A new era in the storied tradition of wrestling at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga begins this season with the return of a familiar face.  Former Moc Heath Eslinger was named UTC's 11th head coach on July 11, 2009, following the resignation of three-year head coach Chris Bono. 

Since taking over as the Mocs' top man, Eslinger, a three-time Southern Conference Champion and the 2000 SoCon Wrestler of the Year, has worked to put together a group that has been picked to win its sixth consecutive SoCon title and be a contender on the national scene. 

Chattanooga returns five student-athletes who were SoCon individual champions and NCAA qualifiers in 2009.  The Mocs will be led by a trio of experienced seniors, including 2009 SoCon Wrestler of the Year Cody Cleveland (141), 2009 SoCon champion and two-time NCAA qualifier Joey Knox and SoCon finalist Josh Statum. 

They will lead the Mocs against another difficult schedule in 2009-10 that includes 13 dual meets, four tournaments and the SoCon and NCAA Championships.  Featured matches on the schedule include trips to Virginia Tech, Central Michigan and Oklahoma, as well as home matches against Missouri and Northern Iowa.  UTC will also compete in the Virginia Tech Open, the Wolfpack Open, the Indiana Duals and the prestigious Midlands Championships. 

Will a full roster of 35 student-athletes, the Mocs have depth in every class and posses the talent that could make Eslinger's first year at UTC a special one. 

"We have some talent in the lower weight classes to compete at a high level this year," stated Eslinger.  "We are going to need guys in the upper classes to step up and perform in order for us to do well.  Either way, we have an exciting group that I think people are going to enjoy watching."

Sophomore Demetrius Johnson leads a trio competing at 125.  Johnson won the SoCon title as a freshman last season and was on the SoCon All-Freshman team.  He was 11-8 overall and 3-1 in league matches.   He will be competing against sophomore Paul Garza and Statum.  Garza wrestled as a true freshman last year and could redshirt in 2009-10.  Statum competed mostly at 133 and could move up to strengthen that class.  He was 10-8 at 133 in 2009, advancing to the finals of the SoCon Championships. 

Johnson won the wrestle-off against Statum and will represent UTC in the opening matches of the season.  Statum could move up to 133 to provide more experience in the Mocs lineup.    

"Demetrius has the potential to be an All-American," added Eslinger.  "He has the talent and the ability and is now putting in the work.  It could pay off in a big way for him this season."

The 133 class could go to Statum if Johnson continues to hold down 125.  Otherwise, three freshmen will be competing in Logan Biddy, Cody Hood and Josh Sandoval.  Biddy was a two-time Tennessee State Champion at Bradley Central High School in Cleveland, Tenn.  Hood won the Tennessee State Title at 130 as a senior at Ooltewah High School in Ooltewah, Tenn., last year.  Sandoval, a redshirt in 2008-09, defeated Hood 9-5 in the Blue & Gold match, earning the 133 spot for the opening matches.

Cleveland is the first Moc wrestler to return as a SoCon Wrestler of the Year.  He and Eslinger are the only two Mocs to be named the league's top wrestler and the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the SoCon Championships in the same season.  Cleveland has a chance to be the first Moc to repeat as Wrestler of the Year and become UTC's sixth two-time All-American.  He enters the year ranked No. 20 in the nation at 141. 

"Cody is poised to have an excellent year," continued Eslinger.  "He battled some nagging injuries last season, but is working hard to get back to his All-American form from two years ago."

Cleveland will be pushed by sophomore Ben Johnson and freshmen Joe Burns and Jeremy Sandoval.  Johnson posted four wins last season while Burns joins the Mocs following a standout career at Morristown West High School in Morristown, Tenn.  Sandoval went a 141-2 in his career that included three state titles for Colleyville Heritage High School in Colleyville, Texas. 

Another class that is wide-open is 149.  2009 SoCon Champion Dan Waddell has moved up to 165, leaving five other Mocs to compete for time on the mat.  Juniors Carlos Baron and Kelly Felix are the most experienced, each entering their fourth year in the program.  However, neither has wrestled more than 10 matches in a single season.  They will be going against freshmen Dean Pavlou, Chanse Hayes and Alex Hudson.  Hayes was a Tennessee State Champion at Chattanooga's Baylor School last year while Hudson won three Georgia State Titles at Sprayberry High School in Marietta.  Pavlou, a redshirt for the Mocs in 2008-09, defeated Hudson 7-3 in the Blue & Gold Match and will be in the lineup in the early part of the season.

Knox will have some strong competition at 157.  The 2009 SoCon champ will be challenged by six other Mocs this season.  Juniors Bond Davis and Cody Stokes, along with freshmen Josh Condon, Wiley Davis and Alex Platt will all be pushing for time.  Condon won three Division V Georgia State Titles and won his class at the Senior Nationals following his senior year at Harrison High School in Powder Springs, Ga.    

"We are very deep at 157, but I still see Knox taking that spot unless someone else surprises us," said Eslinger.  "Since we have so many guys competing in that class, there may be one or two looking to move up to 165 where we are a little thin."

Sophomore Brandon Wright looks to fill the 165 slot, even though 2009 SoCon Champion Dan Waddell has moved up to this class.  Waddell wrestled at the NCAAs at 149 last year, but will sit out 2009-10 with an injury.  Wright could be pushed from a number of Mocs looking to move up from 157.  Wright was 7-7 last season, including 1-1 in SoCon bouts. 

Junior Mark Rogers and freshmen Hunter Scott, Jake Young and Camron Couch will all compete at 174.  Young is a two-time Tennessee State Champion at Ooltewah High School in Ooltewah, Tenn., and was an All-American at the 2009 Senior Nationals.  He has earned the starting position and will compete in the opening dual meets this weekend. 

2009 SoCon Freshman of the Year Jason McCroskey has moved up to 184.  He is coming off a 20-win season with a 21-12 mark in 2009, including 5-0 in the SoCon at 174.  He will be in the starting lineup but will be pushed by sophomore Tyler Roberson is the lone returner to 184.  A 2009 Academic All-SoCon selection, Roberson posted six wins last season. 

Sophomore Ethan Winel returns at 197 but is sidelined with an injury.  He had 11 wins in 2009 and finished third at the SoCon Championships.  Freshman Niko Brown won the starting role after defeating junior Stephen Garrett in the Blue & Gold Match.    

Juniors Matt Letter and Tom Minwell will battle in the heavyweight class with Lettner getting the nod in the early going.  Lettner started last season but was sidelined with an injury early in the year.  Minwell was an NCAA qualifier and Academic All-American at Carson-Newman last year.  He transferred to UTC after the Eagles dropped their program in the offseason. 

"We have the talent here to do very well this year," stated Eslinger.  "There are some classes that have more experience than others, but there are guys who are ready to compete at this level.  If it all comes together, I think we will have a lot of fun this season."