Chattanooga Mocs wrestling

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Chattanooga Mocs Wrestling
Chattanooga Mocs logo.svg
University University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Head CoachKyle Ruschell (1st season)
Conference SoCon
Location Chattanooga, TN
Arena Maclellan Gymnasium
(Capacity: 2,639)
NicknameMocs
ColorsNavy, old gold, and silver [1]
     
NCAA individual champions
6 (NCAA Division II)
All-Americans
24 (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

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.

Contents

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 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 Tournament titles
Ken Carpenter1947–51 (5)N/AN/A--
Russ Scall1952 (1)3–5–0.375--
Andy Nardo1953–67 (15)77–30–4.712--
Joe Geri1968 (1)0–8–0.000--
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 Barden1992–1996
Scottie Boykin2013–2018
Charlie Buckshaw1985–1989
Cody Cleveland2005–2011
Josh Condon2007–2013
John Davis2002–2006
Chad Dennis1991–1996
Heath Esthlinger1995–2000
John Feldhacker1981–1985
Bret Gustafson1987–1992
Bobby Hanson1997–2000
Charlie Heard 1981–1984
Michael Keefe2002–2007
Matt Keller2005–2007
Javier Maldonado2003–2008
Larry Meierotto1979–1983
Pat Murphy1979–1983
Bobby Orand1976–1980
Ben Reichel1984–1989
Jeff Rufolo1983–1988
Nick Soto2011–2015
Chris Thornbury1985–1989
Cary Waller1978–1983

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The 2013 Chattanooga Mocs football team represented the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in the 2013 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon). The Mocs were led by fifth-year head coach Russ Huesman and played their home games at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tennessee. They finished the season 8–4 overall and 6–2 in SoCon play to share the conference championship with Samford and Furman. Chattanooga not receive the conference's automatic bid to the FCS playoffs and did not receive an at-large bid.

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The 2015 Chattanooga Mocs football team represented the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in the 2015 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon). The Mocs were led by seventh-year head coach Russ Huesman and played their home games at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tennessee. They finished the season 9–4 overall and 6–1 in SoCon play to share for the SoCon title with The Citadel. Chattanooga earned the SoCon's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where they defeated Fordham in the first round before losing in the second round to Jacksonville State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Chattanooga Mocs football team</span> American college football season

The 2016 Chattanooga Mocs football team represented the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in the 2016 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon). The Mocs were led by eighth-year head coach Russ Huesman and played their home games at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tennessee. They finished the season 9–4 overall and 6–2 in SoCon play to tie for second place. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where they defeated Weber State in the first round before losing to Sam Houston State in the second round.

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The 2021–22 Chattanooga Mocs men's basketball team represented the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Mocs, led by fifth-year head coach Lamont Paris, played their home games at McKenzie Arena in Chattanooga, Tennessee, as members of the Southern Conference. They finished the season 27–8, 14–4 in SoCon play to win the regular season SoCon championship. As the No. 1 seed in the SoCon tournament, they defeated The Citadel, Wofford, and Furman to win the tournament championship. As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 13 seed in the South Region, where they lost in the first round to Illinois.

The 1987–88 Chattanooga Mocs basketball team represented the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga as a member of the Southern Conference during the 1987–88 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Their head coach was Mack McCarthy and the team played their home games at the UTC Arena. After finishing tied for 5th in the conference regular season standings, the Mocs won the SoCon tournament, earning an automatic bid to the 1988 NCAA tournament. Chattanooga was beaten in the opening round by No. 1 seed and eventual National runner-up Oklahoma, 94–66.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1992–93 Chattanooga Mocs basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1992–93 Chattanooga Mocs basketball team represented the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga as a member of the Southern Conference during the 1992–93 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Their head coach was Mack McCarthy and the team played their home games at the UTC Arena. After finishing atop the conference regular season standings, the Mocs won the SoCon tournament, earning an automatic bid to the 1993 NCAA tournament. Chattanooga was beaten in the opening round by No. 5 seed and Wake Forest, 81–58.

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The 2022–23 Chattanooga Mocs men's basketball team represented the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Mocs, led by first-year head coach Dan Earl, played their home games at McKenzie Arena in Chattanooga, Tennessee, as members of the Southern Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1981–82 Chattanooga Mocs basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1981–82 Chattanooga Mocs basketball team represented the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga as a member of the Southern Conference during the 1981–82 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Their head coach was Murray Arnold and the team played their home games at Maclellan Gymnasium for the final season. The Mocs won the regular season and SoCon tournament titles, the latter earning the Mocs an automatic bid to the 1982 NCAA tournament. Participating in the tournament for the second consecutive season, Chattanooga knocked off No. 7 seed NC State in the first round before losing to No. 2 seed Minnesota, 52–51, in the round of 32.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980–81 Chattanooga Mocs basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1980–81 Chattanooga Mocs basketball team represented the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga as a member of the Southern Conference during the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Their head coach was Murray Arnold and the team played their home games at Maclellan Gymnasium. The Mocs won the regular season and SoCon tournament titles, the latter earning the Mocs an automatic bid to the 1981 NCAA tournament. Participating in the Big Dance for the first time in program history, Chattanooga fell to No. 6 seed Maryland in the opening round.

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. 1 2 "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.