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The University wrestling team lost decisively to 30th-ranked UW-Whitewater last Tuesday, dropping eight of their ten bouts and falling by a score of 36–8.
Chicago began the match with a technical fall, earning a 5–0 lead before Whitewater responded by capturing the three following weight classes.
“Our lineup has not yet gelled regarding having our wrestlers competing in the optimal weight classes and everyone wrestling to their potential,” head coach Leo Kocher said. “We are looking to have those issues largely settled before January.”
Second-year Jim Layton defeated his opponent 18–1 by a technical fall at 165 pounds, while fourth-year Ryan Hatten, competing in the heavy weight division, earned a 5–3 decision in overtime.
Hatten and Layton stood out among otherwise unsatisfactory performances on Tuesday. Whitewater’s Cheston Kesslhon scored the first points of the team with an early pin, a trend that continued as the Maroons lost by falls three times, and by one technical fall.
“Ryan Hatten’s overtime win was over an excellent opponent who has been ranked 11th among D-III 285-pounders this season,” coach Kocher explained. “Ryan has demonstrated the ability to come from behind against tough opponents this year and that is a rare talent among heavyweights.”
“Jimmy Layton is still wrestling up a weight class this season at 165 and is still dominating the competition. It looks like he will be a force at 157,” he added.
Chicago (0–2) will not play a conference opponent until February at the UAA Wrestling Championships in New York. They host Elmhurst this evening at 7 p.m.
“The only championship determined by dual meet results will be the UAAs in nine weeks in New York. We want to peak then,” Kocher added. “In the meantime a lot of people are getting their chance to step up and see what they can do.”