Luvsandorj named SoCon Wrestler of the Year; Conference announces awards

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Jonathan Caskey (Southern Conference)
03/01/2011


SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference wrestling all-conference team and postseason awards were announced on Tuesday, highlighted by four All-SoCon wrestlers from UNCG and SoCon Wrestler of the Year Turtogtokh Luvsandorj from The Citadel.
 
Luvsandorj, a sophomore wrestling at 165 pounds, was voted as Wrestler of the Year after compiling a 36-7 overall mark and a 5-0 SoCon record. The native of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, has ascended to the top 10 in most major national rankings and boasts an 8-1 mark against other Top 25 opponents.
 
After wrapping up its seventh consecutive SoCon regular season title and running its league unbeaten streak to 35 matches, Chattanooga placed a trio of wrestlers on the all-conference squad. Senior Cody Cleveland, a 2008 All-American who holds a perfect 11-0 record on the season, was the coaches’ choice at 141 pounds. Cleveland was joined on the team by teammates Josh Condon (157) and Brandon Wright (174).
 
Defending tournament champion UNCG led all schools with four all-conference wrestlers. Ivan Lopouchanski was honored for the second straight season after moving up to 149 pounds while junior Manuel Ramirez (125) and redshirt-freshmen Jamel Johnson (133) and Caylor Williams (197) were each honored for the first time. Williams, unbeaten in the SoCon and 21-15 overall, was also tabbed as the Freshman of the Year.
 
Last season’s Wrestler of the Year, Appalachian State 184-pounder Austin Trotman, earned all-conference honors again in 2011.
 
VMI’s Josh Wine, who boasts a 17-5 overall mark this season, earned all-conference honors for the third consecutive season at the heavyweight position.
 
The league’s head coaches also selected a 10-wrestler all-freshman team. UNCG placed three wrestlers on that squad, with Elijah Adams joining Johnson and Williams.
 
Chattanooga’s Levi Clemons and Shawn Greevy were All-Freshman honorees, along with Chris Johnson and Marc Tyson of Appalachian State, The Citadel’s Luke Johnson, Davidson’s Scott Patrick and VMI’s Ted Gottwald.
 
Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own wrestlers.
 
The 2011 Southern Conference Wrestling Championships, the 74th annual gathering of the league’s wrestling teams, will take place on Saturday, March 5 at Appalachian State’s Holmes Convocation Center in Boone, N.C. First round matches will begin at 11 a.m., with the finals to start at 7 p.m.
 
2011 SoCon Wrestling All-Conference Team
125       Manuel Ramirez, Jr., UNCG
133       Jamel Johnson, R-Fr., UNCG
141       Cody Cleveland, Sr., Chattanooga
149       Ivan Lopouchanski, So., UNCG
157       Josh Condon, So., Chattanooga
165       Turtogtokh Luvsandorj, So., The Citadel
174       Brandon Wright, Jr., Chattanooga
184       Austin Trotman, Jr., Appalachian State
197       Caylor Williams, R-Fr., UNCG
HWT     Josh Wine, Sr., VMI
 
Wrestler of the Year
Turtogtokh Luvsandorj, 165, So., The Citadel
 
2011 SoCon Wrestling All-Freshman Team
Chris Johnson, Appalachian State
Marc Tyson, Appalachian State
Luke Johnson, The Citadel
Scott Patrick, Davidson
Elijah Adams, UNCG
Jamel Johnson, UNCG
Caylor Williams, UNCG
Levi Clemons, Chattanooga
Shawn Greevy, Chattanooga
Ted Gottwald, VMI
 
Freshman of the Year
Caylor Williams, 197, UNCG