Wrestling: ASU 22 VMI 15
BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University wrestling won the final four matches to pull out a 21-15 win over VMI Sunday afternoon in Varsity Gym.
With the win ASU improves to 9-10 overall and locked up third place in the SoCon at 3-2. VMI falls to 5-8 overall and 1-3 in the conference.
The Keydets took a 15-9 lead when Matthew Brock scored a last second pin over Chip Powell (Greensboro, N.C./SE Guilford) at 157 pounds. Powell held a 2-0 lead and went in for a last second takedown but was reversed by Brock who scored the takedown and got the fall with 0.6 seconds left in the third period.
Kyle Blevins (Sapulpa, Okla./Sapulpa) got ASU back within three with 4-2 decision over Conor Black. After a scoreless first period, Blevins earned an escape and a takedown to begin the second period en route to the victory.
Carter Downs (Tequesta, Fla./Jupiter Christian) and Austin Trotman (Winston-Salem, N.C./Mount Tabor) won the final two matches to clinch the win for the Mountaineers. Downs built up a 9-2 lead and hung on for a 9-6 victory. Trotman was dominant in earning a major decision over Vinnie Gallo. With the win, Trotman earned his 20th win of the season and is on a 12-match winning streak. It is the second time in his career that he has reached the 20-win plateau.
The match started at 285 with Josh Wine defeating Ken Altarac (Johnsonville, N.Y./Lasalle Institute) 5-0. With the win, Wine moves to 20-1 on the season. However, the Apps bounced right back when Tony Gravely (Martinsville, Va./Magna Vista) earned a 5-2 win at 125 pounds. VMI’s John Pope earned a takedown 40 seconds into the first period and the score remained that way until the third when Gravely got a reversal to tie the score at two. The freshman followed the reversal with a three-point nearfall to cement the victory.
VMI grabbed wins at the next two weight classes but Savva Kostis (Boone, N.C./Watauga) pulled Appalachian back to within three with a win at 149. Kostis started fast with a first period takedown and built his lead up to 10-1 before a last second VMI takedown brought the final to 10-4. The win gives Kostis his first collegiate 20-win season.
Appalachian finishes the regular-season by hosting Liberty on Feb. 23 at 6 p.m.
Appalachian State 22 VMI 15
285 - Josh Wine (VMI) dec. Ken Altarac (ASU) 5-0, VMI 3-0
125 - Tony Gravely (ASU) dec. John Pope (VMI) 5-2, Tied
133 - Luke Todd (VMI) dec. Weston Haney (ASU) 6-1, 6-3 VMI
141 - David Yost (VMI) dec. Chris Collura (ASU) 10-6, 9-3 VMI
149 - Savva Kostis (ASU) dec. Michael Long (VMI) 11-5, 9-6 VMI
157 - Matthew Brock (VMI) Fall Chip Powell (ASU) 6:59, 15-6 VMI
165 - Kyle Blevins (ASU) dec. Conor Black (VMI) 4-2, 15-9 VMI
174 - Carter Downs (ASU) dec. Andrew Szymborski (VMI) 9-6, 15-12 VMI
184 - Austin Trotman (ASU) major dec. Vinnie Gallo (VMI) 12-1, ASU 16-15
197 - Dylan Temple (ASU) win by Forfeit ASU, 22-15
Bulldogs Hold Off Blue Devils for 23-19 Win
Charleston, S.C. - The Citadel wrestling team used two pins and a tech fall to propel past Duke, 23-19, on Sunday afternoon at McAlister Field House.
The Bulldogs (8-5) won four of the first five matches and took a commanding 20-3 lead, but had to hold off a late charge by Duke (2-8) to win their fourth straight dual and their seventh contest out of their last eight matches. It was the first win over an opponent from the Atlantic Coast Conference since the Bulldogs bested Duke, 20-17, on January 24, 2007.
Richard Alarcon started The Citadel off on a strong foot as pinned Duke's Pete Terrezza at 125 at the 6:37 mark. Freshman Jordan Dix followed with three takedowns in a 7-3 decision over the Blue Devils' Nick Adamo to give the Bulldogs an early 9-0 lead. Duke got on the board at 141 as Mike Bell slid past Nick LaFevre, 5-3.
The Citadel got a pair of strong performances at 149 and 157 as Derek Royster earned a tech fall over Duke's Chris Mullen, 17-2, behind three takedowns and two near falls. Turtogtokh Luvsandorj continued the Bulldog momentum as he pinned Duke's Spencer Jasper at the 3:33 mark to give The Citadel a 20-3 team lead.
Stepping in for a banged up Pierre Frazile at 165, Cameron Childs was not able to fend off Duke's Ben Wales as he fell at the 4:47 mark to start the Blue Devils late rally. J.C. Oddo's 5-2 decision over the Blue Devils' Voris Tejada behind two takedowns gave The Citadel a 23-9 lead at 174 pounds. Duke would win the final three matches as Diego Bencomo downed Kelby Smith, 9-4, at 184 pounds. John Barone used a pair of near falls and three takedowns to get a major decision over Justin Sparrow, 14-0, at 197 pounds. In the highest touted match of the day, NCAA runner-up Konrad Dudziak was able to get past Odie Delaney, 10-3, with two takedowns, a near fall and a reversal. It was not enough for the Blue Devils however, as the Bulldogs won the dual, 23-19.
The Citadel 23, Duke 19
125: Richard Alarcon (CIT) pinned Pete Terrezza (DUKE), 6:37; CIT 6-0
133: Jordan Dix (CIT) dec. Nick Adam (DUKE), 7-3; CIT 9-0
141: Mike Bell (DUKE) dec. Nick LaFevre (CIT), 5-3; CIT 9-3
149: Derek Royster (CIT) tech. fall Chris Mullen (DUKE), 17-2; CIT 14-3
157: Turtogtokh Luvsandorj (CIT) pinned Spencer Jasper (DUKE), 3:33; CIT 20-3
165: Ben Wales (DUKE) pinned Cameron Childs (CIT), 4:47; CIT 20-9
174: J.C. Oddo (CIT) dec. Voris Tejada (DUKE), 5-2; CIT 23-9
184: Diego Bencomo (DUKE) dec. Kelby Smith (CIT), 9-4; CIT 23-12
197: John Barone (DUKE) maj. dec. Justin Sparrow (CIT), 14-0; CIT 23-16
HWT: Konrad Dudziak (DUKE) dec. Odie Delaney (CIT), 10-3; CIT 23-19
The Bulldogs return to the mat on Monday as they travel to Gardner-Webb for a 7 p.m. dual.