Cleveland looks to take national title at Citadel
Bill Puckett
Issue date: 3/5/09 Section: Sports
The Chattanooga wrestling team looks to continue its Southern Conference domination this weekend in Charleston, S.C. where the SoCon Tournament will be held.
UTC (12-10, 5-0 SoCon) clinched the regular season conference championship with their decisive win over Virginia Military Institute last Monday. This Saturday, the Mocs will see VMI as well as other conference opponents at the tournament that decides who advances to the NCAA Championships.
The ten individual champions from each weight class in the SoCon will gain automatic berth into the national tournament along with five other wildcard wrestlers chosen at the end of the tournament.
The NCAA Championships will be in St. Louis, Mo. beginning March 19-21.
The Mocs faired well last year sending eight wrestlers to the national tournament. Chattanooga was represented in most weight classes, but head coach Chris Bono was still disappointed they did not qualify more wrestlers.
Several Mocs look to take their weight class this Saturday as they received various conference honors this week. Junior Joey Knox, Dublin, Ga., senior Seth Garvin, Hoover, Al., sophomore Jason McCroskey, Chattanooga, and sophomore Dan Waddell, Chattanooga, received All-Conference honors while McCroskey, Waddell, sophomore Demetrius Johnson, Memphis, sophomore Tyler Roberson, Chattanooga, and freshman Ethan Winel, Brookfield, Ill., earned All-Freshman Honors.
All-American junior Cody Cleveland, Tullahoma, Tenn., received both All-Conference and Southern Conference Co-Wrestler of the Year Honors. Cleveland finished the regular season at 19-6, and is currently ranked nationally on an internet pole at No. 11.
Cleveland finished eighth in the 141-pound weight class at the NCAA National Championships last year and hopes to improve this year despite the pressure.
"There is definitely pressure," Cleveland said, "but there is even more pressure to be National Champion instead of just being All-American again."
Competition starts March 7 at The Citadel.
UTC (12-10, 5-0 SoCon) clinched the regular season conference championship with their decisive win over Virginia Military Institute last Monday. This Saturday, the Mocs will see VMI as well as other conference opponents at the tournament that decides who advances to the NCAA Championships.
The ten individual champions from each weight class in the SoCon will gain automatic berth into the national tournament along with five other wildcard wrestlers chosen at the end of the tournament.
The NCAA Championships will be in St. Louis, Mo. beginning March 19-21.
The Mocs faired well last year sending eight wrestlers to the national tournament. Chattanooga was represented in most weight classes, but head coach Chris Bono was still disappointed they did not qualify more wrestlers.
Several Mocs look to take their weight class this Saturday as they received various conference honors this week. Junior Joey Knox, Dublin, Ga., senior Seth Garvin, Hoover, Al., sophomore Jason McCroskey, Chattanooga, and sophomore Dan Waddell, Chattanooga, received All-Conference honors while McCroskey, Waddell, sophomore Demetrius Johnson, Memphis, sophomore Tyler Roberson, Chattanooga, and freshman Ethan Winel, Brookfield, Ill., earned All-Freshman Honors.
All-American junior Cody Cleveland, Tullahoma, Tenn., received both All-Conference and Southern Conference Co-Wrestler of the Year Honors. Cleveland finished the regular season at 19-6, and is currently ranked nationally on an internet pole at No. 11.
Cleveland finished eighth in the 141-pound weight class at the NCAA National Championships last year and hopes to improve this year despite the pressure.
"There is definitely pressure," Cleveland said, "but there is even more pressure to be National Champion instead of just being All-American again."
Competition starts March 7 at The Citadel.
