New era begins with mixed results
Andrew D. Holt
Issue date: 11/12/09 Section: Sports
The Heath Eslinger era of UTC wrestling is officially underway, but the results probably were not exactly what the head coach was looking for in the team's opening weekend at Virginia Tech.
His Mocs fought hard, but fell short in their first match of the season against Kent State, losing 22-15 Saturday in Blacksburg, Va.
Sophomore Demetrius Johnson, from Memphis, got the Mocs off on the right foot with his 3-1 win over Stevie Micheff in the 125-pound weight class. Johnson's win gave UTC a 3-0 lead.
Kent State pulled ahead after Danny Micheff, the nation's 11th ranked wrestler at 133 pounds, took a 12-4 decision over UTC freshman Josh Sandoval, from Colleyville, Texas.
The Mocs would not stay behind for long though, as Cody Cleveland from Tullahoma, Tenn., responded by pinning Kent State's Chase Skonieczny at 141, putting UTC back on top 12-4.
The Flashes then notched consecutive decisions in the 149-pound class and moved ahead 10-9 before Brandon Wright, a sophomore from Germantown, Tenn., won a 6-2 decision at 165.
Jake Young, a freshman from Ooltewah, Tenn., won his first collegiate match 6-2 and helped build UTC's lead to 15-10.
Young's win was the last for the Mocs, though, as Kent State won the next three matches.
UTC also dropped another match Saturday afternoon, this time falling to the host team Virginia Tech, 21-18. The Hokies jumped on UTC early and the Mocs could not catch up.
A bright spot for the Mocs was again Cody Cleveland. Ranked 20th in the country, Cleveland lived up to his billing by defeating seventh ranked Chris Diaz from Virginia Tech, 11-6. Cleveland lost to Diaz in last year's match.
On Sunday, the Mocs wrestled in the Hokie Open and freshman Jake Young capped off an impressive opening weekend by claiming the tournament title for the 174-pound weight class. He finished the weekend 6-1.
All five of Young's wins in the tournament came by decision, winning four by less than three points.
Brandon Wright also competed well in the tournament. The sophomore finished third in the 165 pound bracket.
UTC will open its home season Nov. 14 against Gardner-Webb and Anderson. The match is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
His Mocs fought hard, but fell short in their first match of the season against Kent State, losing 22-15 Saturday in Blacksburg, Va.
Sophomore Demetrius Johnson, from Memphis, got the Mocs off on the right foot with his 3-1 win over Stevie Micheff in the 125-pound weight class. Johnson's win gave UTC a 3-0 lead.
Kent State pulled ahead after Danny Micheff, the nation's 11th ranked wrestler at 133 pounds, took a 12-4 decision over UTC freshman Josh Sandoval, from Colleyville, Texas.
The Mocs would not stay behind for long though, as Cody Cleveland from Tullahoma, Tenn., responded by pinning Kent State's Chase Skonieczny at 141, putting UTC back on top 12-4.
The Flashes then notched consecutive decisions in the 149-pound class and moved ahead 10-9 before Brandon Wright, a sophomore from Germantown, Tenn., won a 6-2 decision at 165.
Jake Young, a freshman from Ooltewah, Tenn., won his first collegiate match 6-2 and helped build UTC's lead to 15-10.
Young's win was the last for the Mocs, though, as Kent State won the next three matches.
UTC also dropped another match Saturday afternoon, this time falling to the host team Virginia Tech, 21-18. The Hokies jumped on UTC early and the Mocs could not catch up.
A bright spot for the Mocs was again Cody Cleveland. Ranked 20th in the country, Cleveland lived up to his billing by defeating seventh ranked Chris Diaz from Virginia Tech, 11-6. Cleveland lost to Diaz in last year's match.
On Sunday, the Mocs wrestled in the Hokie Open and freshman Jake Young capped off an impressive opening weekend by claiming the tournament title for the 174-pound weight class. He finished the weekend 6-1.
All five of Young's wins in the tournament came by decision, winning four by less than three points.
Brandon Wright also competed well in the tournament. The sophomore finished third in the 165 pound bracket.
UTC will open its home season Nov. 14 against Gardner-Webb and Anderson. The match is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
