2008 Woodie Awards
Wrestlers take tournament title to stay undefeated
Jeremy Acree
Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: Sports
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Coming off a victory over Ohio State, a top ten team in the nation, the Mocs have climbed the rankings themselves.
Second-year Coach Chris Bono has a 21-1 record since taking over the job and his team has moved to as high as 12th in the latest NCAA rankings.
Before the season started, Bono said he didn't expect to have the same talent as last year.
But with wins over the likes of Ohio State and an undefeated record, the team seems to be shaping up alright.
The team went to Pennsylvania over the break where they narrowly defeated the host University of Pennsylvania at the Keystone Classic.
Senior Seth Garvin, Hoover, AL., was the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler, earning three major decisions in four matches.
Garvin took home the 157 pound title, with a dominating 13-3 victory over Rider's Rob Morrison in the final. Along with Garvin, Steve Hromoda, Cody Cleveland, Lloyd Rogers, and Matt Koz all won their weight class.
Hromoda, a senior transfer from University of Virginia, was the surprise of the tournament. Coming in as a No. 7 seed, he captured first in the 133 pound weight class.
Appalachian State was the only other Southern Conference team at the tournament, finishing third.
Saturday the Mocs returned to Maclellan Gym to win two dual-matches against Division II and NAIA schools. The first came when Chattanooga defeated Newberry 27-13.
UTC only lost two matches to Newberry, but Coach Bono was much happier with the performance against Cambellsville University.
The Mocs won 41-6, with Cambellsville's only points coming from a forfeit due to injury.
Bono said he was satisfied, but knew it would take a lot more than that to beat upcoming foe Missouri.
UTC faces off next against The Tigers at Maclellan Gym, Dec. 16.
