BOONE, N.C. - In its first home Southern Conference battle and a near full-strength roster, the Appalachian State wrestling team exploded for a 30-7 win against VMI on Friday at Varsity Gym.

The Mountaineers picked up four major decisions and a pin on the night, losing only two matches.

The night started at the 197-pound weight class with Tyler Radford picking up the first takedown and never letting the lead go. He won by a 5-2 decision giving the Mountaineers the early 3-0 lead.

The Mountaineers would fall at heavyweight with Denzel Dejournette falling by 16-7 major decision to Juan Adams that gave the Keydets the 4-3 lead.

Having not competed for close to a month, Dominic Parisi  looked like he didn't miss a beat. Parisi dominated gaining takedown after takedown and only giving up one point, collecting a 13-1 major decision and regaining the lead for Appalachian (7-4).

Using momentum from Parisi's match, Chris Johnson stepped on the mat and picked up a convincing win. The Hillsborough, N.C. native grasped the second major decision of the night for the Mountaineers (12-2) against Michael Flora. Appalachian held an 11-4 lead until Jake Smith dropped a 6-2 decision at the 141-pound weight class against Emmitt Kelly right before a five minute intermission.

After the intermission, nationally ranked (No. 7) Dylan Cottrell amassed his 10th-straight win with a 3-1 decision against Shabaka Johns to move Appalachian's lead to 14-7. Cottrell moves to 21-1 on the year.

In one of the most entertaining matches of the evening, Nick Hall found himself down 5-3 late in the third period. He proved to have more stamina and got a takedown with 13 seconds left in the match. He earned the one-point for riding time in the end to win the wild match with a 6-5 decision.

The Mountaineers would not look back winning the next three matches of the night.

Nick Vetell at the 184-pound weight class closed the match with a 34 second pin. That pin would put him in second place for the fastest pin of the season falling behind Cottrell who had a 23 second pin in his first official match this season and of his career.

Appalachian took the 30-7 win against the Keydets and with the win Appalachian would move its series record to 28-13 against VMI since 1990.

The Mountaineers will continue its three-match homestand against Davidson on Feb. 16 at Varsity Gym at 2 p.m.

– Appalachian State 30 – VMI 7
Varsity Gym – Boone, N.C.

197 - Tyler Radford (APP) won by decision over Andrew Embree (VMI) 5-2. (APP leads 3-0)
285 - Juan Adams (VMI) won by major decision over Denzel Dejournette (APP) 16-7 (VMI leads 4-3)
125 - Dominic Parisi (APP) won by major decision over Dalton Henderson (VMI) 13-1 (APP leads 7-4)
133- Chris Johnson (APP) won by major decision over Michael Flora (VMI) 11-2 (APP leads 11-4)
141 - Emmitt Kelly (VMI) won by decison over Jake Smith (APP) 7-2 (APP leads 11-7)
149 - Dylan Cottrell (APP) won by decision over Shabaka Johns (VMI) 3-1 (APP leads 14-7)
157 - Nick Hall (APP) won by decision over Edward Gottwald (VMI) 6-5 (APP leads 17-7)
165 - Zack Strickland (APP) won by decision over Mark Darr (VMI) 6-2 (APP leads 20-7)
174 - Adrian Soto-Perez (APP) won by major decision over Jake Koch (VMI) 17-6 (APP leads 24-7)
184 - Nick Vetell (APP) won by pin over Hardy Hendren (VMI) 0:34 (App wins 30-7)