Double Duty: 'Cats Head to Appalachian Open and Chattanooga

DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Davidson wrestling team will compete at the Appalachian Open in Boone, N.C. on Saturday as well as continue Southern Conference competition at Chattanooga this Sunday.

Appalachian Open Information
Date | Time: January 27, 2024 | 10:00 a.m.
Location: Boone, N.C.
Site: Varsity Gym
Live Results | Bracket: FloArena

Chattanooga Match Information
Date | Time: January 28, 2024 | 2:00 p.m.
Location: Chattanooga, Tenn.
Site: Maclellan Gym
Live Results: TrackWrestling
Watch: ESPN+

History
Last Meeting: L, 39-3 (1/21/23)
All-Time Series: Chattanooga leads, 32-0

DOUBLING DOWN
The Wildcats will be busy this weekend as a group of 'Cats will be at the Appalachian Open on Saturday and another group heads to Chattanooga for Sunday's dual.

APPALACHIAN OPEN
"It's another local, in-state tournament that our guys can go to and compete unattached and see how they're doing," said head coach Nate Carr Jr. "We should have anywhere from eight to 12 guys there, barring no injuries, and I'm excited to have them go out there and go get it and have some fun. They've put all the work in training so I'm excited for this group to go up there and represent themselves."

Among those making the trip to Boone will be senior Dan Yetsick, who won the Mountaineer Open at 157 pounds back in November. Also, first-year products Dylan Smith, Ian McGehee and Brock Carey are also expected to wrestle.

Smith, a local product of Newton, N.C., is 5-1 on the year and has not seen action since November's King Open.

"He's only given up one takedown so far," said Carr. "… He's someone we're looking to see how he's developing because he's a hard-nosed kid who's doing all the right things."

FEARLESS FRESHMEN
Carr has not been shy about throwing his first-year wrestlers into the fire in his second year and so far, Tyler-Xavier McKnight and Wyatt Ferguson have risen to the challenge.

McKnight, a Cartersville, Ga., native, continues to lead the Wildcats in wins with 13 on the season after defeating Campbell's Hagen Heistand on Sunday. Earlier this week, McKnight earned recognition from Division I coaches for his body of work through the midway point of the season. On Monday, McKnight received votes to be ranked inside the top 29 to 33 wrestlers in the 149-pound weight class.

"He's a guy that's continued to be consistent," said Carr. "He's always training and working hard, and you can see him starting to figure out what it takes to get some wins. Thirty-three guys qualify for the NCAA Tournament, so he's in that bubble realm as a true freshman, so that's exciting for him. He's just got to continue to win and continue to be Tyler McKnight."

Another Wildcat freshman who's picked up some momentum is 184-pounder Wyatt Ferguson. The Cincinnati native has started every dual match for Davidson this season, has now won two in a row and has wins over SoCon opponents from Campbell and App State.

"He's a very talented recruit who's starting to pick up some steam," said Carr about Ferguson. "He's already got some key wins in the conference. … If you got wins over those two (schools) already, you're putting yourself in a situation to be seeded pretty well."

"We're excited for where he's at, but he's not finished, and we're just getting started with him and what he can do," Carr added.

SCOUTING THE MOCS
Chattanooga enters Sunday on a heater having won four straight duals including the SoCon opener over VMI last Sunday, 31-13. The Mocs' strength lies in their lightweight group from 125 through 149 with ranked wrestlers in each class.

Defending SoCon champion Brayden Palmer highlight's UTC's 125-pound weight class, coming in ranked as high as No. 23 in InterMat's rankings with a 10-1 record. Blake Boarman is ranked No. 31 in FloWrestling's 133-pound rankings with an 11-3 mark, and freshman 141-pounder Isaiah Powe cracked InterMat's rankings at No. 34. Rounding out UTC's rankings is Noah Castillo at 149. Castillo is ranked as high as No. 15, according to the Open Mat, having won four straight while sporting an 11-2 record.

PROBABLE LINEUPS
Davidson
125 – Enis Ljikovic
133 – John Hager or Hale Robinson
141 – Joshua Viarengo or Jackson Sichelstiel
149 – Tyler-Xavier McKnight or Matt McLaughlin
157 – Tanner Peake or Noah Frack
165 – Bryce Sanderlin
174 – Brett Sanderlin or Marc Koch
184 – Wyatt Ferguson
197 – Cameo Blankenship
HWT – Jake Fernicola

Chattanooga
125 – Ty Tice or Chaz McDonald
133 – #28/31 Blake Boarman
141 – #34 Isaiah Powe
149 – #15/25 Noah Castillo or Matthew Williams
157 – Austin Paradice or Lincoln Heck
165 – Kamdyn Munro
174 – Sergio Desiante
184 – Logan Webster or Ryan Stein
197 – David Harper
285 – Kaleb Snodgrass

UP NEXT
The 'Cats will be back in Belk Arena on Feb. 2 to take on the Bellarmine Knights in SoCon dual action.

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