Appalachian State 21, Chattanooga 17

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Nearly 1,000 wrestling fans delayed their plans for tonight's big game to take in one of the most anticipated Southern Conference duals in recent history. While the majority were disappointed with the outcome, the 938 in attendance were treated to an awesome afternoon of collegiate competition.

In a match that pitted the top two teams in the league, Appalachian State ended Chattanooga's 39-match SoCon winning streak with a 21-17 dual win in Maclellan Gym today. It came down to the final match, but the Mocs were unable to get the deciding win.

"Good match, great atmosphere, great for the sport of wrestling," stated head coach Heath Eslinger. "Obviously, in the sports world, we measure things by wins and losses, so we are disappointed there. We want to win every match we wrestle. At the end of the day, I thought we had several kids wrestle hard."

The turning point came in the eighth match of the day at 149. Leading 14-12 in the team score, Mocs senior Kelly Felix (Franklin, Tenn.) took on Savva Kostis. The two battled throughout and ended regulation tied 1-1. Kostis scored a takedown in overtime and landed perfectly with Felix on his back to get a 6-point pin.

That put ASU up 18-14 with two matches left. Senior Dan Waddell (Chattanooga, Tenn.) did his best to keep the Mocs alive. He scored a 5-2 win over Chip Powell at 157, closing the lead to 18-17 and igniting the crowd.

The final match pitted Chattanooga senior Brandon Wright (Germantown, Tenn.) against ASU's 16th ranked senior Kyle Blevins. Wright put up his best fight, but could not mount much offense against the ranked opponent. Blevins won the match and team dual with a 6-3 decision.

UTC had plenty of bright spots on the day. The Mocs competed without starting 197-pounder Niko Brown (Kissimmee, Fla.) who is still out with a knee injury. Senior Manny Ramirez (Fayetteville, N.C.) had an impressive home debut with a 13-1 major decision at 125. No. 13 Nike Soto continued his run with a 14-3 major at 133.

"Our guys battled hard," added Eslinger. "Give them credit. They took advantage of their opportunities and come away with the win. We still have a lot of the season left and we can still reach all of our goals. Our main focus stays the same and that is to show well on the national level and that is the NCAA Tournament."

The match started at 174 with sophomore Levi Clemons (Kissimmee, Fla.) getting a 7-3 decision. With Brown out, Eslinger shifted his lineup and inserted freshman Cory Canada (Ringgold, Ga.) at 184 to go against No. 12 Austin Trotman. ASU scored six points with a pin to go up 6-3.

The Mountaineers added three more when Paul Weiss posted an 8-3 decision over junior Robert Prigmore(Southlake, Tenxas) at 197. Chattanooga responded with freshman Kevin Malone (Carrollton, Ohio) winning at heavyweight. Back-to-back majors by Ramirez and Soto gave UTC a 14-9 lead, setting up the final run of matches.

With the loss, Chattanooga snaps and eight-match winning streak and falls to 11-4 overall and 4-1 in SoCon matches. ASU improves to 10-3 and 4-1 in the conference. The Mocs travel to Stillwater, Okla. Next weekend for the NWCA National Dual meet.

Prior to the match, Chattanooga fans recognized the Mocs' six seniors. Joe Burns (Morristown, Tenn.), Demetrius Johnson (Memphis, Tenn.) Ramirez, Waddell and Wright competed in their final home matches today.

Appalachian State 21 - Chattanooga 17
174 - Levi Clemons (UTC) - Dec. 7-3 - Andrew Downs (ASU) - UTC 3-0
184 - No. 12 Austin Trotman (ASU) - Fall 1:34 - Cory Canada (UTC) - ASU 6-3
197 - Paul Weiss (ASU) - Dec. 8-3 - Robert Prigmore (UTC) - ASU 9-3
285 - Kevin Malone (UTC) - Dec. 6-4 - Joe Cummings (ASU) - ASU 9-6
125 - Manuel Ramirez (UTC) - MD 13-1 - Antonio Gravely (ASU) - UTC - 10-9
133 - No. 13 Nick Soto (UTC) - MD 14-3 - Brett Boston (ASU) - UTC 14-9
141 - Mike Kessler (ASU) - Dec. 8-2 - Shawn Greevy (UTC) - UTC 14-12
149 - Savva Kostis (ASU) - Fall (OT) 7:48 - Kelly Felix (UTC) - ASU 18-14
157 - Daniel Waddell (UTC) - Dec. 5-2 - William Powell (ASU) - ASU 18-17
165 - No. 16 Kyle Blevins (ASU) - Dec. 6-3 - Brandon Wright (UTC) - ASU 21-17

