BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. — Appalachian State's wrestling team started with a statement-making win from
Gavin Londoff, and seven consecutive wins capped the Mountaineers' 30-6 victory at Gardner-Webb in a Southern Conference dual meet Wednesday.
Appalachian (4-3, 2-0 SoCon) moved into a first-place tie with Chattanooga after claiming wins in eight of 10 matches against the Runnin' Bulldogs, who also began the night with a 1-0 conference record.
App State and Gardner-Webb (1-5, 1-1) split the first four matches, but the Mountaineers had a 9-6 lead thanks to a 15-2 major decision at 149 pounds from Londoff (four points) and a 17-1 technical fall at 174 pounds from
Forrest Przybysz (five points).
Przybysz's victory against Christian Maroni erased a 6-4 team deficit and started the string of consecutive victories to close the match. The last six wins came from
Alan Clothier (6-1 decision at 184 pounds),
Randall Diabe (6-2 decision at 197),
Cary Miller (7-2 decision at heavyweight),
De'Andre Swinson-Barr (forfeit at 125),
Codi Russell (6-4 decision by sudden victory at 133) and
Irvin Enriquez (10-3 decision at 141).
"I thought
Gavin Londoff had one of his best performances all year," App State coach
JohnMark Bentley said. "We scored a lot of points in some matches, so I was really happy with that, but our focus has to get better."
Londoff went 2-0 in App State's first two dual meets and had a 9-3 overall record for the season before dropping close matches in four straight dual meets, including a matchup at No. 20 Oklahoma in which he suffered a 2-1 loss. He traveled to the Franklin & Marshall Open in Pennsylvania last weekend and went 4-1, giving him so momentum as he entered his match with Gardner-Webb's Joby Armenta.
Londoff led 4-0 after one period and 7-0 after two periods. He was ahead 9-0 before allowing a point for an escape.
"Coach made a decision to wrestle me in another tournament this other weekend, and it really opened up my attacks and made me realize what I was supposed to be hitting," Londoff said. "I feel like I was executing to the best of my ability."
App State returns to action Jan. 18 (next Thursday) with a dual meet at SoCon rival Campbell before returning home to face SIU-Edwardsville in Varsity Gym on Jan. 21.
Wrestling tickets can be purchased by calling the Appalachian State ticket office at
828-262-2079 or by going online to the
App State Ticket Central link.
App State 30, Gardner-Webb 6
149:
Gavin Londoff (APP) def. Joby Armenta (G-W), 15-2 maj. dec. (4-0)
157: Tyler Marinelli (G-W) def.
Laken Cook (APP), 4-1 dec. (4-3)
165: Brett Stein (G-W) def.
Thomas Flitz (APP), 5-4 dec. (4-6)
174:
Forrest Przybysz (APP) def. Christian Maroni (G-W), 17-1 tech. fall (9-6)
184:
Alan Clothier (APP) def. Cole Graves (G-W), 6-1 dec. (12-6)
197:
Randall Diabe (APP) def. Anthony Perrine (G-W), 6-2 dec. (15-6)
HWT:
Cary Miller (APP) def. Lathan Bumgarner (G-W), 7-2 dec. (18-6)
125:
De'Andre Swinson-Barr (APP), win by forfeit (24-6)
133:
Codi Russell (APP) def. Philip Anderson (G-W), 6-4 dec. (SV) (27-6)
141:
Irvin Enriquez (APP) def. Denton Spencer (G-W), 10-3 dec. (30-6)
