Appalachian State 39, Davidson 10
BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University wrestling concluded its regular season with a 39-10 defeat of Davidson at Varsity Gymnasium on Sunday. With the win, the Mountaineers completed a perfect 6-0 Southern Conference slate, finalizing their 2011-12 SoCon Wrestling Championship.
The Mountaineers conclude their regular season at 13-4, marking the team's most wins since 2007-08 (14-7) and fewest losses since 2003-04 (6-4). Having won over 75% of their dual matches, this year's Apps posted the best team winning percentage since going 11-2 in 2002-03, the last season in which the team won the SoCon title.
For Davidson (3-14, 0-6 SoCon), 125-pounder Matt Zarth began the match with a second-period pin to put the Wildcats on the board first, 0-6.
At 133 pounds, junior Brett Boston (Morganton, N.C./Freedom) scored three takedowns in the first period and held a 9-6 advantage entering the third. After taking a 12-6 lead, his Wildcat opponent showed signs of life by notching a reversal, but Boston recovered and tallied a takedown with 11 seconds remaining to earn the 16-8 major decision.
Senior Mike Kessler (Bay City, Mich,/Western) struck first at 141 pounds, earning a takedown in the first minute of his bout. He tacked on a nearfall and added seven points in the second period. With the 11-2 lead at the start of the final two minutes, Kessler began his climb to a technical fall but fell two points short with an 18-5 major decision.
With Appalachian in front for the first time, 8-6, Davidson kept up the pressure, taking a 12-3 major decision over ASU's Aaron Scott at 149 pounds to regain an 8-10 lead.
Mountaineer Chip Powell (Greenboro, N.C./S.W. Guilford) took to the mat at 157 pounds and earned his first points in less than 10 seconds into the bout. The senior tacked on three nearfall points before picking up the 1:37 fall, restoring ASU's advantage, 14-10.
No. 15 Kyle Blevins (Sapulpa, Okla./Sapulpa) put on a show at 165 pounds after DC's Tyler Mullen caught hold of Blevins' foot from a standing position and failed to bring the Mountaineer to the mat for nearly a minute. Once free, Blevins proceeded to rack up the points, tallying 10 takedowns and a pair of near-fall points en route to a 23-8 (6:57) technical fall.
At 174 pounds, Carter Downs () jumped out to a 5-1 advantage, picking up a takedown and nearfall in the first period. In the final minute of the bout, the senior secured a final takedown with 24 seconds left and held on for the 11-3 major decision.
ASU's 184-pounder, No. 11 Austin Trotman (Winston-Salem, N.C./Mount Tabor), earned his second forfeit win in two weekends, making his last appearance on his home mat just long enough to earn six points for the Mountaineers.
Freshman Paul Weiss (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) capped off his rookie season by controlling the first two periods of action, building a 7-1 lead. In the third, Weiss tallied a pair of takedowns and was awarded a three-point nearfall and 15-2 major decision with the final buzzer of Appalachian's regular season.
The match concluded with Appalachian's Joe Cummings (Valley Cottage, N.Y./Nyack) picking up a half-dozen points with a forfeit win at 285 pounds, sealing ASU's 39-10 victory.
With their wins Sunday, Appalachian's three preseason all-SoCon grapplers--Kessler, Blevins and Trotman--fulfilled expectations by completing 6-0 league performances, all but solidifying their selections to the all-conference team.
Before Sunday's match, Appalachian's nine graduating seniors were honored for their contributions to the ASU wrestling program.
The Mountaineers now turn their attention to March 3 and the 2012 SoCon Wrestling Tournament. Hosted by Chattanooga, the event will determine which of the league's grapplers will continue on to next month's NCAA Championship in St. Louis.
The Citadel 41, Sacred Heart 3
North Carolina 26, The Citadel 12
Charleston, S.C. - The Citadel wrestling team split a pair of duals Sunday afternoon at McAlister Field House to close out the 2011-12 regular season, falling 26-12 to North Carolina and routing Sacred Heart 41-3. The Bulldogs will now prepare for the Southern Conference Championships on March 3 hosted by Chattanooga.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 6-0 lead against North Carolina with decision victories by Richard Alarcon and Kyle Casaletto. Alarcon used a late second-period takedown and a riding-time point to earn a 4-2 win over Brian Bokoski at 125 and Casaletto blanked Brock Livorio 6-0 at 133. The Tar Heels picked up victories in the next four matches to take a 14-6 lead. Evan Henderson and Nick Heilmann recorded major decisions at 141 and 149, respectively, while Corey Mock edged Pierre Frazile 1-0 at 157 pounds on a second-period escape and Kyle Kiss picked up a 10-4 decision over 165-pounder Mike Harper.
Turtogtokh Luvsandorj stopped the Tar Heels' momentum with an 8-3 decision over Alex Utley at 174, but North Carolina put the match out of reach with a pair of pins at 184 and 197. No.15 Odie Delaney finished the dual on a high note for the Bulldogs, picking up a 6-1 decision over Nick Tenpenny at heavyweight.