 

Alarcon, Delaney Capture Crowns at All-Academy Championships

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Richard Alarcon and No. 15 Odie Delaney each captured titles in their respective weight classes as The Citadel wrestling team placed third at the 2012 All-Academy Championships hosted by Air Force Sunday afternoon. Navy won the 2012 crown, its 11th overall and third straight, holding off host Air Force 109.5 to 105. The Bulldogs finished with 81 points.

Alarcon captured his first All-Academy Championship at 125 pounds after finishing second in last year's event. The senior defeated Navy's Tyler Sackett 7-5 in double overtime, out-scoring the Midshipman 2-0 in the extra periods. Alarcon opened the tourney with a pin of Norwich's Alex Stewart in 47 seconds and advanced to the finals by scoring a 6-2 decision over Nate Giorgio of the Coast Guard Academy.

Delaney recaptured the heavyweight crown he won in 2010 after missing last season's Championships with a medical redshirt. Delaney pinned Air Force's Jared Erickson at the 4:27 mark to claim this season's title and improve to 20-2 on the year. Delaney scored a 13-2 major decision over Joel Wyman of the Coast Guard Academy in the opening round and knocked off Virginia Military's Andrew Embree with a 5-0 decision to reach the title bout.

The Bulldogs also had a pair of wrestlers place second and three finish third. No. 19 Turtogtokh Luvsandorj and Kelby Smith each took second place, narrowly falling in their respective championship matches. Luvsandorj fell 6-4 to Clay Gable of Air Force at 174, while Smith was unable to defend his 197 crown, losing 3-2 to Derek Stanley of Army.

The Citadel added three third-place finishers as Jordan Dix (141), Pierre Frazile (157) and Josh Tuck (184) all won their final bouts in wrestlebacks. Dix scored a 14-8 decision over Casey Smith from Army, Frazile edged Army's James Rafferty with a 3-2 decision and Tuck stopped Greg Isley of Air Force with a pin at the four-minute mark.

The Bulldogs return to action Friday, Feb. 10, with a Southern Conference dual match against Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs. For more information on Bulldog wrestling, visit the official website of The Citadel Athletics at www.CitadelSports.com.

2012 All-Academy Championships - Final Team Scores
US Naval Academy 109.5
US Air Force Academy 105.0
The Citadel 81.0
US Military Academy 80.0
Virginia Military Institute 24.0
US Coast Guard Academy 11.5
US Merchant Marine Academy 10.0
Norwich University 0.5

THE CITADEL PARTICIPANTS
125: Richard Alarcon (15-17) - CHAMPION
Opening Round: def. Alex Stewart (Norwich), Fall 0:47
Semifinals: def. Nate Giorgio (Coast Guard), Decision 6-2
Championship: def. Tyler Sackett (Navy), Decision 7-5 TB

133: Kyle Casaletto (20-11) - FOURTH PLACE
Opening Round: def. Joe Jarrells (VMI), Fall 2:05
Semifinals: lost to Jordan Thome (Army), Decision 0-2
Wrestlebacks: def. Anthony Signorello (Coast Guard), Fall 3:37
Third Place: lost to Dylan Hyder (Air Force), Major Decision 0-9

141: Jordan Dix (15-20) - THIRD PLACE
Opening Round: def. Bernard Watson (Merchant Marine), Decision 1-0
Semifinals: lost to Carter McElhany (Air Force), Decision 0-4
Wrestlebacks: def. Zeb Stewart (VMI), Decision 5-3 SV
Third Place: def. Casey Smith (Army), Decision 14-8

