BOONE, N.C.- Appalachian State University wrestling (4-6, 0-1 SoCon) dropped its Southern Conference opener to The Citadel (3-5, 2-0 SoCon), 26-7, on Sunday afternoon at Varsity Gym.
Prior to the 184-pound match, the Mountaineers took time to recognize former wrestling student-athletes, coaches and managers.
The dual started off with the 141-pound match-up between junior Mike Kessler and The Citadel's Jordan Dix. The first period of the match only featured a takedown by Kessler allowing him to carry a 2-0 advantage into the second period. Kessler grabbed another takedown to go up 4-0, but Dix countered with an escape bringing the match to 4-1. Kessler closed out the second period with another takedown to draw the match to 6-1 heading into the final period. Dix notched a takedown to put more points on the board, but Kessler tallied another takedown. Dix escaped again, but Kessler would score one more takedown to put down Dix and take the match 11-5 to put the Mountaineers ahead 3-0.
The Bulldogs took the 149 and 157 matches before heading into the much anticipated 165-pound match-up between #25 Kyle Blevins and #9 Turtogtokh Luvsandorj. Luvsandorj got things started off with a takedown, but Blevins escaped bringing the match to a 2-1 Luvsandorj advantage to close the first period. Blevins escaped again to tie things up at two, but Luvsandorj took down Blevins again as the second period came to a wrap to go ahead, 4-2. With the final period beginning, Luvsandorj got the best of Blevins again and created a 6-2 gap. With time against Blevins he escaped to close the gap to 6-3. Blevins was granted two points for Luvsandorj stalling, but that would be as close as Blevins would get as Luvsandorj took the decision, 6-5, moving The Citadel up to 10-3.
The Apps fell again at 174, but redshirt junior #28 Austin Trotman turned the tide in the 184 match against Josh Tuck. Trotman struck first in the match and never let up as he earned a 16-5 major decision against Tuck. Trotman ended the first period of the match with an 8-3 advantage. Trotman struck three more times in the second period to go ahead 13-4 heading into the final period of action. In the last period, Trotman only allowed Tuck to escape and nailed one more takedown before notching the major decision, giving Appalachian its last points of the afternoon.
The Black and Gold grapplers are back in action again on Jan. 15 as they take part in the Lonestar Duals in Arlington, Texas.
ASU 7, The Citadel 26
141: Mike Kessler dec. Jordan Dix, 11-5 (3-0, ASU)
149: Derek Royster major dec. Russell Benner, 16-3 (3-4, The Citadel)
157: Pierre Frazile dec. Travis Puckett, 7-3 (3-7, The Citadel)
165: 9 Turtogtokh Luvsandorj dec. 25 Kyle Blevins, 6-5 (3-10, The Citadel)
174: #32 J.C. Oddo dec. Carter Downs, 5-2 (3-13, The Citadel)
184: #28 Austin Trotman major dec. Josh Tuck, 16-5 (7-13, The Citadel)
197: Kelby Smith major dec. Paul Glove, 13-4 (7-17, The Citadel)
285: Luke Johnson dec. Marc Tyson, 9-2 (7-20, The Citadel)
125: Richard Alarcon dec. Tony Gravely, 3-0 (7-23, The Citadel)
133: Tyler Sim dec. Chris Johnson, 10-4 (7-26, The Citadel)
