Appalachian State 29, Gardner-Webb 3
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – A quick turnaround made all of the difference for the Appalachian State wrestling team on Monday night, as the Mountaineers dominated the Bulldogs of Gardner-Webb on the road with a resounding 29-3 victory.
The win for the Apps improved their record to 4-5 overall and 1-1 in conference action. Gardner-Webb fell to 5-9 overall and 1-2 in the SoCon.
Junior Dominic Parisi got the Mountaineer night started at 125 pounds after not wrestling Friday night due to a Campbell forfeit. Parisi handled Cortez Starks in the first match of the evening and would win by decision, 8-3. Chris Johnson took care of business for the second time in four days with a 5-2 decision over Robbie Golde at 133 pounds.
At 141 pounds, Jake Smith broke through with a win over Ryan Mosley by a 4-2 decision. Two-time Southern Conference Wrestler of the Week Dylan Cottrell returned to the mats and continued the dominance he has shown all season long with the first of two major decisions for the Apps on the night. Cottrell commanded Tyler Ziegler 11-3 at 149 pounds and extended the App State lead to 13-0 at the time. The win for Cottrell moved him to a near perfect 19-1 on the season, including a flawless 8-0 record in dual matches.
True freshman Nick Hall continued his success on the mat as of late with an 8-3 decision over the Bulldogs’ Alex Bennett at 157 pounds. The lone victory for Gardner-Webb came against one of the toughest Mountaineer wrestlers, Zack Strickland. Austin Trott defeated Strickland at 165 pounds by decision, 11-6.
The second major decision on the night for Appalachian would come from Colin Hedash at 174 pounds. Hedash controlled Aaron Rabin 13-4 to extend the Mountaineer lead to 20-3. Nick Vetell notched one for the win column and earned three team points with his 6-3 decision over Gray Jones.
Another true freshman in the Mountaineer lineup at 197 pounds, Kacee Hutchinson, would tally a 2-1 decision and add to the impressive lead to 26-3.
Redshirt freshman Denzel Dejournette finished off the night and the Bulldogs with a 6-2 decision over Justin Kozera to close the match and secure a 29-3 Appalachian victory.
The Mountaineers will return to the mats on Sunday when they travel to Charleston, N.C., to face SoCon foe The Citadel. The match is set for 2 p.m.
Gardner-Webb will be back in action Wednesday night, traveling to face SoCon member Davidson in another key match. GWU will then battle Columbia and American on Sunday in Washington, D.C., to wrap up a busy week on the mats.
Appalachian State 29, Gardner-Webb 3
125 - Dominic Parisi (APP) dec. Cortez Starkes (GWU), 8-3 – (App leads 3-0)
133 - Chris Johnson (APP) dec. Robbie Golde (GWU), 5-2 – (App leads 6-0)
141 - Jake Smith (APP) dec. Ryan Mosley (GWU), 4-2 – (App leads 9-0)
149 - Dylan Cottrell (APP) maj. dec. Tyler Ziegler (GWU), 11-3 – (App leads 13-0)
157 - Nick Hall (APP) dec. Alex Bennett (GWU), 8-3 –(App leads 16-0)
165 - Austin Trott (GWU) dec. Zack Strickland (APP), 11-6 – (App leads 16-3)
174 - Colin Hedash (APP) maj. dec. Aaron Rabin (GWU), 13-4 –(App leads 20-3)
184 - Nick Vetell (APP) dec. Gray Jones (GWU), 6-3 –(App leads 23-3)
197 - Kacee Hutchinson (APP) dec. Boyce Cornwell (GWU), 2-1 – (App leads 26-3)
HWT - Denzel Dejournette (APP) dec. Justin Kozera (GWU), 6-2 – (App wins 29-3)