BOONE, N.C. — App State junior
Codi Russell has been named the Southern Conference Wrestler of the Week following his dramatic, tone-setting win against Lock Haven.
Last Thursday, Russell trailed 3-2 entering the third period against 29th-ranked DJ Fehlman at 133 pounds but secured a 5-3 decision thanks to a tiebreaking takedown with 53 seconds left.
It was a matchup of two returning NCAA Championships qualifiers, with Russell getting a critical victory after suffering losses to Fehlman during a 2019 dual between the two teams as well as when they met at last year's NCAAs in Pittsburgh.
With Lock Haven having top-30 wrestlers at the 125, 133 and 141 spots in the lineup, the Bald Eagles had a chance to post a big lead in the early going, but Russell's victory meant that App State tied the dual with his win and trailed only 7-3 after two matches. The Mountaineers (5-2) went on to win 29-10 against a team that entered the dual with an unofficial ranking of No. 31 in the NWCA Coaches Poll.
A reigning SoCon champion from Atlanta, Ga., Russell improved to 18-8 this season and 53-33 in his career. He is 6-1 in App State's duals this season and ranked 29th in his weight class by TrackWrestling.
The 2019-20 wrestling season is presented by Hungry Howies, and the Mountaineers are back in action Thursday at Varsity Gym to face Duke. The dual begins at 6:30 p.m. (after a high school dual scheduled for 5 p.m.), and tickets are available by
clicking HERE.