149: Seth Vernon (5-9)
Opening Round: lost to Ryan Bilyeu (Army), Decision 6-12
Wrestlebacks: lost to David Yost (VMI), Medical Forfeit

157: Pierre Frazile (17-17) - THIRD PLACE
Opening Round: def. Nick Smith (Norwich), Fall 5:00
Semifinals: lost to Bobby Barnhisel (Navy), Decision 1-5
Wrestlebacks: def. Michael Barnett (VMI), Decision 3-2
Third Place: def. James Rafferty (Army), Decision 3-2

165: Mike Harper (2-20)
Opening Round: lost to Colby Kluesner (Air Force), Decision 4-5
Wrestlebacks: def. Josh Miller (Merchant Marine), Decision 3-1
Wrestlebacks: lost to Carry Joseph (VMI), Decision 7-9

174: No. 19 Turtogtokh Luvsandorj (24-9) - SECOND PLACE
Opening Round: def. Charles Constantino (Norwich), Fall 0:58
Semifinals: def. Oscar Huntley (Navy), Decision 3-1 SV
Championship: lost to Clay Gable (Air Force), Decision 4-6

184: Josh Tuck (10-8) - THIRD PLACE
Opening Round: lost to No. 13 Luke Rebertus (Navy), Major Decision 3-14
Wrestlebacks: def. Nolan Salyer (Coast Guard), Fall 2:45
Wrestlebacks: def. John Dommert (VMI), Injury Default
Third Place: def. Greg Isley (Air Force), Fall 4:00

197: Kelby Smith (28-7) - SECOND PLACE
Opening Round: def. Urayoan Garcia (VMI), Decision 4-1
Semifinals: def. Paul Rands (Navy), Decision 6-1
Championship: lost to Derek Stanley (Army), Decision 2-3

285: No. 15 Odie Delaney (20-2) - CHAMPION
Opening Round: def. Joel Wyman (Coast Guard), Major Decision 13-2
Semifinals: def. Andrew Embree (VMI), Decision 5-0
Championship: def. Jared Erickson (Air Force), Fall 4:27

 

Three VMI Wrestlers Reach Third-Place Bouts, Keydets Finish Fifth at All-Academy

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Three VMI wrestlers reached the third place bout of the 2012 All-Academy Championships on Sunday, hosted by the US Air Force Academy and featured eight of the country's military academies.

Joining VMI at the Clune arena were the US Air Force Academy, then US Military Academy (Army), the US Naval Academy (Navy), the US Coast Guard Academy, The Citadel, Merchant Marine Academy and Norwich University.

Of the eight teams at the tournament, VMI finished fifth, earning 24 team points. Navy claimed the team title with 109.5 points, followed by Air Force in second with 105, The Citadel with 81, and Army with 80.

Representing VMI, David Yost, Carry Joseph and Matthew Brock all reached the third-place bout at 149, 165 and 174 pounds respectively.

Brock extended his winning strike to 11 with a 3-0 decision in the first round over Army's Robert Doyle. But the streak came to an end in the second round as Brock, who was the 174-pound No. 1 seed, fell by major decision to Air Force's Clay Gable 9-0. Brock bounced back in the second round of the consolations, edging out Merchant Marine's Kyle Diesel 1-0. After earning a spot in the third-place bout, Brock fell by a close 4-3 margin to Navy's Oscar Huntley.

At 149 pounds, Yost fell in his first-round match to Petyon Walsh, falling by a 6-3 decision. But Yost wrestled back and won his next two matches, getting a medical forfeit from Seth Vernon, followed by a big time 18-6 major decision over Martin Bell of Merchant Marine.

Yost and Walsh met again in the third-place bout, but the Keydet could not make good on the second opportunity, falling 6-3 and claiming fourth place.

Like Brock, Joseph won his first match, sending Norwich's Dave Pinto to the consolation bracket with a 6-2 decision. But Joseph fell in the second round, succumbing to a second-period pin by Army's Coleman Gracey.

