BOONE, N.C.- Appalachian State University wrestling split five matches apiece with The Citadel, but the Bulldogs earned two major decisions to come away with a 17-15 win Sunday afternoon at Varsity Gym.

Appalachian falls to 7-15 on the season and 2-3 in the SoCon, while The Citadel moves to 7-5 and 2-1 in the SoCon.

The Citadel began the match with a major decision win by Tyler Sim. Sim took Austin Annas down 30 seconds into the match for the quick 2-0 lead. Sim increased the lead with two more major decisions in the second period wrapped around an escape and a three point near fall. Sim earned the extra team point with the 13-2 major decision win, which would prove important.

Frank Celorrio won his 12th match in a row for the Mountaineers at 133. The junior earned a takedown just 28 seconds into the match and hung on for an 8-2 decision. The win is the 18th on the season for Celorrio and he finishes a perfect 5-0 in the Southern Conference regular-season.

At 141, Mike Kessler earned a second period escape, but Derek Royster followed that with a takedown and began the third period with an escape to come away with a 3-1 decision for the Bulldogs.

Freshman Savva Kostis got Appalachian back on track with a 3-1 decision over Pierre Frazile. Kostis, a graduate of local Watauga high school had a nice audience on hand to watch him take a 1-0 lead on an escape in the second period, and after Frazile tied it up with an escape to begin the third, Kostis took down Frazile with 57 seconds left and hung on for the 3-1 decision.

Chip Powell began the 157-pound match with a quick takedown and two point near fall of Keith Koziel and added two more takedowns and a reversal to grab an 11-5 decision.

Kyle Blevins gave ASU three wins in a row with a 5-2 decision over Derek Sickel. Sickel took a 1-0 lead with an escape to begin the second period, but Blevins scored a takedown with a minute left in the period to take a 2-1 lead. After Sickel tied the score with an escape, Blevins escaped with 59 seconds left on riding time, so Sickel could not get an extra point. Blevins added a takedown with 13 seconds left for the 5-2 decision.

J.C. Oddo won by a 13-1 major decision at 174 a key major decision for the Bulldogs. Dylan Temple followed with an 8-2 decision at 184 for the Mountaineers. Temple scored the first seven points of the match en route to an 8-2 decision. The win stretched ASU's lead to 15-11.

Odie Delaney defeated David Pritz 6-1 at 197 and Aaron Brown beat Brandon Brothers at 285. In a physical match that had Brown bleeding above his eye, Brown started the second period with a reversal while Brothers followed with an escape to put the score at 2-1. Brothers scored a point with an escape to start the final period, but Brown got a takedown with 28 seconds left to take a 4-2 lead. Brothers escaped with five seconds left but was unable to get another point.

Appalachian has the week off before traveling to Liberty on Monday Feb. 23 for a 6:30 p.m. match.

The Citadel (7-5, 2-1) 17 ASU (7-15, 2-3) 15

125 Tyler Sim (Cit) maj. Dec. Austin Annas (ASU) 13-2, 4-0 Cit
133 Frank Celorrio (ASU) dec. Richard Alarcon (Cit) 8-2, 4-3 Cit
141 Derek Royster (Cit) dec. Mike Kessler (ASU) 3-1, 7-3 Cit
149 Savva Kostis (ASU) dec. Pierre Frazile (Cit) 3-1, 7-6 Cit
157 Chip Powell (ASU) dec. Keith Koziel (Cit) 11-5, 9-7 ASU
165 Kyle Blevins (ASU0 dec. Derek Sickel(Cit) 5-2, 12-7 ASU
174 J.C. Oddo (Cit) maj. Dec. Antionne Jones (ASU) 13-1, 12-11 ASU
184 Dylan Temple (ASU) dec. Kelby Smith (Cit) 8-2, 15-11 ASU
197 Odie Delaney (Cit) dec. David Pritz (ASU) 6-1, 15-14 ASU
285 Aaron Brown (Cit) dec. Brandon Brothers (ASU) 4-3, 17-15 Cit