GREENSBORO, N.C.- Appalachian State University wrestling (6-8-1, 0-2 SoCon) dropped a close Southern Conference dual to reigning SoCon Tournament champion UNC Greensboro (5-7, 3-0 SoCon) on Wednesday night, 21-20 at Fleming Gymnasium.
Sophomore Tony Gravely set the pace again for the Mountaineers again by using two three-point near falls and two takedowns to score a 16-5 major decision over Manny Ramirez in the opening 125 match to put Appalachian up 4-0.
The Spartans turned around and sent Jamel Johnson to the mat for the 133 match-up and he tallied a 14-3 major decision over sophomore Brett Boston to knot things up at 4-4.
Junior Mike Kessler put the Apps back up when he took care of Michael Crowley at 141 in a 7-2 decision in a match that he never trailed in, putting up the Mountaineers, 7-4.
In the 149 match, #17 Ivan Lopouchanski proved to be too much for freshman Russell Benner and Lopouchanski notched his 30th win of the season with a 25-11 major decision over Benner, giving the Spartans their first lead of the match at 8-7.
The Mountaineers battled back and took a 10-7 lead as sophomore John Blakely scored a 6-2 decision over Matt Barbo at 157.
Junior Kyle Blevins, who was named SoCon Wrestler of the Week earlier in the day, did not disappoint as he notched a 12-2 major decision over Brett Miller to expand the Mountaineer advantage to 14-7. With the win, Blevins now has a career-high 29 victories and has tallied 75 wins in his career.
ASU's momentum was stopped at 174 as Byron Sigmon took a 14-1 major decision from junior Carter Downs to close the gap for the Spartans to 14-12.
Redshirt junior Austin Trotman pinned Elijah Adams 90 seconds into the match after he used a takedown and a cradle to give ASU an eight-point cushion. With the victory, the 22nd ranked wrestler captured his 24th decision of the season, but more importantly Trotman now becomes the latest Mountaineer to tally 82 wins in his career at Appalachian State.
Heading into the final two bouts of the evening at 197 and the heavyweight class, Caylor Williams pinned sophomore Paul Glover in 2:55 in the 197 match and closed the Mountaineer lead to a deuce.
As with the last dual, it came down to the last match to put the finishes on the night. But Peter Sturgeon proved to be too much for freshman Marc Tyson and took the match 13-6, winning the dual for the Spartans, 21-20.
The Mountaineers return to the mat on Saturday (Jan. 29), hosting the inaugural Appalachian Open. Wrestlers will be weighed at 7 a.m., with wrestling starting at 9 a.m. in Varsity Gym.
UNCG 21, Appalachian State 20
125 Tony Gravely (ASU) maj. dec. Manny Ramirez (UNCG), 16-5
133 Jamel Johnson (UNCG) maj. dec. Brett Boston (ASU), 14-3
141 Mike Kessler (ASU) dec. Michael Crowley (UNCG), 7-2
149 Ivan Lopouchanski (UNCG) maj. dec. Russell Benner (ASU), 25-11
157 John Blakely (ASU) dec. Matt Barbo (UNCG), 6-2
165 Kyle Blevins (ASU) maj. dec. Brett Miller (UNCG), 12-2
174 Byron Sigmon (UNCG) maj. dec. Carter Downs (ASU), 14-1
184 Austin Trotman (ASU) fall Elijah Adams (UNCG), 1:30
197 Caylor Williams (UNCG) fall Paul Glover (ASU), 2:55
HWT Peter Sturgeon (UNCG) dec. Marc Tyson (ASU), 13-6
