DURHAM, N.C. — Highlighted by Jonathan Millner's five-point win in a matchup of top-10 wrestlers, App State secured its eighth Power Five victory in the last seven seasons by winning 22-12 at Duke on Thursday night.
The Mountaineers (2-2) built a 22-0 advantage against the Blue Devils (6-5) by claiming the first six matches, including the sixth-ranked Millner's 8-3 decision against eighth-ranked Josh Finesilver.
Millner beat Finesilver at last season's NCAA Championships in a match that clinched an All-America honor for the winner and won a 15-5 major decision against him earlier this season at the Mountaineer Invitational in Boone. The only blemishes on Finesilver's 21-2 record this season are losses to Millner, who fended off a pair of first-period attacks that could have led to takedowns from Finesilver.
They were tied at 2-all entering the third period, with Millner possessing one takedown and 1:21 in riding time as he began on bottom looking for an escape. He recorded two more takedowns in the final period.
App State opened the dual with back-to-back wins that produced bonus points, as Caleb Smith won a 14-2 major decision against Logan Agin at 125 pounds and Codi Russell won by tech fall (26-8) against Drake Doolittle.
Making his second career dual start, Heath Gonyer registered his first dual win with a 6-2 decision against Patrick Rowland at 141. They were tied at 2-all entering the third, but Gonyer began the final period on bottom with a 3:36 advantage in riding time.
After Millner's win, Cody Bond used a late takedown to receive a bonus point in a 12-4 major decision against Wade Unger at 157. The Mountaineers then moved ahead 22-0 on Will Formato's 7-4 decision against Gabe Dinette at 165.
Duke took the final four matches, with 13th-ranked Matt Finesilver winning a 4-0 decision against Thomas Flitz at 174 and an overtime takedown being the difference in Vincent Baker's 6-4 decision against Barrett Blakely at 184.
App State freshman Wyatt Miller made his first dual start in a 7-1 loss to Kaden Russell at 197, and Jonah Niesenbaum won a 5-2 decision against Michael Burchell in the heavyweight division.
The two extra matches included a 10-0 major decision by App State freshman Chad Bellis at 125.
The 2021-22 wrestling season is presented by Hungry Howies and Penn Station.
App State 22, Duke 12
125: #28
Caleb Smith (APP) def. Logan Agin (DU), 14-2 maj. dec.
133: #26
Codi Russell (APP) def. Drake Doolittle (DU), 26-8 tech fall
141:
Heath Gonyer (APP) def. Patrick Rowland (DU), 6-2 dec.
149: #6
Jonathan Millner (APP) def. #8 Josh Finesilver (DU), 8-3 dec.
157: #32
Cody Bond (APP) def. Wade Unger (DU), 12-4 maj. dec.
165: #21
Will Formato (APP) def. Gabe Dinette (DU), 7-4 dec.
174: #13 Matt Finesilver (DU) vs. #32
Thomas Flitz (APP), 4-0 dec.
184: Vincent Baker (DU) def.
Barrett Blakely (APP), 6-4 dec. (SV-1)
197: Kaden Russell (DU) def.
Wyatt Miller (APP), 7-1 dec.
285: Jonah Niesenbaum (DU) def.
Michael Burchell (APP), 5-2 dec.