Appalachian State grabs pair of wins
CLARION, Pa. – Appalachian State won a pair of matches on the road versus Clarion and Buffalo on Saturday afternoon. The Mountaineers (6-2, 1-0 SoCon) defeated Clarion, 31-6, and then went on to beat Buffalo, 19-12.
The Apps started quickly against the Golden Eagles and were up 8-0 after wins at 125 pounds and 133 pounds. Vito Pasone won by technical fall over Travis Jones, 18-3. Jacob Grigg followed by winning a 10-5 decision over Roshaun Cooley.
Clarion got on the scoreboard in the 141-pound match when Micheal Longo dropped a 5-3 decision to Brock Zacherl. The Mountaineers would then pick up steam and win the next five weight classes to put the match out of reach.
Matt Zovistoski and Angel Najar won decisions at 149 pounds and 157 pounds, respectively. Forrest Przybysz, the reigning Southern Conference Wrestler of the Week, dominated the 165-pound match, winning by technical fall, 17-4, over Troy Braddock. Nick Kee would then earn bonus points in his match, notching a major decision over Michael Pavasko. At 184 pounds, Taylor Jackson won a 6-0 decision over Dominic Rigous to give App a 26-3 lead.
Dustin Conti got the Golden Eagles another three points when he edged Randall Diabe in a 2-0 decision. Denzel Dejournette wrapped up the win for the Mountaineers with an 11-2 major decision over Zach DeLuca.
The second match up of the day against Buffalo started at 174 pounds. Kee was able to get the Apps off to another good start with a 3-2 decision. The Bulls would win the next two matches by decision over Marcus Johnson and Diabe to take a 6-3 lead.
Dejournette earned his second major decision of the day over Jake Gunning in the heavyweight match. With score at 7-6 in favor of App, the Mountaineers again dropped back-to-back decisions, at 125 pounds and 133 pounds. Pasone fell 11-7 to Kyle Akins before Grigg dropped a 5-1 decision to Bryan Lantry.
The Mountaineers would rally and win all four of the remaining matches. Longo got the rally started with a 4-0 win over Brandon Lapi. Matt Zovistoski was then able to top Sean Peacock with a 5-3 decision win to push the Apps into the lead, 13-12. Najar kept the momentum going with a decision over Addrian Ferrarie. In the final match of the day, Przybysz continued to wrestle well and sealed the victory with a 7-3 decision win over Tyler Rill.
The Mountaineers are next in action for the annual Southern Scuffle hosted by Chattanooga University on New Year’s Day.
App State 31, Clarion 6
125: Vito Pasone (APP) tech fall. over Travis Jones (CU) 18-3 at 1:47
133: Jacob Grigg (APP) dec. over Roshaun Cooley (CU) 10-5
141: Brock Zacherl (CU) dec. over Mike Longo (APP) 5-3
149: Matt Zovistoski (APP) 7-2 dec. over Brodie Zacherl (CU) 7-2
157: Angel Najar (APP) dec. over Jake Keller (CU) 10-4
165: Forrest Przybysz (APP) tech fall over Troy Braddock (CU) 17-4 at 3:00
174: Nick Kee (APP) maj. dec. over Michael Pavasko (CU) 15-4
184: Taylor Jackson (APP) dec. over Dominic Rigous (CU) 6-0
197: Dustin Conti (CU) dec. over Randall Diabe (APP) 2-0
285: Denzel Dejournette (APP) maj. dec. over Zach DeLuca (CU) 11-2
App State 19, Buffalo 12
174: Nick Kee (APP) dec. over Muhamed McBryde (UB) 3-2
184: Joe Ariola (UB) dec. over Marcus Johnson (APP) 10-3
197: James Benjamin (UB) dec. over Randall Diabe (APP) 16-11
285: Denzel Dejournette (APP) maj. Dec. over Jake Gunning 15-6
125: Kyle Akins (UB) dec. over Vito Pasone (APP) 11-7
133: Bryan Lantry (UB) dec. over Jacob Grigg (APP) 5-1
141: Michael Longo (APP) dec. over Brandon Lapi (UB) 4-0
149: Matt Zovistoski (APP) dec. over Sean Peacock (UB) 5-3
157: Angel Najar (APP) dec. over Addrian Ferrarie (UB) 8-3
165: Forrest Przybysz (APP) dec. over Tyler Rill (UB) 7-3
Gardner-Webb falls at Bucknell
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Gardner-Webb picked up five individual wins Saturday on the road at Bucknell but fell 22-16 to the Bison in a non-conference dual bout.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (2-4) got wins from Tyler Ziegler (133), Kyle Ash (157), Austin Trott (165), Brett Stein (174) and Boyce Cornwell (285), with Cornwell keeping his dual-match record unblemished this season to date.
Trott's major decision over Robert Schlitt (9-0) was a boost after a pair of early pins at 125 and 141 by the Bison's nationally ranked duo of Paul Petrov and Tyler Smith. Trott's victory was the second of three in a row for the Runnin' Bulldogs – with Stein taking an 8-4 decision over Conner Wagh.
Bucknell (2-1) bounced back with wins at 184 and 197 to clinch the match.
Cornwell took a 3-1 win over Chuck Boddy for the final margin. Cornwell is now 7-0 in dual matches since moving to the 285 weight class prior to the 2015-2016 season.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will break until trekking to Chattanooga, Tenn., for the annual Southern Scuffle (Jan. 1-2).
The next dual event for GWU will come at home, as SoCon member SIUE comes to town for a 7 p.m. match on Friday, Jan. 8, in Paul Porter Arena.
Bucknell 22, Gardner-Webb 16
125 - (12) Paul Petrov (B) pin Cortez Starkes (GW), 2:55. 0-6
133 - Tyler Ziegler (GW) dec Ben Bliss (B), 10-5. 3-6
141 - (18) Tyler Smith (B) pin Ryan Hall (GW), 1:36. 3-12
149 - Victor Lopez (B) maj dec Chris Vassar (GW), 10-0. 3-16
157 - Kyle Ash (GW) dec Logan Kerin (B), 6-3. 6-16
165 - Austin Trott (GW) maj dec Robert Schlitt (B), 9-0. 10-16
174 - Brett Stein (GW) dec Connor Wagh (B), 8-4. 13-16
184 - Tom Sleigh (B) dec Hunter Gamble (GW), 8-1. 13-19
197 - Tyler Greene (B) dec Gray Jones (GW), 6-4 (sv1). 13-22
285 - Boyce Cornwell (GW) dec Chuck Boddy (B), 3-1 (sv1). 16-22