2012 pre-season discussion, Transfers, Coaching changes and Rumors

[Sommers]

Here's a few predictions/assumptions from the press & Branton last Spring...

 

UTC Wrestling: Looking to 2012-13 Friday, March 23, 2012 - by B.B. Branton Head coach Heath Eslinger’s philosophy is simple. If a freshman is good enough to make the starting lineup, then he wrestles.

 

A redshirt season later on is a possibility.

 

Example - Nick Soto (133) … true freshman this past season.

 

Southern Conference champion, NCAA qualifier and Southern Scuffle runner-up.

 

The two-time Florida state champion also knocked off a couple of top-10 nationally ranked wrestlers along the way to earn a top-20 national ranking for himself.

 

“We needed Nick at 133 this season and the experience he gained as a starter as a true freshman in the lineup could not have been duplicated if we had redshirted him,†said Eslinger who has completed his third season as the Mocs head coach.

 

Wrestlers who are redshirted can compete in open tournaments, but must pay their own expenses and have their own transportation.

 

“It’s tough enough on a freshman just adjusting to all the independence and responsibility of college life from high school and then throw on top of that the added expenses of competing in open tournaments,: said Eslinger. “That’s a lot to ask of a freshman.â€

 

Levi Clemons (174) also wrestled as a true freshman (2010-11) and earned SoCon All-Freshman team honors. He was an NCAA Qualifier this year and plans to redshirt next season.

 

Looking to 2012-13: While Eslinger should have veterans in most of the 10 weight classes, incoming freshman Jared Johnson could step into the Mocs lineup at 197

 

The Jefferson City High School senior was 50-0 this past season, won a state title and was the Missouri 4A wrestler of the year and carries a 4.0+ GPA.

 

Redshirt freshman John Lampe is penciled in to start at 165 as two-time SoCon champ Brandon Wright graduates.

 

Weight by Weight for 2012-13

 

125 – BUCKY JOHNSON, Sr. … 2x Southern Conference champion … will petition the NCAA for sixth season, due to an injury this past season … career record: 37-19

 

133 – NICK SOTO, So. … 26-6 … NCAA Qualifier … SoCon Champion … Southern Scuffle runner-up

 

141 – SHAWN GREEVY, Jr. … 17-11 … SoCon runner-up … SoCon all-Freshman team in 2011 Austin Sams (So., Fairfield, Ohio) is also at 141

 

149 – DEAN PAVLOU, Sr. … 19-10 … 2x NCAA Qualifier … 2x SoCon Champion

 

157 – ALEX HUDSON, Jr. … 11-9 for a career …. Wrestled as a true freshman (9-8) in 2009-10. Daniel Waddell, who wrestled at 157 this past season, will petition the NCAA for a sixth season … if he receives another year he could wrestle second semester … 2x SoCon Champion … 2x NCAA Qualifier … career record: 53-36

 

165 – JOHN LAMPE, RS Fr. … two-time Kentucky state champion … (165 lb. SoCon champion Brandon Wright will graduate this spring) Trey Stavrum, So. … 7-3 will also be at 165

 

174 – JAKE YOUNG, Jr. … career record: 18-8 … 2010 SoCon Freshman of the Year. 2012 NCAA Qualifier Levi Clemons (So.) plans to redshirt next season … Josh Condon(Sr.) will also compete at this weight

 

184 – ROBERT PRIGMORE, Sr. … 20-12 … SoCon runner-up … Davidson Open champion

 

197 – NIKO BROWN, Sr. … 17-8 … 7th place at Southern Scuffle Jared Johnson – incoming freshman, Missouri state champion will also compete at 197

 

285 – KEVIN MALONE, So. … 25-12 … SoCon runner-up

 

2012-13 Season Mocs will host four SoCon foes in Campbell, Davidson, The Citadel and VMI … Mocs will also host U. of Illinois on Jan. 6 after the Southern Scuffle (Jan. 1-2) … Arizona State, Michigan and American U. are possible additions to the Scuffle line-up.

[Sommers]

Wow ...in one month 10,000 clicks!!! Is this an indicator of a magnificent upcoming season with much anticipation?