LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Down 16-6 with just three weight classes to go, the Bellarmine University wrestling team stormed back for an exciting 18-16 win over University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Senior Day at Knights Hall.
 
"I'm really grateful for the atmosphere our fans created for us today," Bellarmine head coach Ned Shuck said. "It was loud, they got behind us, they got on the official and the opposing team and they just brought a ton of energy."
 
With the win, Bellarmine moves to 14-5 on the year, 4-4 in Southern Conference play. The 14 wins marks a new standard for duals wins in a season for Bellarmine while the win over the Mocs is the first in program history, having lost each of the first three matchups since joining Division I in 2021.
 
"A couple of years ago, I think we lost to these guys 50-0 and to be able to turn it around and have every match be competitive and to come out at the end with our hands raised feels really good." Said Shuck. "It's a testament to all our guys' attitude and fight."
 
Chattanooga took control early on, winning each of the first three weights to quickly jump out to a 10-0 lead.
 
The Knights finally got on the board after the 149 bout, thanks to redshirt Sophomore Zac Cowan. Cowan attacked early and often, earning the first victory of the day for Bellarmine in a 14-7 decision to put the Knights on the board, down 10-3.
 
Chattanooga answered immediately, taking another decision at 157 to retake a 10-point lead, up 13-3, entering the intermission.
 
"We talk all the time about having a 'can't wait' attitude. Have a 'can't wait' attitude and anything can happen out there."
 
Out of the break, Bellarmine continued to battle as redshirt freshman Grant O'Dell (165) earned another decision for the Knights, winning 11-4, to add three more team points to the board, cutting the deficit to seven, trailing 13-6.
 
The Mocs responded yet again, winning another decision at the 174-weight class to reestablish their 10-point lead at 16-6.
 
Redshirt sophomore Sam Schroeder (184) kept Bellarmine alive, earning a hard-fought 9-6 decision win, his first conference win of the season and first duals win since a pin (1:37) against Apprentice School on January 6 at the NWCA National Duals. With the win, the Knights moved within seven again, down 16-9.
 
Having trailed all day, the Knights got the boost they needed in the 197 bout. Freshman Andrew Liber came out of the gates aggressively and it paid off as he took down his opponent with a pin just 0:47 seconds into the first round. With the victory, Bellarmine moved into striking distance, trailing by just one point, down 16-15.
 
With control of the team's fate in his hands, a position he is familiar with, sophomore heavyweight Thadd Huff stepped on the mat and delivered, gutting out a 5-2 decision to lift the Knights over Chattanooga for an 18-16 victory. The match deciding win is the second for Huff this season, having sealed a 23-15 victory for Bellarmine over Gardner-Webb on January 28.
 
"I'm so proud of how they brought it, how they fought and continued to keep building. We've got a lot to celebrate and feel good about today."
Up next, the Knights will host and compete in the NWCA Regionals on Saturday, March 2. The event will be held at Knights Hall and is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. ET.
 
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Bellarmine vs. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
125: Brayden Palmer (UTC) def. Damion Ryan (BU) by DEC, 3-0
133: #27 Blake Boarman (UTC) def. Trayce Eckman (BU) by MAJ, 14-5
141: Isaiah Powe (UTC) def. AJ Rallo (BU) by DEC, 6-1
149: Zac Cowan (BU) def. Matthew Williams (UTC) by DEC, 14-7
157: Lincoln Heck (UTC) def. Gray Ortis (BU) by DEC, 8-3
165: Grant O'Dell (BU) def. Kamdyn Munro (UTC) by DEC, 11-4
174: Sergio Desiante (UTC) def. Cole Nance (BU) by DEC, 9-6
184: Sam Schroeder (BU) def. Landon Lewis (UTC) by DEC, 9-6
197: Andrew Liber (BU) def. Ryan Stein (UTC) by FALL, 0:47
285: Thadd Huff (BU) def. Kaleb Snodgrass (UTC) by DEC, 5-2