LOUISVILLE, Ky. — App State Wrestling opened its SoCon schedule with a dominant 46-6 road victory against Bellarmine.
The Mountaineers improved to 45-5 in 50 conference duals since the start of the 2014-15 season — giving them the fifth-best conference record in Division I wrestling during that time, behind just Missouri, Oklahoma State, Cornell and Penn State.
After taking three of the first six matches against No. 5 NC State and splitting 10 matches in a 17-15 loss to No. 20 North Carolina, App State (1-2) received bonus points in all nine of its wins Sunday in Louisville. Bellarmine's lone victory came via an injury default in the first 10 seconds of the matchup at 197 pounds.
Codi Russell (133 pounds),
Anthony Brito (141),
Jonathan Millner (149) and
Michael Burchell (285) all recorded pins for the Mountaineers. They had three straight following a six-point win by forfeit at 125 pounds for
Caleb Smith, as Russell delivered a fall in the final minute of his match to earn additional bonus points.
Cody Bond overcame an early 6-2 deficit to secure a tech fall by a 22-7 score against Alex Rhine at 157 pounds, and App State's major decisions came from
Will Formato (12-1 at 165 pounds),
Thomas Flitz (9-1 at 174) and
Barrett Blakely (184). Blakely posted his first career dual win as a member of App State's lineup by increasing a 2-0 lead to 6-2 during the second period and then finished with a 15-4 victory against Sam Schroeder.
Burchell needed only 100 seconds to pin Charlie Cadell. The pins for Brito and Millner both occurred during the second period.
The 2021-22 wrestling season is presented by Hungry Howies and Penn Station. The Mountaineers return to action Jan. 1-2 with the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tenn. They're back in Varsity Gym to face The Citadel on Friday, Jan. 7.
App State 46, Bellarmine 6
125: #31
Caleb Smith (APP) won by forfeit
133: #23
Codi Russell (APP) def. Max Dansereau (BU), fall (6:05)
141:
Anthony Brito (APP) def. Logan Hoskins (BU), fall (4:03)
149: #7
Jonathan Millner (APP) def. Mitch Collica (BU), fall (4:14)
157:
Cody Bond (APP) def. Alex Rhine (BU), 22-7 tech fall (7:00)
165: #25
Will Formato (APP) def. Devan Hendricks (BU), 12-1 maj. dec.
174:
Thomas Flitz (APP) def. Eric Beck (BU), 9-1 maj. dec.
184:
Barrett Blakely (APP) def. Sam Schroeder (BU), 15-4 maj. dec.
197: Bryant Wilkinson (BU) def.
Mason Fiscella (APP), injury default
HWT:
Michael Burchell (APP) def. Charlie Cadell (BU) fall (1:40)
* App State had one team point deducted (unsportsmanlike conduct)
