BOONE, N.C. - Austin Trotman won his 13th consecutive match but Appalachian State University wrestling fell to Liberty 25-10 Tuesday night in Varsity Gym.
The match featured five matches that were decided by three points or less, with the Flames' winning four of the five. Liberty improves to 11-9 with the win while ASU falls to 9-11 on the season.
Liberty started quick, winning the first three matches, all three decided by three or less. Shaun Smith started the match at 157 with a takedown of Chip Powell. Powell was able to escape and score a takedown before Smith escaped to tie the score at the end of the period but Powell took down Smith with 10 seconds left to take a 5-3 lead. After a scoreless second period, Smith picked up an escape and a takedown to begin the third period. Powell was able to escape but Smith hung held a one minute riding time advantage to take the win, 7-6.
Chad Porter and Kyle Blevins were locked in another close match, with Porter winning 4-2 in overtime. Porter earned a takedown with 25 seconds left in the extra session to get the win.
Brad Clark gave LU its third straight win to start the match a 5-2 win over Carter Downs. Neither wrestler scored in the first two periods, but Downs started the third with a two-point nearfall. Clark countered with a reversal and a three-point nearfall for the win.
Trotman was able to get ASU on the board with a hard fought win over Nick Knowles. Knowles took a 3-0 lead into the third period, but Trotman scored an escape and a takedown to tie the score. Knowles escaped, and after a brief delay due to Knowles' head gear tearing, Trotman scored the winning takedown with 20 seconds remaining to get the 5-4 win, and his 13th straight.
Dylan Temple followed with a dominating 11-3 major decision over Jacobi Johnson to bring the score to 9-7. The win was Temple's 20th of the year marking the junior's second-straight 20-win season.
Josh Pelleteir gave LU a boost with a 4-2 win over Ken Altarac, but ASU right back in it with a 5-2 Tony Gravely win over Jonathan Childress. Gravely came out fast with a takedown and a three-point nearfall and almost ended the match, but Childress hung on. Despite a late takedown, Gravely earned his third win in a row.
Liberty was able to finish the match the way they started, winning the final three matches. Joe Pantaleo pinned Weston Haney in the first period to give the Flames' an 18-10 lead.
At 141 pounds, Scott Clymer earned a 14-2 major decision over Chris Collura to clinch the match. Frankie Gayeski defeated Savva Kostis 8-3 in the final match of the night.
Former ASU wrestling coach, Paul Mance, was honored for his outstanding achievements as a coach. Mance coached ASU for 33 years, leading the team to eight team conference championhships and was named SoCon Coach of the Year five times. He ended his career with a SoCon leading 348 victories.
The Mountaineers will now get ready for the Southern Conference Tournament, held in Davidson on March 6. Kostis and Trotman will be No. 1 seeds in their weight class by virtue of going unbeaten in conference action.
Liberty 25 Appalachian State 10
157 - Shaun Smith (LU) dec. Chip Powell (ASU) 7-6, LU 3-0
165 - Chad Porter (LU) dec. Kyle Blevins (ASU) 4-2 OT, LU 6-0
174 - Brad Clark (LU) dec. Carter Downs (ASU) 5-2, LU 9-0
184 - Austin Trotman (ASU) dec. Nick Knowles (LU) 5-4, LU 9-3
197 - Dylan Temple (ASU) major dec. Jacobi Johnson (LU) 11-3, LU 9-7
285 - Josh Pelleteir (LU) dec. Ken Altarac (ASU) 4-2, LU 12-7
125 - Tony Gravely (ASU) dec. Jonathan Childress (LU) 5-2, LU 12-10
133 - Joe Pantaleo (LU) Fall Weston Haney (ASU) 1:28, LU 18-10
141 - Scott Clymer (LU) major dec. Chris Collura (ASU) 14-2, LU 22-10
149 - Frankie Gayeski (LU) dec. Savva Kostis (ASU) 8-3, LU 25-10
