BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University wrestling (4-5) split non-conference matches with #11 Virginia Tech (8-2) and Campbell (0-5) on Tuesday, Jan. 04, at Varsity Gym. The Mountaineers were defeated by VT, 39-7, but rebounded to take care of Campbell, 33-12.
In the dual against the Hokies, Appalachian dropped five straight matches before junior Kyle Blevins (Sapulpa, Okla./Sapulpa) got the Apps on the board at 165 in an overtime affair. After a scoreless first period, Blevins tallied the match's first point to start the second period via an escape, but VT's Ben Yates countered with an escape and takedown to go ahead 3-1. Blevins then closed the gap to 3-2 on an escape. With time winding down in the third period, Blevins got a takedown to get only his second advantage of the match and move the score to 4-3, but Yates quickly countered and escaped to knot things up at 4-4 as time expired, sending the match into overtime. Blevins only needed 23 seconds to earn a takedown and tally the victory. With the win, Blevins gave Yates his first loss of the season and moved the team score to 26-3, Virginia Tech.
The only other Mountaineer to score against Virginia Tech was redshirt junior Austin Trotman (Winston-Salem, N.C./Mount Tabor) in the 184-pound match. Trotman recorded a 14-5 major decision over John Dickson to push the score to 32-7, Virginia Tech. Trotman scored a takedown to open up the match and both wrestlers traded escapes before Trotman took control of the match.
After Appalachian observed Virginia Tech throttle Campbell, 48-0, the Mountaineers then turned their attention to the Camels.
Campbell was able to strike first at 125 to go up 3-0, but freshman Chris Johnson (Hillsborough, N.C./Orange) tied things up at 133 by earning a 8-6 decision over Gabriel Gardner. Gardner tied the match up at three with under 35 seconds left in the first period, but notched a takedown to go ahead 5-3. Gardner escaped and that was the last point he earned in the match as Johnson earned a takedown and an escape to tie things up again at six. Johnson was able to take down Gardner again to earn the decision.
Junior Mike Kessler (Bay City, Mich./Western) and freshman Russ Benner (Roselle Park, N.J./Roselle Park) recorded back-to-back pins at 141 and 149 to push the Mountaineer lead to 15-3. After a setback in the 157-pound class, Blevins and freshman Branden Lietz (Greenville, N.C./J.H. Rose) combined for a 19-6 major decision and 17-3 technical fall in 165 and 174, respectively to put further distance between the Apps and Camels, 24-6.
Trotman notched his second victory of the night to add more separation to the Mountaineer advantage at 30-6.
Sophomore Paul Glover (Rochester, N.Y./Spencerport) added the last Appalachian victory of the night by taking care of John Merickel, 9-5 at 197. The Mountaineers suffered another setback in the heavyweight category, but won the dual, 33-12.
With his two victories, Blevins currently has a team-leading 24 wins against six defeats, while Trotman is only two wins shy of joining the 20-win club with Blevins and junior Savva Kostis (Boone, N.C./Watauga).
The Apps make a quick turnaround and are back at it again on Jan. 9 as they take on The Citadel in its Southern Conference-opener with action beginning at 2 p.m. from Varsity Gym.
ASU 7, Virginia Tech 39
125: Jarrod Garnett wins by fall over Tony Gravely (6-0, VT)
133: Devin Carter wins by technical fall over Chris Johnson, 21-4 (11-0, VT)
141: Chris Diaz dec. Mike Kessler, 7-2 (14-0, VT)
149: Brian Stephens wins by fall over Russ Benner (20-0, VT)
157: Jesse Dong wins by fall over Travis Puckett (26-0, VT)
165: Kyle Blevins dec. Pete Yates, 6-4 in overtime (26-3, VT)
174: Matt Epperly wins by fall over Branden Lietz (32-3, VT)
184: Austin Trotman major dec. John Dickson, 14-5 (32-7, VT)
197: Chris Penny dec. Paul Glover, 7-3 (35-7, VT)
285: David Marone major dec. Marc Tyson, 11-0 (39-7, VT)
ASU 33, Campbell 12
125: Tanner Bidelspach dec. Tony Gravely, 5-1 (3-0, Campbell)
133: Chris Johnson dec. Gabriel Gardner, 8-6 (3-3, tie)
141: Mike Kessler wins by fall over Brad Merriman (9-3, ASU)
149: Russ Benner wins by fall over Darien Peele (15-3, ASU)
157: Jake Fose dec. Travis Puckett, 3-1 (15-6, ASU)
165: Kyle Blevins major dec. Joel Caudill, 12-1 (19-6, ASU)
174: Branden Lietz wins by technical fall Justin Sparrow, 17-3 (24-6, ASU)
184: Austin Trotman wins by fall over Justin Sparrow (30-6, ASU)
197: Paul Glover dec. John Merickel, 9-5 (33-6, ASU)
285: Parker Burns wins by fall over Marc Tyson (33-12, ASU)