BOONE, N.C. — App State split 10 matches against No. 20 North Carolina, with
Thomas Flitz beating a top-10 opponent and
Michael Burchell closing the dual with a victory against a two-time NCAA qualifier, but the Tar Heels used bonus points in two victories as they claimed a 17-15 win Friday night in a packed Varsity Gym.
Flitz earned a 6-5 decision against ninth-ranked Clay Lautt at 174 pounds, and Burchell delivered a tiebreaking takedown with a minute left in a 3-2 decision against Brandon Whitman. Lautt and Flitz traded first-period takedowns before Flitz followed a second-period escape with another takedown for a 6-3 lead.
App State's other victories came from seventh-ranked
Jonathan Millner (5-2 decision at 149 pounds against 17th-ranked Zach Sherman in a matchup of returning All-Americans),
Will Formato (5-0 shutout of Sonny Santiago at 165 pounds) and
Caleb Smith (7-3 decision against Spencer Moore at 125 pounds).
Codi Russell nearly had a go-ahead takedown in the final seconds of his match at 133 pounds, but Joe Heilmann won a 4-3 decision, and
Barrett Blakely was tied with 21st-ranked Gavin Kane at 184 pounds until Kane registered a takedown in the final 30 seconds of a 3-1 decision.
Heath Gonyer made his first career dual start by facing ninth-ranked Kizhan Clarke at 141 pounds, and Gonyer trailed just 3-2 in the third before Clarke gained separation on a takedown with 1:21 remaining.
With a win by more than seven points (and less than 15) being worth a bonus point, UNC benefited from major decisions at 157 pounds (reigning NCAA champion Austin O'Conner over
Cody Bond) and 197 pounds (30th-ranked Max Shaw over
Mason Fiscella).
The 2021-22 wrestling season is presented by Hungry Howies and Penn Station. The Mountaineers return to action quickly with their Southern Conference opener Sunday afternoon in Louisville, Kent., against Bellarmine.
No. 20 North Carolina 17, App State 15
125: #31
Caleb Smith (APP) def. Spencer Moore (UNC), 7-3 dec.
133: Joe Heilmann (UNC) def. #23
Codi Russell (APP), 4-3 dec.
141: #9 Kizhan Clarke (UNC) def.
Heath Gonyer (APP), 7-3 dec.
149: #7
Jonathan Millner (APP) def. #17 Zach Sherman (UNC), 5-2 dec.
157: #7 Austin O'Conner (UNC) def.
Cody Bond (APP), 12-3 maj. dec.
165: #25
Will Formato (APP) def. Sonny Santiago (UNC) 5-0 dec.
174:
Thomas Flitz (APP) def. #9 Clay Lautt (UNC), 6-5 dec.
184: #21 Gavin Kane (UNC) def.
Barrett Blakely (APP), 3-1 dec.
197: #30 Max Shaw (UNC) def.
Mason Fiscella (APP), 10-1 maj. dec.
HWT:
Michael Burchell (APP) def. Brandon Whitman (UNC), 3-2 dec.
