UTC Wins SoCon Title

[bbb]

BOONE, N.C. -- Tennessee at Chattanooga sent eight wrestlers into Saturday night's Southern Conference championship finals and came away with four champions as the Mocs won the team title at the Holmes Convocation Center at Appalachian State.

 

UTC champs on the way to the NCAAs are Bucky Johnson (133), Cody Cleveland (141), Josh Condon (157) and Brandon Wright (174).

 

Team Standings: UTC edged runner-up and 2010 champion UNC-Greensboro, 98-87.5.

 

Appalachian State was third (57.5 pts.) followed by The Citdel (44.5), VMI (27) and Davidson (18).

 

Coach of the Year: Heath Eslinger, UTC

 

Tournament Outstanding Wrestler: Kyle Blevins (Appy State)

 

Championship Finals

 

125: No.1 Manuel Ramirez (UNCG) major dec. No.3 Prescott Garner (UTC), 16-7

 

133: No.2 BUCKY JOHNSON (UTC)dec. No.1 Jamel Johnson (UNCG), 6-1

note: Bucky Johnson, who also won the SoCon in 2009, avenges a 4-2 loss to Jamel Johnson earlier this season.

 

141: No.1 CODY CLEVELAND (UTC) dec. No.3 Kessler (Appy State), 9-5

Kessler had initial takedown, but Cleveland rallied for win.

Cleveland, who now is a 3x SoCon champ, had beaten Kessler earlier in the season.

 

149: No.1 Ivan Lopouchanski (UNCG) dec. No.2 Dean Pavlou

 

157: NO.1 JOSH CONDON (UTC) dec. No.2 Pierre Frazile (The Citadel)

Condon had defeated Frazile, 3-1, earlier in the season

 

165: UPSET- No.2 Kyle Blevins (Appy State) dec. No.1 Turtoqtokh Luvsandon (The Citadel), 4-3 in 2 OT ... Luvsandon is the SoCon Wrestler of the Year .

 

no takedown in first OT .. Blevins rode out the first :30 period ... then escaped in the second :30 period with appox. 15 seconds remaining.

 

True 2nd Place Match: No.1 Turtoqtokh (The Citadel) dec. No.3 Daniel Waddell (UTC), 4-0 ... Turtoqtokh earned a wild card spot in the NCAA tournament.

 

174: No.1 BRANDON WRIGHT (UTC) dec. No.3 Sigmon, 6-4

 

184: No.1 Austin Trotman (Appy State) dec. No.2 Jason McCroskey (UTC), 6-4

 

197: No.1 Caylor Williams (UNCG) dec. No.2 Niko Brown (UTC), 3-2

 

285: No.1 Josh Wine (UTC) dec. No.2 Peter Sturgeon (UNCG), 2-1 2OT

 

UTC Wrestlers:

125: Prescott Garner - 2nd Place

133: Bucky Johnson - Champion

141: Cody Cleveland - Champion

149: Dean Pavlou - 2nd Place

157: Josh Condon - Champion

165: Daniel Waddell - 3rd Place

174: Brandon Wright - Champion

184: Jason McCroskey - 2nd Place

197: Niko Brown - 2nd Place

285: Matt Lettner - 4th Place

Edited March 6, 2011 by bbb

[wingman10]

Go Mocs

[silverpie]

Go Mocs

 

McCroskey also qualified with his finish--the SoCon had two slots at 165, 184, and 285 (so Turtoqtokh isn't actually a wild card--those will come later--but a just-plain qualifier). He didn't have to face a true-second match because he'd already beaten the consolation winner.

[KneeTap]

Way to go Cody Cleveland! What a great young man! I will be keeping up with the tournament and wish you all the best! You deserve everything you achieve and more!