike Pongracz dec. Kyle Bauer; 149 -- Michael Depalma (KS) dec. Shawn Greevy, 10-8; 157 -- Andy Candiello (KS) pinned Austin Sams, 6:47; 165 -- Corey Mock tech. fall over Tyler Buckwalter, 17-2; 174 -- Caleb Marsh (KS) dec. Sean Mappes, 5-3; 184 -- John Shrader dec. Cory Campbell, 8-5; 197 -- Scottie Boykin dec. Stephen Suglio, 12-10; 285 -- Mimmo Lytle (KS) dec. Jared Johnson, 5-3.Record: UTC 3-0.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has opened its wrestling season with a 3-0 start after a successful showing at the Eastern Michigan Duals in Ypsilanti, Mich.
The Mocs defeated Michigan State 24-13, Northern Illinois 34-9 and Kent State 20-15.
"It was a good day. We finished 3-0 and that's a great day," UTC coach Heath Eslinger said by phone.
It was so good he could more easily endure an expected home arrival time this morning at 4.
"We got a good win over a Big Ten team and wins over two (Mid-American Conference) teams, and Kent State was in the Top 25 last week," he added.
Michigan State finished 2-1 in the quad meet. The Spartans drilled Kent State 32-7 and also defeated Olivet College 44-0. Northern Illinois was 1-2 and Kent State was winless with losses to the Mocs, Lock Haven and Michigan State.
UTC was led by senior 165-pounder Corey Mock, who is currently ranked 10th nationally. Mock had the day's second-quickest pin -- 55 seconds against Northern Illinois' Shaun'Qae McMurtry -- and also scored a pair of technical falls. He moved to 3-0 for the season after sitting out the Hokie Open last weekend.
Newcomer Sean Boyle, the Mocs' 125-pounder, and 141-pound Mike Pongracz matched Mock's win total. Boyle contributed bonus points via a major decision against Northern Illinois, while Pongracz had a major decision and a technical fall among his wins.
"Pongo won three; Boyle won three; Mock looked great," Eslinger said. "John Shrader went 2-1 and Sean Mappes lost in overtime to the No. 13 kid in the country and pinned his guy from Michigan State. It's a great start. Unfortunately it doesn't indicate how we're going to finish."
Senior Nick Soto, No. 12 in some national rankings, finished 2-1, losing to Michigan State's Javier Gasca by major decision.
"He didn't wrestle great. He just got beat, and you have to be on your game every time out," Eslinger said. "He came back and beat two guys, and one of them was in the top 20. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of 'gimmes' in Division I wrestling."
The coach also pointed to quality performances from heavyweight Jared Johnson and 197-pound Scottie Boykin.
"Jared went 2-1 and looked really good again this week (after a runner-up finish in last weekend's Hokie Open), and Scottie got a late takedown against Kent State to seal that dual for us," Eslinger said.
The Mocs will compete in the Navy Classic this weekend.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.