Chattanooga Mocs wrestling

The Chattanooga Mocs wrestling team represents the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) as a Member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) of NCAA Division I wrestling.[2] The Mocs host their home matches at the Maclellan Gymnasium on the university's campus in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States.[3] The Mocs' current head coach is Kyle Ruschell, a former 2-time All-American at the University of Wisconsin.

Chattanooga Mocs Wrestling
UniversityUniversity of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Head CoachKyle Ruschell (1st season)
ConferenceSoCon
LocationChattanooga, TN
ArenaMaclellan Gymnasium
(Capacity: 2,639)
NicknameMocs
ColorsNavy, old gold, and silver[1]
     
NCAA individual champions
6 – NCAA Division II
All-Americans
12 – NCAA Division I
12 – NCAA Division II
Conference championships
1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019
Conference Tournament championships
1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

History

The wrestling team at UTC began competing in the Southeastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (SEIWA) in 1947. The program joined Division II when the NCAA started the new division in 1963. Under five coaches during the Division II era, 40 Mocs won 62 SEIWA individual championships, and the program qualified for the NCAA Division II Championships as a team 1972–77, placing as high as second in the 1976. Also, seven wrestlers earned twelve NCAA Division II All-American citations, and three won six individual championships.[4]

The Mocs moved to Division I and the Southern Conference in 1978 and is the only NCAA Division I wrestling program in the state of Tennessee. Since joining, the Mocs have been the single most dominant team in the SoCon, winning 186 individual conference championships, 13 regular season league crowns (only awarded since 1992), and 28 conference tournament titles. During the Division I era, nine UTC wrestlers have earned twelve All-American citations, and the Mocs have scored at the NCAA Division I Championships every year except 1990, placing as high as 21st in 2005 and 2007. Eight of nine Division I head coaches have been named SoCon Coach of the Year sixteen times, including twice by current coach Heath Eslinger.[4]

Head Coaches

The Mocs' current head coach is Kyle Ruschell. Ruschell joined the Mocs staff in June 2018 as assistant coach.  He was elevated to Interim Head Coach on July 19, following head coach Heath Eslinger's resignation and earned the full-time position on Aug. 10, 2019.   Ruschell's staff includes assistant coaches TJ Ruschell and Hunter Gamble.[5]

CoachYearsW–L–T%ageSoCon titles
Ken Carpenter1947–51 (5)N/AN/A0
Russ Scall1952 (1)3–5–0.3750
Andy Nardo1953–67 (15)77–30–4.7120
Joe Geri1968 (1)0–8–0.0000
Jim Morgan1969–84 (16)209–70–3.7466
Ethan Reeve1985–90 (6)57–38–2.5985
Ralph Manning1991–95 (5)33–26–0.5564
Mark Leen1996–2001 (6)43–35–1.5513
Frankie James2002 (1)9–8–0.5291
Terry Brands2003–05 (3)31–33–0.4841
Joey Seay2006 (1)16–8–1.6601
Chris Bono2007–09 (3)39–17–0.6963
Heath Eslinger2010–2018 (9)101–61–0.6235
Kyle Ruschell2019-present (4) 22–20–0.524--

Southern Conference 100th Anniversary Wrestling Team

The Southern Conference celebrated 100 years of operation in 2021. The league named 100th anniversary teams in each sport it currently sponsors and has sponsored for at least 25 years. Of all member schools (currently and former), the Chattanooga Mocs top the list with 23 wrestlers selected. Members of the 100th anniversary team must meet at least one of the following criteria: SoCon Hall of Fame Inductee (for primary sport), National Wrestler of the Year, National Champion, All-America in two different seasons (not including honorable mention or freshman AA), SoCon Male Athlete of the Year, Two-time SoCon Wrestler of the Year, Three-time SoCon Individual Champion, or 1st-team All-SoCon in three different seasons.

NameYears
David Barden1992/93 - 1995/96
Scottie Boykin2013/14 - 2017/18
Charlie Buckshaw1985/86 - 1988/89
Cody Cleveland2005/06 - 2010/11
Josh Condon2007/08 - 2012/13
John Davis2002/03 - 2005/06
Chad Dennis
Heath Esthlinger1995/96 - 1999/2000
John Feldhacker1981/82 - 1984/85
Bret Gustafson1987/88 - 1991/92
Bobby Hanson1997/98 - 1999/2000
Charlie Heard1981/82 - 1983/84
Michael Keefe2002/03 - 2006/07
Matt Keller2005/06 - 2006/07
Javier Maldonado2003/04 - 2007/08
Larry Meierotto
Pat Murphy1979/80 - 1982/83
Bobby Orand
Ben Reichel1984/85 - 1988/89
Jeff Rufolo1983/83 - 1987/88
Nick Soto2011/12 - 2014/15
Chris Thornbury1985/86 - 1988/89
Cary Waller1978/79 - 1982/83

NCAA Division I All Americans
YearNameWeightPlacement
1979Byron McGlathery1265th
1982Charlie Heard1188th
1983Charlie Heard1182nd
1984Charlie Heard1187th
1991Bret Gustafson1775th
1992Guy Harris1428th
1992Howard Langford1588th
2005Michale Keefe1415th
2005Jon Sioredas1655th
2006Matt Keller1338th
2007Matt Keller1334th
2008Cody Cleveland1418th

NCAA Division II All Americans
YearNameWeightPlacement
1974Bill Burnside1262nd
1975Randy Batten1181st
1975Turner Jackson1581st
1975John Kavelage1343rd
1975David Weeks1774th
1976Randy Batten1181st
1976John Kavelage1343rd
1976Turner Jackson1581st
1976Tim Brennan1676th
1976David Weeks1771st
1977Randy Batten1261st
1977Ralph ZignerHWT5th

References
  1. "Website Guidelines". Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  2. "SoCon Southern Conference". The Southern Conference. Retrieved 2014-12-26.
  3. "Maclellan Gymnasium". University of Tenn. Chattanooga Athletics. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  4. "2013–14 UT Chattanooga Wrestling Media Guide". University of Tennessee Chattanooga Athletics. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  5. "Wrestling – 2017–18 Coaches". University of Tennessee Chattanooga Athletics. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
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