Campbell tops The Citadel, 25-13

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Campbell moved to 2-1 in Southern Conference action Wednesday, as it defeated The Citadel 25-13 in McAlister Field House. The Citadel wrestling team dropped its first Southern Conference match of the season.

The Camels are now 3-6 overall, as they snapped a nine-match skid against the Bulldogs dating back to the 2002-03 season. The loss drops the Bulldogs' record to 3-4 overall and 2-1 in the conference.

Wrestling in his first dual meet of the season, redshirt sophomore James Cook recorded Campbell’s first win of the night at 184 pounds, pinning Josh Tuck in 3:31. With his second pin of the season, he moved to 4-6 on the year overall.

At 197 pounds, senior John Merickel notched CU’s second straight win by fall over Marshall Haas in 3:00. The pin was his third of the season as he improved his SoCon record to 2-1 and is 10-14 overall.

The Citadel’s Odie Delaney stepped in and earned an 11-8 victory in the heavyweight bout over Joe Nolan to bring the Bulldogs within nine, 12-3. The win was Delaney's 108th of his career and moves the redshirt senior within three of tying Ryan McClester for third-most in Citadel history.

After Campbell’s 27th-ranked Eric Montoya topped Joaquin Marquez by a 4-0 score in the 125, Aaron Hansen and Ugi Khishignyam earned solid 5-0 and 11-6 decisions, respectively, to close the gap to 15-9.

Hansen collected his 14th win of the season, while eighth-ranked Khishignyam earned his 27th. Both wrestlers remain undefeated in SoCon action.

CU widened its lead to 18-9 after redshirt junior 149-pounder Brent Jorge extended his SoCon record to 3-0. He notched a 4-1 decision over the Bulldogs’ Jordan Dix.

The Citadel won its final match of the night at 157 pounds, as Matthew Frisch blanked Grant Blumenthal in a 13-0 major decision to set up a must-win 165-pound bout for The Citadel.

After two periods, two takedowns and two escapes, Campbell's Nick Rex entered the third with a 4-2 advantage. Vincent Bellaran needed a takedown in the final two minutes to even the score but was unable to do get one and Rex came out on top, 4-2, to seal Campbell's first victory over The Citadel in 11 years.

In the final match of the night, Campbell’s Paul Duggan picked up a 19-9 major decision over John Duane.

After being on the road for the past two matches, the Camels return home Monday to take on SoCon foe Gardner-Webb at 7 p.m. in Gore Arena. The Citadel will head to Chattanooga to take on the defending Southern Conference champion Mocs on Sunday.

Campbell (3-6, 2-1 SoCon) 25, The Citadel (3-4, 2-1 SoCon) 13
184 James Cook (Campbell) pin Josh Tuck (The Citadel) at 3:31. (CAMP, 6-0)
197 John Merickel (Campbell) pin Marshall Haas (The Citadel) at 3:45. (CAMP, 12-0)
285 #14 Odie Delaney (The Citadel) dec. Joe Nolan (Campbell) 11-8. (CAMP, 12-3)
125 Eric Montoya (Campbell) dec. Joaquin Marquez (The Citadel) 4-0. (CAMP, 15-3)
133 Aaron Hansen (The Citadel) dec. Tanner Bidelspach (Campbell) 5-0. (CAMP, 15-6)
141 Ugi Khishignyam (The Citadel) dec. Michael Dahlstrom (Campbell) 11-6. (CAMP, 15-9)
149 Brent Jorge (Campbell) dec. Jordan Dix (The Citadel) 4-1. (CAMP, 18-9)
157 Matthew Frisch (The Citadel) maj. dec. Grant Blumenthal (Campbell) 13-0. (CAMP, 18-13)
165 Nick Rex (Campbell) dec. Vincent Bellaran (The Citadel) 4-2. (CAMP, 21-13)
174 Paul Duggan (Campbell) maj. dec. John Duane (The Citadel) 19-9. (CAMP, 25-13)

 

Appalachian State falls to Duke

DURHAM, N.C. – Despite tallying two pins, Appalachian State’s wrestling team dropped its second straight bout to a nonconference opponent in a 24-15 loss to Duke on Wednesday night at Card Gymnasium.

Redshirt sophomore Dominic Parisi and redshirt freshman Zack Strickland each nabbed third-period pins at 125 pounds and 165 pounds, respectively, but the Mountaineers could find just one other win, at 197 pounds.

Appalachian State got on the scoreboard in the first bout of the night, as redshirt sophomore Paul Weiss earned a hard-fought 3-1 decision over Duke's Michael Chapman. For Weiss, it was his eighth dual victory of the season.

After Appalachian State fell at heavyweight, Parisi brought the Mountaineers back with a pin at the 6:14 mark over Peter Terrezza. The win broke a two-bout skid for the Concord, N.C., native as he earned his first pin since his opening match at the Southern Scuffle.

The Mountaineers were unable to keep the momentum going, dropping four straight bouts. As the dual entered 165, the Blue Devils controlled with a 17-9 lead.

Strickland looked to provide the spark needed, remaining perfect in duals for the season with a pin over Randy Roden. The Muncy, Pa., native earned his fifth pin and third in dual matches for the year.

Facing a 17-15 deficit, the Mountaineers came up short in the remaining bouts, eventually falling 24-15. The win gave the Blue Devils just its third win over Appalachian in a series that date back to the 1930s.

The Mountaineers return to the High Country and tournament play as they host the Appalachian Open on Saturday. Action from Varsity Gymnasium will begin at 9 a.m.

Duke 24, Appalachian State 15
197: Paul Weiss (APP) dec. Michael Champman (DUKE), 3-1 (APP 3-0)
285: Brian Self (DUKE) dec. Joe Cummings (APP), 3-1 (TIE 3-3)
125: Dominic Parisi (APP) pinned Peter Terrezza (DUKE), (6:14) (APP 9-3)
133: Brandon Gambucci (DUKE) dec. Brett Boston (APP), 8-2 (APP 9-6)
141: Tanner Hough (DUKE) dec. Chris Johnson (APP), 8-7 (TIE 9-9)
149: Marcus Cain (DUKE) maj. dec. Zach Kechter (APP), 16-6 (DUKE 13-9)
157: Immanuel Kerr-Brown (DUKE) maj. dec. Aaron Scott (APP), 11-2 (DUKE 17-9)
165: Zack Strickland (APP) pinned Randy Roden (DUKE), (6:10) (DUKE 17-15)
174: Trey Adamson (DUKE) maj. dec. Colin Hedash (APP), 14-6 (DUKE 21-15)
184: Diego Bencomo (DUKE) dec. Jake Johnson (APP), 10-4 (DUKE 24-15)