The Southern Conference Championships concluded in an exhilarating showdown, with Appalachian State edging out the Chattanooga Mocs for the title by a mere 1.5 points. The final tally stood at 94.5 points for Appalachian State, while Chattanooga secured 93.0 points, making this championship one of the closest in recent history.
Chattanooga showcased remarkable talent, led by individual champions Cooper Flynn at 125 pounds and Kade Rule at 197 pounds. Both wrestlers contributed significantly to the Mocs’ success, which saw seven athletes finish on the podium, tying with Bellarmine for the most in the competition. Other podium finishers included Ethan Uhorchuk (133 pounds, second), Hunter Mason (141 pounds, third), Cavarius Liddie (157 pounds, third), Landon Jones (184 pounds, third), and Ethan Vergara (285 pounds, second). The team’s combined score marked the highest for Chattanooga in 13 years.
Chattanooga’s head coach, Kyle Ruschell, praised his team’s aggressive approach. “They came out and looked to wrestle. They didn’t look to just hold on and win; they got takedowns early and scored. That’s what you have to do to win a conference championship,” he noted. Ruschell also highlighted the importance of the consolation rounds, where the wrestlers fought hard to secure crucial bonus points. “Those guys came out firing and found bonus points in every match except for one, and that was a really tough win,” he added.
The championship finals saw the Mocs start the day in second place, trailing Appalachian State by 6.5 points. However, after the consolation semifinals, the Mocs fell to third place, now down by 7.0 points to Bellarmine. The final push came from Mason, Liddie, and Jones, who collectively earned 21 points that helped propel Chattanooga back into contention.
Flynn set the tone for the finals with a decisive pin in just 2:20, extending Chattanooga’s lead to 5.5 points. This victory marked Flynn’s first conference title after previously finishing as runner-up in the 2024 ACC Championships. Uhorchuk faced a tough opponent in T.K. Davis, who has already qualified for the 2025 NCAA Championships. Despite a strong effort, Uhorchuk came up short in a 12-4 major decision.
As the competition progressed, Rule’s performance at 197 pounds was pivotal. He delivered a major decision against Logan Eller from Appalachian State, which briefly pushed the Mocs to the lead by 2.5 points. The day concluded with Vergara facing defending champion Stephan Monchery, who ultimately secured the title for Appalachian State.
The final standings revealed the close competition:
1. Appalachian State: 94.5 points (3 champions)
2. Chattanooga: 93.0 points (2 champions)
3. Bellarmine: 88.5 points (2 champions)
4. The Citadel: 53.5 points (0 champions)
5. Davidson: 42.5 points (1 champion)
6. Gardner-Webb: 39.5 points (1 champion)
7. VMI: 36.0 points (1 champion)
8. Campbell: 19.0 points (0 champions)
9. Presbyterian: 18.5 points (0 champions)
Looking ahead, the Mocs are set to compete in the NCAA Championships, scheduled for March 19-21, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio. With a strong showing at the conference level, they hope to translate their momentum into success on a national stage.
