BOONE, N.C. - Despite taking a 10-7 lead into intermission, Appalachian State University wrestling was unable to hold off The Citadel, falling 25-13, snapping an 11-straight Southern Conference winning streak, Friday night at Varsity Gymnasium.

With the setback, Appalachian moves to 6-3 overall and 3-1 in league play, while the Bulldogs improve to 3-3 overall and 2-0 in the SoCon.

Having dropped the opening bouts at 149 and 157 pounds and facing a 7-0 deficit, redshirt freshman Zack Strickland gave the Mountaineers some life at 165 pounds, cruising to a 13-5 major decision over The Citadel's Vincent Bellaran. For Strickland, it was his third major decision in his last four bouts, as he moves to 9-0 in duals for the year.

Redshirt freshman Colin Hedash continued the winning trend at 174 pounds, controlling John Duane and earning the 11-5 decision. With the victory, Hedash is currently 8-1 in duals and improves his winning streak to four.

Before the intermission, Appalachian took its first lead when sophomore Jake Johnson posted his second consecutive win, tallying a 6-1 decision over Josh Tuck. Johnson is now 2-0 in duals for his career after earning a 3-0 decision earlier in the week.

The Mountaineers came up short after the break in four of the remaining five bouts, as junior Chris Johnson found the scoreboard at 141 pounds with a 5-0 decision over Drew Ferguson. With the decision, Johnson evens up his dual record to 4-4 on the year.

"We didn't do the things we needed to do and we didn't capitalize on our opportunities," head coach JohnMark Bentley said. "When you stand around in matches and wait for things to happen, they usually always happen in a negative way. That is what happened to us tonight."

Appalachian returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 23, as the Apps will head to Duke for a non-conference showdown. Action from Cameron Indoor Stadium is set for 7 p.m.

The Citadel (3-3, 2-0 SoCon) 25, Appalachian State (6-3, 3-1 SoCon), 13
Jan. 18, 2012 | Boone, N.C. | Varsity Gymnasium
149: Jordan Dix (CIT) dec. Zach Kechter (APP), 7-4 (CIT 3-0)
157: Matthew Frisch (CIT) maj. dec. Aaron Scott (APP), 9-1 (CIT 7-0)
165: Zack Strickland (APP) maj. dec. Vincent Bellaran (CIT), 13-5 (CIT 7-4)
174: Colin Hedash (APP) dec. John Duane (CIT), 11-5 (TIE 7-7)
184: Jake Johnson (APP) dec. Josh Tuck (CIT), 6-1 (APP 10-7)
197: Marshall Haas (CIT) pinned Paul Weiss (APP), (2:23) (CIT 13-10)
285: Odie Delaney (CIT) pinned Joe Cummings (APP), (6:30) (CIT 19-10)
125:  Joaquin Marquez (CIT) dec. Dominic Parisi (APP), 6-5 (CIT 22-10)
133: Aaron Hansen (CIT) dec. Brett Boston (APP), 9-5 (CIT 25-10)
141: Chris Johnson (APP) dec. Drew Ferguson (CIT), 5-0 (CIT 25-13)

BOUT-BY-BOUT

149: Dix dec. Kechter, 7-4
Dix opened with a takedown and took a 2-0 lead into the second period. Seconds into the period, Kechter earned an escape, but Dix bounced back with another takedown. A late escape by Kechter sent the bout into the third period with a 4-2 score. Dix added an escape with just over a minute left, but Kechter matched with his second escape. Dix sent the bout out of reach with his third and final takedown and held on to a 7-4 decision.

157: Frisch maj. dec. Scott, 9-1
Frisch commanded throughout the bout, holding a 6-0 advantage with 31 seconds remaining in the final period. Scott was able to get onto the board with 26 seconds left, but a late takedown, plus the addition of the riding time point, clinched the 9-1 major decision.

165: Strickland maj. dec. Bellaran, 13-5
After scoring the only takedown in the first period, Strickland earned a reversal just four seconds into the second period, taking a 4-0 lead. When it seemed the 4-0 lead would go into the third period, Bellaran earned a late reversal to send the 4-2 score into the final period. Strickland took advantage of a tired Bellaran, scoring three stall points, a takedown, a reversal, and the riding time point to win, 13-5.

174: Hedash dec. Duane, 11-5
Hedash started the bout strongly with two straight takedowns and headed into the second period with a 4-1 lead. The redshirt freshman added to his lead with an escape, but Duane kept it close with a takedowns with a minute left in the period. Hedash earned another escape and led 6-3 after two periods. The Slatington, Pa. native accumulated two takedowns and the riding time point in the final period to win, 11-5.

184: Ja. Johnson dec. Tuck, 6-1
After a scoreless first period, Tuck scored first with an escape. With 48 seconds remaining, a video challenge was called on Tuck grabbing hold of Johnson's singlet. After the official's review, Johnson earned a single point for the technical foul, as the 1-1 score moved into the final period. Johnson took command, earning a quick escape, followed by a takedown and two near fall points, winning his second-straight bout, 6-1.

197: Haas pinned Weiss, (2:23)
Haas and Weiss began slowly, but Haas struck first and was able to turn Weiss over in the first period. After a strong effort by Weiss to get out of the hold, Haas earned the first period pin and took the lead for The Citadel.

285: Delaney pinned Cummings, (6:30)
Delaney tallied three takedowns in the first two periods and took a 6-2 lead into the third period. In the final period, Delaney continued to add pressure to Cummings, growing the score to 16-5 with 50 seconds remaining. The redshirt senior was able to flip turn Cummings and got his tenth pin of the season, taking the score to 19-10.

125: Marquez dec. Parisi, 6-5
In a similar bout to what he had on Tuesday, Parisi found himself in a 5-5 tie heading into the final period. An early escape by Marquez made the score 6-5, as Parisi was unable to earn the necessary takedown to win the bout. With the loss, Parisi faces his first losing streak of the season.

133: Hansen dec. Boston, 9-5
Hansen found the scoreboard early with a takedown 30 seconds in the bout. Boston closed first period scoring with an escape and trailed 2-1 heading into the second period. Boston drew the score even at 2-2, but Hansen responded with a takedown to make it, 4-2. A late escape by Boston put him with striking distance in the final period at 4-3. Hansen took control, adding a reversal and another takedown to win, 9-5.

141: Johnson dec. Ferguson, 5-0
The bout found itself scoreless after the first period, but Johnson earned a quick takedown in the second period. Adding a stall point, Johnson took a 3-0 lead into the third period. Johnson was given another stall point and added the riding time point for the 5-0 decision.