ARLINGTON, Texas- Appalachian State University wrestling (6-7, 0-1 SoCon) secured two wins against one defeat at the annual Lonestar Duals to move the Mountaineers' career record at the event to 6-5 overall in three appearances on Saturday.
The Black and Gold grapplers tallied back-to-back victories against Harvard, 22-17 and Northern Colorado, 28-12, but fell to Utah Valley, 19-16.
During the Harvard dual, Appalachian dropped the 125 and 133 matches, but bounced back when junior Mike Kessler defeated Joe Marino, 6-3 at 141. Freshman Russell Benner notched the Mountaineers' next win of the match by earning his first pin of the season against Joe Alie in the first period in 1:28 in the 149-pound weight class.
ASU cruised to three more wins as junior #18 Kyle Blevins pinned Nick Brazeau in 4:17 during the second period at 165 and redshirt junior #25 Austin Trotman scored a major decision against Cameron Croy, 14-3 during the 184 match. Sophomore Paul Glover completed Appalachian's wins by earning a 7-2 decision over Bryan Panzano at 197.
Sophomore Tony Gravely opened up the Northern Colorado dual by winning the 125 match-up, 6-3, against Sam Bauer. ASU dropped the 133-match, but Kessler was able to pick-up his second win of the day via a forfeit. Benner ran the Mountaineers' third ranked opponent of the day and fell to #5 Justin Gaethje. Appalachian recorded victories in five of their last six matches to put away Northern Colorado.
The Apps faced their toughest competition of the tournament against Utah Valley. The Mountaineers took losses in the first four matches before sophomore John Blakely got ASU on the board at 157 by knocking off Richard Winger, 8-4. Blevins recorded his third victory of the tournament by earning a close decision against #29 Jeb Clark, 3-1. With Utah Valley still in the lead, Appalachian closed the gap with Trotman scoring a major decision against Casen Eldredge, 15-5 and Glover earning the decision against Trevor Rupp, 5-4, but were unable to get any closer despite, freshman Marc Tyson tallying a 2-0 decision against Christan Denny.
With Blevins' three decisions, he currently has a career-high 27 wins on the season and needs just three to become the latest Mountaineer to post 30 wins in a season since Scott Ervin did so in 2008. Trotman joined the 20-win club with his three wins on Saturday and now has 22 wins for the season and 80 wins for his career. Trotman is now only two wins shy of breaking into the career wins list.
The Mountaineers are back in action on Jan. 21, taking on UNC at 8:30 p.m. in Chapel Hill.
ASU 22, Harvard 17
125: #28 Steven Keith dec. Brett Boston, 8-2
133: Shay Warren, dec. Chris Johnson, 8-1
141: Mike Kessler dec. Joe Marino, 6-3
149: Russell Benner pins Joe Alie, 1:28
157: #8 Walter Peppelman tech. fall John Blakley, 16-0
165: #18 Kyle Blevins pins Nick Brazeau, 4:17
174: Ian Roy dec. Carter Downs, 4-3
184: #25 Austin Trotman major dec. Cameron Croy, 14-3
197: Paul Glover dec. Bryan Panzano, 7-2
285: Andrew Knapp dec. Marc Tyson, 2-0
ASU 28, Northern Colorado 12
125: Tony Gravely dec. Sam Bauer, 6-3
133: Casey Cruz major dec. Acton Pifer, 9-0
141: Mike Kessler wins by forfeit
149: #5 Justin Gaethje major dec. Russell Benner, 13-5
157: John Blakely dec. Tanner Weiks, 4-3
165: #18 Kyle Blevins major dec. Brandon Kammerzell, 11-1
174: Carter Downs dec. Cody Mcaninch, 8-1
184: #25 Austin Trotman pins Marcel Gibbons, 1:47
197: Nick Bayer major dec. Paul Glover, 12-4
285: Marc Tyson dec. Konner Knudtsen, 3-2
ASU 16, Utah Valley 19
125: #12 Ben Kjar tech. fall Tony Gravely, 18-3
133: #13 Flint Ray dec. Chris Johnson, 9-6
141: Justin Morrill dec. Mike Kessler, 5-2
149: Josh Wilson major dec. Russell Benner, 12-4
157: John Blakely dec. Richard Winger, 8-4
165: #18 Kyle Blevins dec. #29 Jeb Clark, 3-1
174: Brad Darrington major dec. Carter Downs, 9-1
184: #25 Austin Trotman major dec. Casen Eldredge, 15-5
197: Paul Glover dec. Trevor Rupp, 5-4
285: Marc Tyson dec. Christian Denny, 2-0
