HOKIES WRESTLING 2019: #5 VIRGINIA TECH (3-0) VS CHATTANOOGA (3-5)

Match Information
Location: Cassell Coliseum - Blacksburg, VA
Day & Time: 21 DEC 19 at 7:30pm
Viewing: In-person (free), ACCN Extra
Updates: Twitter @HokiesWrestling, and Trackwrestling

The Opponent: University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Mocs

2018-2019 Season and Now

Chattanooga's dual record last year was 7-7 (5-1 SoCon) tying for first in the Southern Conference regular season. Although, they would fall short during the conference tournament by placing third. That same year, the Mocs wrestled the Hokies in a dual meet and lost to a whopping score of 35-4. This year's UT-C team is quite young with only three starters being upperclassmen, two seniors and one junior. None of the wrestlers in the Chattanooga line-up are ranked. The team has also wrestled against three ranked opponents thus far: the then ranked #2 Iowa, #11 Iowa St., and #19 North Carolina. Some Virginia Tech wrestlers have previously faced off against Chattanooga's wrestlers as they too were participants in this years Southeast Open.

Coach: Kyle Ruschell

Coach Ruschell was an assistant coach for Chattanooga in 2017-2018 before being given the keys to the room for 2019. He sent four of his wrestlers to the NCAA tournament last year and is hoping to build on that success. His prior coaching experience includes eight years as an assistant coach with the Wisconsin Badgers, where he helped build them into the program they are today.

Ruschell wrestled for Wisconsin in the years 2007-2010. He was a two time All-American at the 149lb weight class, with third being his highest NCAA tournament placement. His collegiate wrestling record is 123-29.

The Line-Up

125lbs: Fabian Gutierrez (r-JR, Commerce City CO)
A tough wrestler with a record of 7-4. This is his first season as a full time starter. He has wrestled Virginia Tech's own, Sam Latona, at the Southeast Open and lost a 6-3 decision. Has an overall record of 46-25 including his redshirt record.

133lbs: Francisco Valdes (r-SO, Miami FL)
Valdes' current record is 3-7, and has avenged one of his losses against Joe Heilmann (UNC). He did not wrestle any Hokies in the Southeast Open. His collegiate record is 17-24

141lbs: Mason Wallace (r-SO, Manhattan KS) or Aiden Murphy (r-SO, Virginia Beach, VA)
Mason Wallace was wrestled in three of the eight duals for 141lbs. He currently has a record of 3-4 and a total record of 28-28. Wallace was originally a 149lber, but cut weight after senior Chris Debien was injured during the Southeast Open. Debien is a big loss, as he qualified for the NCAA Tournament last year.

Aiden Murphy returns to his home state as he was a product from Ocean Lakes High School. Currently he is 1-7 this year, but has a total win/loss of 15-23. He did secure his first dual win of his career this year against Davidson.

149lbs: Tanner Smith (r-SO, New Carlisle OH)
The other best wrestler on the Mocs' roster. He attended Eastern Michigan University in 2018 where he redshirted, but then transferred at Chattanooga for the 2019 season. His current record is 8-3 and collegiate record of 42-12. Qualified for the NCAA tournament last year where he earned one win.

157lbs: George Carpenter (r-SR, Chapel Hill NC) or Tyler Shilson (SO, Maple Grove MN)
George Carpenter started off at Penn State as a non-scholarship wrestler where he wrestled from freshman to junior year. His weight class varied from 133-149 and saw the most prominent action in 2017 wrestling in nine duals. His overall record as a Nittany Lion was 16-37. He graduate transferred to Chattanooga and has wrestled this year at 157lbs and has a record of 4-7. He has lost to Virginia Tech's own Connor Brady twice this year.

Tyler Shilson has split time with Carpenter, having wrestled in three of the eight duals. He is a transfer from Wisconsin that followed Coach Ruschell when he became an assistant. At Wisconsin, Shilson went 16-10 and has so far gone 3-4 this year.

165lbs: Drew Nicholson (r-SO, Memphis TN)
Currently has a record 6-7 for this year, he has been the starter at 165lbs since the beginning on the season and has always wrestled at this weight. His has amassed a record of 22-27 so far during his time enrolled at Chattanooga.

174lbs: Hunter Fortner (r-SO, Knoxville TN)
Is the incumbent at the 174lb weight class, with a current record of 3-8. He has wrestled at 184lbs before. His collegiate record is 20-38.

185lbs: Matthew Waddell (r-SO, Gilmer GA)
Arguably the best wrestler on Chattanooga's roster. Waddell wrestled his freshman year and redshirted at Oklahoma before transferring with a record of 10-24. His current record is 8-3 and all three losses came against top-20 wrestlers.

197lbs: Rodney Jones (r-SR, Duluth GA)
Last year he qualified for his first ever NCAA tournament. This year he is currently 7-4 with one of those losses coming against Stan Smeltzer at the Southeast Open, 11-7 decision. As he finishes up his last year as a Moc, his overall record stands at 45-45

HVY: Grayson Walthall (SO, Memphis TN)
A transfer from NAIA school Cumberland University. His record is 3-9, but all three wins have been by fall.

Match Thoughts

The Hokie wrestlers are back from their break, looking to add on to their undefeated dual record. Virginia Tech did participate in two tournament during the break in duals, the Navy Classic and the Cliff Keen Invitational. Overall the Virginia Tech did just ok during both tournaments. For the Navy Classic, Virginia Tech did earn first place as a team, with McFadden and Bolen both winning their weight classes. Though Borst was the only other wrestler to get to the finals, all others earned 4th place or worse against non-powerhouse opponents (VT, Michigan State, and most of the MAC were the only major participants). For Cliff Keen Invitational only four Hokies placed with Bolen earning third, Prata finishing 4th, Borst earning 7th, and Mitch Moore earning 8th after throwing away his last match.

Virginia Tech goes into this match with five ranked wrestlers, but the names have changed: #14 Joey Prata (125lbs), #18 Mitch Moore (141lbs), #6 David McFadden (165lbs), #3 Hunter Bolen (183lbs), and #16 John Borst. Honestly there may be only one key match up during this dual and thatch seeing Chattanooga's best wrestler, 149lber Tanner Smith, against Brent Moore. I have no idea whats going on with Brent this season. At times he shows agression and other times he looks beat down. I don't know if it's injuries, if he just doesn't have the same passion, or maybe this is truly his ceiling as a wrestler. Other matches to pay attention to is the Stan Smeltzer vs Rodney Jones rematch at 197lbs.

Predictions

125: #14 Prata dec. Gutierrez (3-0 VT)
133: Gerardi dec. Valdez (6-0 VT)
141: #18 M. Moore fall Wallace (12-0 VT)
149: Smith. dec. B. Moore (12-3)
157: LaPrade maj dec. Carpenter (16-3 VT)
165: #6 McFadden maj. dec. Hoffman (20-3 VT)
174: Hughes dec. Fortner (23-3 VT)
184: #3 Bolen dec. Waddell (26-3 VT)
197: Smeltzer dec. Jones (29-3 VT)
285: #16 Borst dec. Walthall (32-2 VT)

Let's be honest, UT-C is gonna get blown out. This is a great dual meet for the wrestlers to shake off some rust after grinding it out in the training room. Even though the match as a whole wont be "exciting", I look forward to seeing wrestlers like Hughes and Smeltzer going up against opponents at their relative level and get some confidence. Gerardi can also work on technique and get some experience. Lastly, I want to Mitch Moore take shots, he hasn't shown a multi-dimensional offense all season. I know I predicted a fall, but i'm hoping he takes this opportunity to fine tune his shot offense and go for the technical fall.