BOONE, N.C. - Propelled by a Dominic Parisi pin and key decisions by Zack Strickland, Colin Hedash and Paul Weiss, Appalachian State University wrestling captured its first Southern Conference victory of the season, defeating Gardner-Webb, 21-19, Tuesday evening at Varsity Gym.

The narrow victory keeps the Mountaineers perfect, improving to 4-0 on the young season and 15-0 against the Runnin' Bulldogs, all-time. Gardner-Webb drops its second straight conference match and moves to 2-5 overall.

"We competed hard tonight and gave a much better effort than in the opening duals of the season," head coach JohnMark Bentley said. "We have a lot of young guys on this team and I'm proud of them."

The experienced on the roster showed as Parisi, Strickland, Hedash and Weiss have combined for 42 wins this season. Parisi, Strickland and Hedash all remained perfect in dual meets this season.

"The effort was there tonight," Bentley said. "As long as the effort is there, the rest will take care of itself."

The focus for the Mountaineers shifts towards this weekend, as the Apps host Ohio on Saturday, Dec. 8. That dual is set for 6:30 p.m. at Varsity Gym.

Appalachian State 21, Gardner-Webb 19
125: Dominic Parisi (APP) pinned Tyler Ziegler (GWU) (4:09) (APP 6-0)
133: Robbie Golde (GWU) dec. Brett Boston (APP), 6-3 (APP 6-3)
141: Davante Andujar (GWU) dec. Chris Johnson (APP), 5-4 (Tied 6-6)
149: Zach Kechter (APP) won by forfeit (APP 12-6)
157: Alex Medved (GWU) maj. dec. Aaron Scott (APP), 15-5 (APP 12-10)
165: Zack Strickland (APP) dec. Justin Guthrie (GWU), 5-3 (APP 15-10)
174: Colin Hedash (APP) dec. Aaron Rabin (GWU), 10-6 (APP 18-10)
184: Gary Jones (GWU) dec. Jesse Johnson (APP), 6-3 (APP 18-13)
197: Paul Weiss (APP) dec. Blake Salyer (GWU), 8-2 (APP 21-13)
HWT: Travis Porter (GWU) pinned Joe Cummings (APP) (6:22) (APP 21-19)

BOUT-BY-BOUT

125: Parisi controlled at the beginning of the opening period, tallying two takedowns in the first two minutes. Parisi took a 4-1 lead into the second period where he added another takedown to lead, 6-2. With 59 seconds left in the second period, Parisi closed out the bout with his third pin of the season, giving the Apps a 6-0 lead.

133: After suffering an injury at the Hokie Open in early November, senior Brett Boston returned to the Appalachian lineup to face Gardner-Webb's Robbie Golde. Boston jumped out the gate quickly, earning a takedown just 26 seconds into the first period. Golde responded with an escape and a late takedown to lead after the opening period, 3-2. After Boston evened the score in the second period, Golde received an escape point and a takedown to earn the 6-3 decision.

141: After a scoreless first period, Chris Johnson and Davante Andujar battled in a tightly contested second period. Anjdujar got the best of Johnson, earning two takedowns and despite two late escapes by Johnson; Andujar grabbed his tenth victory of the season with a 5-4 decision.

157: Being slotted at 149 in the projected lineup, Scott moved up to 157, but was unable to keep up with GWU's Alex Medved. Medved took an 11-4 lead into the final period and maintained the lead, winning by majority decision, 15-5.

165:  Strickland started strong with a takedown within the first 30 seconds. GWU's Justin Guthrie made a late charge at the start of the third period, but Strickland held off the rally, earning the 5-3 decision.

174: Hedash looked to command the bout, taking a 7-2 lead in the final period. Gardner-Webb's Aaron Rabin fought himself back into the bout with two takedowns, but came up short as Hedash nabbed his 12th victory on the young season with a 10-6 decision.

184:  Followed by a scoreless first period, a controversial foul was called on Jesse Johnson for touching the opponent's headgear, as a point was award to Gary Jones. Johnson never recovered after the foul, falling 6-3.

197: Weiss fell behind early after Blake Salyer dialed up a takedown just 26 seconds into the bout. Weiss scratched himself back into the bout, scoring six unanswered points in the second period, including a three-point near fall. Weiss commanded the final period, adding another point to capture the 8-2 decision.

HWT: Cummings never found a groove against GWU's Travis Porter, going down 6-0 after two periods. Porter closed the bout with a pin at the 6:22 mark.