Indiana wrestling lost its final match of the regular season on Sunday to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga by a score of 21-15.
The Hoosiers started the day off with sophomore Jacob Moran competing in the 125-pound class. Moran defeated No. 22-ranked Chattanooga senior Fabian Gutierrez by a 6-5 regular decision. No. 11-ranked Indiana graduate student Brock Hudkins followed Moran’s victory with a win in the 133-pound match. Those positive results against the only ranked wrestlers from Chattanooga gave the Hoosiers an early 6-0 lead.
No. 32-ranked Indiana junior Cayden Rooks lost to Chattanooga junior Franco Valdes in a 3-1 decision in the 141-pound match, putting Chattanooga on the board 6-3.
After a failed challenge attempt by Indiana head coach Angel Escobedo on a Chattanooga takedown, Chattanooga freshman Noah Castillo ultimately defeated Indiana junior Graham Rooks in the 149-pound match by a 6-5 regular decision. Castillo’s win allowed Chattanooga to tie the match at 6-6.
Looking to retake the lead, Indiana sophomore Derek Gilcher held a 2-0 lead over Chattanooga junior Drew Nicholson for two periods. However, during the third period, Gilcher gave up the lead and ultimately lost the match 3-2 in the final five seconds. Going into halftime, Chattanooga held a 9-6 advantage.
At the start of the second half, Chattanooga junior Drew Nicholson defeated Indiana junior Kasper McIntosh in a 7-4 regular decision in the 165-pound match.
Indiana sophomore Isiah Levitz made his dual-meet debut in replacement of junior Nick South in the 174-pound class. Chattanooga sophomore Carial Tarter pinned Levitz in the third period to take a commanding 18-6 lead.
No. 17-ranked Indiana junior DJ Washington made his first appearance on the mat for the 184-pound class since his 7-3 regular decision victory on Jan. 29 against then-No. 25-ranked Purdue senior Max Lyon.
Washington had a dominant start against Chattanooga sophomore Thomas Sell, immediately getting a two-point takedown to start the bout. Washington defeated Sell in a 20-8 major decision and ended Chattanooga’s five-win streak during the meet to cut Indiana’s deficit to 18–10.
The fate of Sunday’s meet would be decided during the 197-pound match. Indiana junior Nick Willham lost the gritty match to Chattanooga junior Matthew Waddell in a 3-2 decision. Chattanooga took a 21-10 lead going into the final match of the afternoon.
Indiana wrapped up the day with junior Jacob Bullock representing the heavyweight class. Bullock defeated Chattanooga freshman Matthias Ervin by a 18-0 technical fall to wrap up Indiana’s regular season.
Indiana will head to the Big Ten Championships on March 5-6 in Lincoln, Nebraska.
