#19 Chattanoga Hands Wrestling 41-3 SoCon Loss

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#19 Chattanoga Hands Wrestling 41-3 SoCon Loss

LEXINGTON, Va.- The #19 wrestling team in the country backed up their ranking on Friday evening, as Chattanooga improved to 4-0 in the Southern Conference with a 41-3 Southern Conference victory over VMI at The Thunderdome. With the loss, the Keydets fall to 5-5 overall and 1-3 in the SoCon.

VMI senior Tyler Anthony improved to 3-0 in the SoCon with his 4-1 decision at 133 lbs. against UTC senior Steve Hromada. However, that was the only victory the Keydets would post on the evening, as the Mocs earned six extra-point victories in addition to a forfeit victory at 157.

“Chattanooga has a very nice team, and they deserve their lofty ranking,” said VMI head coach John Trudgeon. “We're just trying to get better as a group. I think that we're leading our young guys down a path to where they can be successful Division I wrestlers, but there's just a lot of work to do. Ty wrestled a good match tonight, it was a great win for him. He's had to fight through injuries and sickness, and I'm real happy for him.”

The night began at 125 pounds, where UTC senior Javier Maldonado, the 15th-ranked wrestler in the weight class nationally, pinned VMI senior Jeremy Adams at the 2:20 mark, giving the visitors a 6-0 advantage.

The 133-pound match began with a scoreless first period, before Hromada moved gained a 1-0 lead with his escape with 46 seconds remaining in the second period. By that time, Anthony had over a minute of riding time, an advantage that remained entering the third period. Anthony tied the match at one with an escape in the opening seconds of the third period, than added a takedown for good measure with 20 seconds remaining that, when added with the riding time point, led to the 4-1 victory.

Fifth-year senior David Metzler came out strong in the opening period at 141, taking on 13th-ranked Cody Cleveland. Metzler earned a takedown in the match's opening seconds and built up 1:39 of riding time before a Cleveland escape brought the score to 2-1 through one period. Cleveland tied the match at one 15 seconds into the second period with an escape and went on the attack, posting a takedown and a three-point near fall to take a 7-2 lead into the third period on his way to a 10-2 major decision to bring the match scoring to 10-3.

VMI freshman John Held avoided a major decision at 149, denying 17th-ranked Joey Knox time and time again in the third period to retain a 7-0 decision. The Keydets then forfeited at 157, with 17th-ranked Seth Garvin collecting the victory, pushing the Moc advantage to 19-3.

Chattanooga junior Nick Davis posted a 23-8 major decision at 165 over VMI sophomore Jon Horne before 14th-ranked Lloyd Rogers won by technical fall over VMI senior Dustin McCabe at 174 with a 24-8 final. Josh Edmondson followed that up with a 10-0 major decision over freshman Curtis Moore at 184. Eighteenth-ranked Matt Koz posted his team-leading sixth pin of the season at 197, pinning freshman Ronnie Ellsworth at the 2:47 mark.

The evening's final match came down to the final seconds between Chattanooga freshman Matt Lettner and Keydet junior Leon Barrow. Following a scoreless first period, Barrow escaped just three seconds into the second period and held a 1-0 lead headed to the match's final two minutes. Lettner answered to tie the match with an escape just five seconds into the third. With less than 30 seconds remaining, Lettner posted the match's only takedown, followed by an immediate escape from Barrow, making the score 3-2. Barrow was unable to answer with a takedown of his own, bringing the team scoring to 41-3 in favor of the visitors.

The Keydets return to action on Wednesday evening, hosting Delaware State at The Thunderdome at 7:30 p.m.

Chattanooga 41, VMI 3
125- #15 Javier Maldonado (UTC) pins Jeremy Adams (VMI) 2:20, UTC 6, VMI 0
133- Tyler Anthony (VMI) dec. Steve Hromada (UTC) 4-1, UTC 6, VMI 3
141- #13 Cody Cleveland (UTC) major dec. David Metzler (VMI) 10-2, UTC 10, VMI 3
149- #17 Joey Knox (UTC) dec. John Held (VMI) 7-0, UTC 13, VMI 3
157- #17 Seth Garvin (UTC) wins by forfeit, UTC 19, VMI 3
165- Nick Davis (UTC) maj. dec. Jon Horne (VMI) 23-8, UTC 23, VMI 3
174- #14 Lloyd Rogers (UTC) tech. fall Dustin McCabe (VMI) 24-8, UTC 28, VMI 3
184- Josh Edmondson (UTC) maj. dec. Curtis Moore (VMI) 10-0, UTC 32, VMI 3
197- #18 Matt Koz (UTC) pins Ronnie Ellsworth (VMI) 2:47, UTC 38, VMI 3
285- Matt Lettner (UTC) dec. Leon Barrow (VMI) 3-2, UTC 41, VMI 3
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Players Mentioned

Jeremy Adams

Jeremy Adams

Senior
Tyler Anthony

Tyler Anthony

Senior
Leon Barrow

Leon Barrow

Junior
Ronnie Ellsworth

Ronnie Ellsworth

Freshman
John Held

John Held

Freshman
Jon Horne

Jon Horne

Sophomore
Dustin McCabe

Dustin McCabe

Senior
David Metzler

David Metzler

Redshirt Senior
Curtis Moore

Curtis Moore

Freshman

Players Mentioned

Jeremy Adams

Jeremy Adams

Senior
Tyler Anthony

Tyler Anthony

Senior
Leon Barrow

Leon Barrow

Junior
Ronnie Ellsworth

Ronnie Ellsworth

Freshman
John Held

John Held

Freshman
Jon Horne

Jon Horne

Sophomore
Dustin McCabe

Dustin McCabe

Senior
David Metzler

David Metzler

Redshirt Senior
Curtis Moore

Curtis Moore

Freshman