University of Tennessee at Chattanooga sophomore wrestler Nick Soto has been named the Southern Conference Student-Athlete of the Week for December 19, the league office announced today.
Soto, a native of Spring Hill, Fla., with a 3.68 g.p.a. as a Business major, went 3-0 in dual matches over the weekend. He opened Friday's dual at Princeton with a 9-3 decision over Max Rogers. That put the Mocs on track for a 27-10 win over the Ivy League Tigers.
UTC traveled to Madison Square Garden for the Grapple in the Garden, presented by Suplay.com, on Sunday.
There Soto put UTC up 6-0 against No. 2 Oklahoma State with a pin over Cowboy's starter Edward Klimara at the 6:29 mark. The Mocs eventually lost the match 41-9.
In the second match of the event, Soto defeated Rutgers' Joe Landel 10-4. UTC went on to drop that match 28-12. Soto is 13-3 overall and 6-2 in dual matches. He is ranked as high as No. 9 in the nation this week and has a 38-11 career record.
Chattanooga leads the league with three SoCon Student-Athletes of the Week in the 2012-13 academic year. Soto joins cross country's Nathan Wanuch (Sept. 12) and women's basketball's Kayla Christopher (Nov. 28) as Mocs who have been honored. All honorees have at least a 3.3 g.p.a. and along with exemplary performances in their arenas of competition.
The wrestling team has a 4-4 overall record and is preparing to host the 2013 Southern Scuffle. Action takes place in McKenzie Arena on Jan. 1-2. Tickets are on sale now on GoMocs.com or by calling the UTC Ticket Office at (423) 266-MOCS (6627).
Southern Conference Student-Athlete of the Week
Sept. 5: Christina Dorismond, Volleyball, Furman
Sept. 12: Nathan Wanuch, Cross Country, Chattanooga
Sept. 19: Carson Smith, Football, The Citadel
Sept. 26: Kate Van Dyke, Volleyball, Georgia Southern
Oct. 3: Lauren Hein, Women's Soccer, UNCG
Oct. 10: Julia Singley, Women's Soccer, Davidson
Oct. 17: Rachel Woodlee, Volleyball, Wofford
Oct. 24: Laura Greb, Women's Soccer, Western Carolina
Oct. 31: Paul Chelimo, Cross Country, UNCG
Nov. 7: Clark Sechrest, Football, Western Carolina
Nov. 14: Moriah Bellissimo, Volleyball, Georgia Southern|
Nov. 21: Christina Dorismond, Volleyball, Furman
Nov. 28: Kayla Christopher, Women's Basketball, Chattanooga
Dec. 5: Courtney Freeman, Women's Basketball, Appalachian State
Dec. 12: Aaron Hansen, Wrestling , The Citadel
Dec. 19: Nick Soto, Wrestling, Chattanooga