THE ET CETERA CHRONICLES - BRYCE CARR- FORMER WEST LAURENS WRESTLER NAMED THE WRESTLER OFT THE YEAR IN THE SOUTHERN CONFERENCE

Carr Named SoCon Wrestler of the Year

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Senior 184-pounder  BRYCE CARR is the Southern Conference Wrestler of the Year, the league office announced today.  This honor was determined by a vote of the conference's eight head coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own wrestlers.

Carr, the 2016-17 league champion at 184 pounds, is ranked No. 12 nationally with an overall record of 23-5. He was a perfect 7-0 in SoCon action, is 11-4 in duals and is tied for the league lead with seven pins.

The senior from Dublin, Georgia, was named SoCon Wrestler of the Week twice this season. Carr earned the honor in week one of competition and on Jan. 3 after going 5-1 and finishing third overall in the Southern Scuffle. Carr has six major decisions and three technical falls thus far in the year.

Carr is the eighth Moc to earn Southern Conference Wrestler of the Year honors since the award began in 1993.  UTC's eight winners are the most in league history, outpacing Appalachian State with seven and VMI with six.

Senior teammate Mike Pongracz, ranked No. 33 nationally, was named all-conference at 141 pounds. Pongrancz is 16-10 overall with five major decisions and three technical falls. The senior from Milford, New Jersey, is coming off a 2016-17 redshirt season.

As a junior in 2015-16, Pongracz was 22-6 overall, earning an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. Pongracz finished the 2017-18 regular season a perfect 6-0 in SoCon duals, helping the Mocs finish second in the SoCon with a 6-1 record.

The SoCon Wrestling Championship takes place Saturday, March 3, in Charleston, South Carolina. Doors to McAlister Field House open at 9 a.m. First-round matches are set to begin at 10 a.m., with finals slated to start at 7 p.m.  Links for following the action can be found on the wrestling schedule page on GoMocs.com.