BOONE, N.C. — A strong start and finish weren't enough Friday for Appalachian State Wrestling, which lost 25-16 to Ohio in Varsity Gym.
App State heavyweight
Cary Miller opened the dual meet with a pin that was worth six points, and the Mountaineers (2-3) trailed 25-12 before
Randall Diabe posted a 12-4 major decision at 197 pounds in the final match of the night. Along the way, Appalachian also got wins from redshirt freshman
Jonathan Millner (7-4 decision at 149 pounds) and senior
Michael Elliott (8-5 decision at 165 pounds).
Making his first career dual meet start, Elliott trailed 5-3 but had nearly a 90-second advantage in ride time entering the third period against Colt Yinger. Elliott used a quick escape from the down position to, for all intents and purposes, tie the match. A final-minute stalling penalty on Yinger gave Elliott a point before he added two more on a crowd-pleasing takedown with 20 seconds left.
The team leader in wins this season, counting tournament results, Elliott improved to 12-5.
Miller had a 7-0 lead before he recorded his second-period pin, but the Bobcats totaled 16 points in the next three matches with a major decision, a third-period pin from an Ohio wrestler who was trailing at the start of the momentum-changing sequence and then a first-period pin.
Millner ended the run with his win, as he entered the third period in an escape-ready down position with a 5-4 lead and more than two minutes in ride time. Elliott's victory cut into a 19-9 deficit.
App State's closest calls came in the next two matches.
Thomas Flitz lost an 8-7 decision at 174 pounds to Joe Terry, who led 7-5 entering the third period, and
Alan Clothier went into overtime with Hunter Yeargan before that match ended with a takedown by Yeargan in the Sudden Victory-1 period. In the final match, Diabe posted takedown after takedown in his victory against Nathan Hall.
The Mountaineers return to action Tuesday night at NC State and appear next in Varsity Gym against Oklahoma on Dec. 16.
Ohio 25, App State 16
HWT:
Cary Miller (APP) def. Devin King (OHIO), fall, 4:32 (6-0)
125: Shakur Laney (OHIO) def.
Andy Richard (APP), 19-5 maj. dec. (6-4)
133: Mario Guillen (OHIO) def.
Codi Russell (APP), fall, 5:19 (6-10)
141: Kyran Hagan (OHIO) def.
Irvin Enriquez (APP), fall, 2:50 (6-16)
149:
Jonathan Millner (APP) def. Alec Hagan (OHO), 7-4 dec. (9-16)
157: Zac Carson (OHIO) def.
Angel Najar (APP), 13-9 dec. (9-19)
165:
Michael Elliott (APP) def. Colt Yinger (OHIO), 8-5 dec. (12-19)
174: Joe Terry (OHIO) def.
Thomas Flitz (APP), 8-7 dec. (12-22)
184: Hunter Yeargan (OHIO) def.
Alan Clothier APP), 3-1 dec., SV-1 (12-25)
197:
Randall Diabe (APP) def. Nathan Hall (OHIO), 12-4 maj. dec. (16-25)