The Bulldogs took nine of the 10 matches against Sacred Heart to even their overall record at 9-9 on the season. Alarcon, Frazile, and Delaney recorded pins, while Casaletto scored a technical fall at 133. Three other Bulldogs posted major decisions in the victory.
North Carolina - 26
The Citadel - 12
Match Summary
125 Richard Alarcon (The Citadel) won by decision over Brian Bokoski (UNC) 4-2; CIT leads 3-0
133 Kyle Casaletto (The Citadel) won by decision over Brock Livorio (UNC) 6-0; CIT leads 6-0
141 Evan Henderson (UNC) won by major decision over Jordan Dix (The Citadel) 10-2; CIT leads 6-4
149 Nick Heilmann (UNC) won by major decision over David Ivashchenko (The Citadel) 15-4; UNC leads 8-6
157 Corey Mock (UNC) won by decision over Pierre Frazile (The Citadel) 1-0; UNC leads 11-6
165 Kyle Kiss (UNC) won by decision over Mike Harper (The Citadel) 10-4; UNC leads 14-6
174 Turtogtokh Luvsandorj (The Citadel) won by decision over Alex Utley (UNC) 8-3; UNC leads 14-9
184 Thomas Ferguson (UNC) won by pin over Josh Tuck (The Citadel) 5:28; UNC leads 20-9
197 Zachary Bennett (UNC) won by pin over Kelby Smith (The Citadel) 1:41; UNC leads 26-9
285 No. 15 Odie Delaney (The Citadel) won by decision over Nick Tenpenny (UNC) 6-1; UNC wins 26-12
The Citadel - 41
Sacred Heart - 3
Match Summary
125 Richard Alarcon (The Citadel) won by pin over Joe Harris (Sacred Heart) 4:03; CIT leads 6-0
133 Kyle Casaletto (The Citadel) won by tech fall over Robert O`Neill (Sacred Heart) 7:00 17-0; CIT leads 11-0
141 Jordan Dix (The Citadel) won by major decision over Andrew Polidore (Sacred Heart) 14-3; CIT leads 15-0
149 David Ivashchenko (The Citadel) won by decision over Justin Belanger (Sacred Heart) 9-2; CIT leads 18-0
157 Pierre Frazile (The Citadel) won by pin over Joseph Evangelista (Sacred Heart) 3:43; CIT leads 24-0
165 Michael Harper (The Citadel) won by decision over Sam Sheppard (Sacred Heart) 8-3; CIT leads 27-0
174 Jonathon Rizzitello (Sacred Heart) won by decision over William Connell (The Citadel) 5-4; CIT leads 27-3
184 Josh Tuck (The Citadel) won by major decision over Zachary Moran (Sacred Heart) 17-3; CIT leads 31-3
197 Kelby Smith (The Citadel) won by major decision over Sam Morison (Sacred Heart) 12-2; CIT leads 35-3
285 Andrew Delaney (The Citadel) won by pin over Renaldo Cuko (Sacred Heart) 0:54; CIT wins 41-3
Buffalo 28, SIUE 10
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Three SIUE wrestlers were winners Sunday as the Cougars were defeated 28-10 by Buffalo at the Vadalabene Center.
Buffalo improved to 6-14 while SIUE fell to 5-16 to complete the dual meet season. SIUE's next action is Saturday for the NWCA North Central Conference Tournament which begins at 9 a.m. at the Vadalabene Center.
Brendan Murphy, Dillon Pousson, and Deshoun White were the individual winners for the Cougars.
Murphy improved his season record to a team-leading 15-3 with an 8-2 win over Justin Farmer at 133 pounds.
Pousson nearly recorded a technical fall in a 15-1 win at 149 pounds over Buffalo's Dan Gormley.
White electrified the crowd a close 7-6 decision over Justin Lozano at 184 pounds.
Cole Brandt lost a close decision, losing to Buffalo's Justin Heiserman 3-1 in overtime.
"We have a lot of stuff we have to work on and improve on. We're getting there slowly. We're young. We had freshman at those last two weights," said Ray.
Buffalo 28 SIUE 10
125 Max Soria (Buffalo) won by forfeit
133 Brendan Murphy (SIUE) def. Justin Farmer (Buffalo) 8-2
141 Kevin Smith (Buffalo) won by tech fall over Logan Taylor (SIUE) 7:00 16-1
149 Dillon Pousson (SIUE) def. Dan Gormley (Buffalo) 15-1
157 Wally Maziarz (Buffalo) def. Kyle Lowman (SIUE) 6-2
165 Mark Lewandowski (Buffalo) won by tech fall over Steven Ross (SIUE) 2:05 17-0
174 Jake Waste (Buffalo) def. Gabe Hocum (SIUE) 4-1
184 Deshoun White (SIUE) def. Justin Lozano (Buffalo) 7-6
197 Justin Heisermen (Buffalo) def. Cole Brandt (SIUE) 3-1 OT
285 Jedd Mason (Buffalo) def. Cole Rogers (SIUE) 8-3