BOONE, N.C.- Appalachian State University wrestling (6-8-1, 0-2 SoCon) had four unattached wrestlers place at the inaugural Appalachian Open on Saturday in Varsity Gym.
Freshman Dominic Parisi was the first champion to be crowned as he rolled through four straight opponents in route to the 125 title. In his first match, Parisi pinned Gardner-Webb's Jacob Reinemund in 2:46, advancing to face Liberty's Justin Branham. In that match, Parisi tallied a 10-5 decision against Branham to move into the semifinals of the winner's bracket. In the semifinals, Parisi faced fellow Mountaineer sophomore Brett Boston and notched a 10-5 decision. Parisi ended his Saturday by pinning Virginia Tech's Ty Mitch in 2:25.
ASU's next champion was at 141 with junior Mike Kessler also winning out of the winner's bracket. Kessler wasted no time pinning King College's Javari Williamson in 1:32 in his first match. Kessler nailed another pin against Newberry's Brock Coutu in 2:36. Kessler's next match proved to be much closer as he pulled out a 4-2 decision against Mike Bell from Duke. In the championship match, Kessler tallied a 5-0 decision against Gardner-Webb's Richie Spicel for the second time this season to claim the title.
Senior Chip Powell kept the ball rolling for Appalachian at 157. Powell took care of Gardner-Webb's Matt Beebee with ease, tallying a 17-1 technical fall. Powell powered his way to another technical fall, 19-2, against Chattanooga's Jared Presley setting up a final 11-5 decision over Taylor Knapp (Virginia Tech) to earn the title.
The Apps' final individual title of the tournament came out of 197. Senior Dylan Temple faced Joe Grisko from Newberry in his first match and earned a 10-2 major decision over Grisko. Temple then took on Travis Porter (Gardner-Webb) and recorded a fall over Porter in :48 to advance to the championship match. Temple faced Ohio's Beau Wenger and edged the Bobcat 6-5.
Boston, juniors Weston Haney, Travis Puckett and Kyle Benson, freshmen Riley Keen, Domnick Vetell, Marc Tyson and Collins Creech and sophomore Brock Durfee also collected wins during the tournament.
The Mountaineers celebrate Senior Day and look for their first SoCon victory of the season on Feb. 6 against Chattanooga at 2 p.m. in Varsity Gym.
