BOONE, N.C. — Despite a strong start and frantic finish, App State Wrestling lost 20-12 in a home dual meet against Oklahoma on Sunday in Varsity Gym.
Wins by
Randall Diabe (5-3 decision at 197 pounds),
Cary Miller (4-2 decision at heavyweight) and
Codi Russell (5-4 decision at 133 pounds) gave the Mountaineers (2-5) a 9-6 lead heading into the midpoint intermission.
The Sooners (1-1) claimed the next three matches to pull ahead 17-9, and App State's
Michael Elliott pulled out a dramatic 5-4 decision at 165 pounds.
Thomas Flitz trailed by double figures before rallying to make things exciting in an 18-14 decision for Oklahoma's Anthony Mantanona.
Elliott had 36 seconds of riding time on his side when he erased a 4-2 deficit on a takedown in the final minute of the third period. From that position, he was able to remain atop Jeremy Thomas for the rest of the period and get an additional point by pushing his riding time over a minute.
Russell won by the same score against Anthony Madrigal, who used a third-period takedown to tie the match before Russell went ahead 5-4 with his escape. Russell had erased a 2-1 deficit with a takedown late in the second period.
The dual began at 184 pounds, and Kayne MacCallum edged App State's
Alan Clothier 4-3 before the 18th-ranked Diabe won 5-3 against Jake Woodley, who had a first-place finish this year at the Michigan State Open. Miller held a 3-0 lead with a significant riding time advantage going into the third period against Jake Boyd, who managed a late takedown.
There were other close matches involving
Angel Najar (3-2 loss to Justin Thomas at 157 pounds) and
De'Andre Swinson-Barr (4-2 loss to Christian Moody at 125 pounds).
App State wrestlers will compete next at the Southern Scuffle in early January, and the Mountaineers are back in Varsity Gym on Jan. 8 for a Southern Conference opener against Gardner-Webb.
Oklahoma 20, App State 12
184: Kayne MacCallum (OU) def.
Alan Clothier (APP), 4-3 dec. (0-3)
197: #18
Randall Diabe (APP) def. Jake Woodley (OU), 5-3 dec. (3-3)
HWT:
Cary Miller (APP) def. Jake Boyd (OU), 4-2 dec. (6-3)
125: Christian Moody (OU) def.
De'Andre Swinson-Barr (APP), 4-2 dec. (6-6)
133:
Codi Russell (APP) def. Anthony Madrigal (OU), 5-4 dec. (9-6)
141: #8 Dom Demas (OU) def.
Irvin Enriquez (APP), 13-7 dec. (9-9)
149: Davion Jeffries (OU) def.
Matt Zovistoski (APP), tech. fall (9-14)
157: Justin Thomas (OU) def.
Angel Najar (APP), 3-2 dec. (9-17)
165:
Michael Elliott (APP) def. Jeremy Thomas (OU), 5-4 dec. (12-17)
174: Anthony Mantanona (OU) def.
Thomas Flitz (APP), 18-14 dec. (12-20)
