BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State rallied behind a quick pin from
Irvin Enriquez and a major decision from
Gavin Londoff, but Duke claimed five-point technical falls in the last two matches to claim a 25-17 nonconference victory on Thursday.
A standing-room-only crowd that included 300 students gathered for Senior Night at Varsity Gym, where the victories by Enriquez and Londoff gave the Mountaineers (8-4) a 17-15 lead.
"It was an electric atmosphere," App State head coach
JohnMark Bentley said. "We couldn't have asked for a better atmosphere to wrestle in front of. I wish we had wrestled maybe a little bit better, a little bit more taking risks, getting after it and trying to score points — I didn't think we did enough of that. The crowd, this place was packed — maybe one of the biggest crowds I've ever seen."
Bonus points factored into seven of the 10 matches, as App State redshirt freshman
Alan Clothier's 16-5 major decision against Kaden Russell at 184 pounds tied the dual meet at 4-all.
Randall Diabe improved his dual record to 10-2 with an 8-3 decision against Alec Schenk at 197 pounds, but the Blue Devils (6-5) turned a 7-4 deficit into a 15-7 lead with three straight victories.
Enriquez needed only 60 seconds to pin Jeremiah Reitz at 141 pounds, and Londoff recorded a 14-5 major decision against Brandon Laynaud at 149. Londoff had a sizable riding-time advantage as he entered the third period with a 7-2 lead, and his third takedown of the final period created a nine-point cushion with only 23 seconds remaining.
Duke's six victories included one from fourth-ranked heavyweight Jacob Kasper, a 2017 All-American, and a combined four from a quartet of Finesilver brothers (two sets of twins).
App State, which already has clinched at least a share of a third straight Southern Conference championship, can finish with a second straight 7-0 league record if it wins at The Citadel (1-10, 0-5) on Feb. 18.
Duke 25, App State 17
174: Matt Finesilver (DU) def.
Forrest Przybysz (APP), 15-1 maj. dec. (0-4)
184:
Alan Clothier (APP) def. Kaden Russell (DU), 16-5 maj. dec. (4-4)
197:
Randall Diabe (APP) def. Alec Schenk (DU), 8-3 dec. (7-4)
HWT: Jacob Kasper (DU) def.
Cary Miller (APP), 17-1 tech. fall (7-9)
125: Thayer Atkins (DU) def.
De'Andre Swinson-Barr (APP), 4-2 dec. (7-12)
133: Josh Finesilver (DU) def.
Codi Russell (APP), 10-8 dec. (7-15)
141:
Irvin Enriquez (APP) def. Jeremiah Reitz (DU), fall, 1:00 (13-15)
149:
Gavin Londoff (APP) def. Brandon Leynaud (DU), 14-5 maj. dec. (17-15)
157: Mitch Finesilver (DU) def.
Angel Najar (APP), 19-2 tech. fall (17-20)
165: Zach Finesilver (DU) def.
Laken Cook (APP), 16-1 tech. fall (17-25)
