UTC Wrestlers Rally to Upset Oklahoma, 19-16

Wrestling before a standing, cheering crowd, the Chattanooga wresters won the final three matches for a come-from-behind 19-16 win against Oklahoma Sunday at Maclellan Gym.

UTC (12-5) won three of the first four matches to lead 9-4 after Shawn Greevy (149) defeated Shayne Tucker, 6-2 for the five-point lead.

But OU (6-10) won the next three (a pin, two decisions), including wins from top 20 ranked wrestlers -- No.19 Justing DeAngelis (157) and No.17 Matt Reed  - and the visiting Sooners led 16-9.

Then the Mocs mounted the comeback as first McCoy Newberg posted a major decision against Pope HS alum Brooks Climmons, 13-2, at 184 and Scottie Boykin scored an overtime takedown for a 3-1 win at 197 and the match was tied, 16-16.

The two heavyweights battled for three periods with UTC's Jared Johnson evening the match 11-11 in the closing seconds and won 12-11 on riding time to the delight of the cheering home crowd.

"This match was a lot of fun with exciting matches and a great crowd," said a smiling UTC coach Heath Eslinger.

"It's a game of inches with Michael Pongracz (141) gaining a third period escape to win 2-0, Scottie (Boykins) gaining the overtime take down and Jared winning at the end at 285.

"This (win) is huge for our community and our school and at the end of the day, it's a big win."

2015 NWCA National Duals: With the win, the Mocs travel to the U. of Iowa for the national quarters Friday. The other quarterfinal winners were No.1 Iowa, Cornell, Illinois, LeHigh, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio State.

Old Big 8 Conference: UTC has two wins against Missouri and is now 1-3 vs. Oklahoma

 CHATTANOOGA 19, Oklahoma 16

125: No. 10 Sean Boyle (UTC) dec. Ryan Millhof, 9-3 ... UTC, 3-0
133: No. 3 Cody Brewer (OU) major dec. No. 13 Nick Soto, 15-3 ... Oklahoma, 4-3

141: Michael Pongracz (UTC) dec. Trae Blackwell, 2-0 ... UTC, 6-4
149: Shawn Greevy (UTC) dec. Shayne Tucker), 6-2 ... UTC leads 9-4
157: No. 19 Justing DeAngelis OU) dec, Austin Sams, 7-1 ... UTC, 9-7
165: Clark Glass (OU) pinned Justin Lampe, 4:32 ... Oklahoma,  13-9
174: No 17 Matt Reed (OU) dec. Sean Mappes, 7-5 ... Oklahoma, 16-9
184: McCoy Newberg (UTC) major dec. Brooks Climmons, 13-2 .. Oklahoma, 19-13
197: Scottie Boykin (UTC) dec. Andrew Dixon, 2-1 OT-1 ... Tied 16-16
285: Jared Johnson (UTC) dec. No.11 Ros Larson, 12-11 ... UTC WINS, 16-13

UTC (12-5), Oklahoma (6-10)

125 - Sean Boyle (UTC) dec. Ryan Millhof, 9-3

Boyle opened with a takedown ... got a second period reverse and quick takedown sandwiched around an escape by Millhof (who was state champ at Collins Hill in Atlanta area) and led 6-2 after  2 periods ... used a third period takedown and riding time to win 9-3

133 - No.4 Cody Brewer (OU) major dec. Nick Soto, 15-3

Soto used excellent counter for opening takedown on edge, but Brewer countered with reverse and 3-point near fall for 5-2 lead ... had two takedowns and 3-point NF in third for major decision

141 - Michael Pongracz (UTC) dec. Trae Blackwell, 2-0

Pongracz gained riding time in second period and gained an escape in the third for crucial win and Mocs now up 6-4'

149 - Shawn Greevy (UTC) dec. Shayne Tucker, 6-2

Greevy had an excellent first period with two takedowns ... 4-1 .. Tucker had escapes in first two periods, but Moc gained reverse in third and rode to the win ... Mocs up 9-4

157 - No.19 Justing DeAngelis (OU) dec. Austin Sams, 7-1

no scoring in first and DeAngelis gained escape and takedown in second, 3-0 ... Sooner had second takedown in final period to win 7-1 ... Mocs lead 9-7

165 - Clark Glass (OU) pinned Justin Lampe,  4:32

Gass had quick takedown to open the match followed by a pair of 3-point near falls, but Lampe was able to avoid the fall and fought off his back .. Gass controlled the second period with a takedown and near fall points before registering the pin ... OU led 13-9

174 - No.17 Mark Reed (OU) dec. Sean Mappes, 7-5

Reed led 4-1 in first on takedown and 2-point NF ... Mappes used great flurry for reverse points, bur Reed gained escape and takedown to lead 7-3 ... Mappes used at escape and stalling against Reed to cut lead to 7-5 ... OU led, 16-9

184  McCoy Newberg (UTC) major dec. Brooks Climmons, 13-2

in battle of former prep state champs (Newberg in Tenn. and Climmons from Pope in Atlanta area ) ... Newberg used excellent counter to gain takedown and put Climmons on his back in 4-point move ... Newberg later gains another takedown and 3-point near fall on way to 13-2 win.

Oklahoma led, 16-13

197 - Scottie Boykin (UTC)  dec. Andrew Dixon, 2-1 OT-1

Dixon gained escape in third to lead 1-0, but Boykin pushed the action and gained penalty point on stalling ... 1-1 headed to overtime ... with a cheering crowd behind him, Boykin gained winning takedown 13 seconds in the first OT period ... big takedown as match is tied 16-16

"The crowd was a huge part of my win as I fed off their energy ... in overtime I made him take a bad shot and I was able to counter and win," said Boykin.

285 - Jared Johnson (UTC) dec. No.11 Ross Larson, 12-11

Johnson got early takedown and then back points twice for 7-0 lead before Larson gained a reverse .... Larson then scored on a reverse and 3-point near fall near the edge but Johnson was able to fight off his back and gained an escape to lead, 8-7 ... in third, Larson led 9-8 on a takedown, but Johnson tied it 9-9 with escape with crowd cheering ... Larson got another takedown but Johnson reversed for 11-11 and won on riding time as crowd stands and cheers to victors in a great match.  UTC won, 19-16

"I got a little nervous when I was on my back in the second period, but I was able to get out of it and then kept my composure ... he is nationally ranked so I knew I had nothing to lose but to stay on the offense and take it to him,: said UTC's Johnson.

Mocs advance to National Duals quarterfinals Friday at U. of Iowa. 

 

contact B.B, Branton at william.branton@comcast.net