Joseph claimed victory in the consolation second round with a narrow 9-7 win over The Citadel's Mike Harper, the second time Joseph picked up a win against Harper this season. In the third-place bout, Joseph fell 5-1 against Air Force's Colby Kluesner.

VMI returns to dual match action on Feb. 10, traveling to Boone, N.C. to face Southern Conference foe Appalachian State, currently tied for No. 40 in the most recent IntermatWrestle.com Polls. Action is set to being at 6:30 p.m. in Varsity Gym.

Agate:
AFA - Air Force Academy , ARMY - US Military Academy , CGA - US Coast Guard Academy, CIT- The Citadel,

MMA - Merchant Marine Academy, NAVY - US Naval Academy , NOR - Norwich, VMI - Virginia Military Institute

133 Pounds
First Round: Kyle Casaletto (CIT) def. Joe Jarrells (VMI) Fall 2:05
Consolation First Round: Joe Jarrells (VMI) def. Dylan Hayder (AFA) Fall 1:41
Consolation Second Round: Dylan Hayder (AFA) def. Joe Jarrells (VMI) Fall 4:21

141 Pounds
First Round: Dustin Haslip (NAVY) def. Zeb Stewart (VMI) Fall 3:30
Consolation First Round: Zeb Stewart (VMI) def. Tyrell Castarphen (NOR) Fall 2:04
Consolation Second Round: Jordan Dix (CIT) def. Zeb Stewart (VMI) Dec. 5-3 OT

149 Pounds:
First Round: Peyton Walsh (NAVY) def. David Yost (VMI) Dec. 7-6\
Consolation First Round: David Yost (VMI) def. Seth Vernon (CIT) Medical Forfeit
Consolation Second Round: David Yost (VMI) def. Martin Bell (MMA) Major Dec. 18-6
Third-Place Bout: Peyton Walsh (NAVY) def. David Yost (VMI) Dec. 6-3

157 Pounds:
First Round: Josh Kreimier (AFA) def. Michael Burnett (VMI) Major Dec. 13-2
Consolation First Round: Michael Burnett (VMI) def. Matt Hiltz (MMA) Major Dec. 9-1\
Consolation Second Round: Pierre Frazile (CIT) def. Michael Burnett (VMI) Dec. 3-2

165 Pounds:
First Round: Carry Joseph (VMI) def. Dave Pinto (NOR) Dec. 6-2
Second Round: Coleman Gracey (ARMY) def. Carry Joseph (VMI) Fall 5:53
Consolation Second Round: Carry Joseph (VMI) def. Mike Harper (CIT) Dec. 9-7
Third-Place Bout: Colby Kluesner (AFA) def. Carry Joseph (VMI) Dec. 5-1

174 Pounds:
First Round: Matthew Brock (VMI) def. Robert Doyle (ARMY) Dec. 3-0
Second Round: Clay Gable (AFA) def. Matthew Brock (VMI) Major Dec. 9-0
Consolation Second Round: Matthew Brock (VMI) def. Kyle Diesel (MMA) Dec. 1-0
Third-Place Bout: Oscar Huntley (NAVY) def. Matthew Brock (VMI) Dec. 4-3

184 Pounds:
First Round: John Dommert (VMI) def. Greg Isley (AFA) Dec. 6-2
Second Round: Mike Gorman (ARMY) def. John Dommert (VMI) Dec. 8-5
Consolation Second Round: Josh Tuck (CIT) def. John Dommert (VMI) Injury Default

197 Pounds:
First Round: No. 1 Kelby Smith (CIT) def. Urayoan Garcia (VMI) Dec. 4-1
Consolation First Round: Urayoan Garcia (VMI) def. Mark Howard (CGA) Dec. 3-2
Consolation Second Round: Josh Mohr (AFA) def. Urayoan Garcia (VMI) Technical Fall 20-5

285 Pounds:
First Round: Andrew Embree (VMI) def. Joe Guetches (MMA) Pin 1:09
Second Round: Odie Delaney (CIT) def. Andrew Embree (VMI) Dec. 5-0
Consolation Second Round: Danny Miller (NAVY) def. Andrew Embree (VMI) Dec. 6-2