DAVIDSON, N.C. — After beating Chattanooga and Campbell with a pair of dramatic, walk-off victories, App State Wrestling still needed one more win to check off the coronation.
With a 34-6 victory at Davidson on Friday night, the Mountaineers (8-2, 6-0) could officially celebrate the clinching of a SoCon regular-season championship. It's their fifth title in the last seven seasons under the direction of head coach
JohnMark Bentley.
A victory Sunday against Presbyterian would allow App State to finish with an unbeaten SoCon record and an outright regular-season championship for the third time in the last six years.
Caleb Smith started the dual with a six-point pin at 125 pounds, and the Mountaineers won eight of 10 matches. The dual also closed with a pin, as heavyweight
Michael Burchell turned a 6-1 deficit with him starting the third period on top into a fall with 1:01 remaining against Mitchell Trigg, who took a 16-9 overall record and 5-1 league record into the match.
Codi Russell's 6-4 decision at 133 against Kyle Gorant, who has dual wins this year against Chattanooga and Campbell, followed Smith's early pin. The Mountaineers ran their lead to 28-0 thanks to four major decisions and one decision in the next five matches.
Heath Gonyer (10-2 win at 141),
Jonathan Millner (13-1 win at 149) and
Cody Bond (12-4 win at 157) earned four points apiece before
Will Formato posted a 2-0 shutout by riding out the third period at 165.
Thomas Flitz followed that with a 10-2 major decision at 174.
Davidson's victories came in close matches at 184, where Gavin Henry recorded a 6-3 decision against first-time starter
Brett Mordecai, and 197, where Finlay Holston won a 3-2 decision against
Wyatt Miller.
The 2021-22 App State wrestling season is presented by Hungry Howie's and Penn Station.
App State 34, Davidson 6
125: #23
Caleb Smith (APP) def. Hale Robinson (DAV), fall (4:27)
133: #30
Codi Russell (APP) def. Kyle Gorant (DAV), 6-4 dec.
141:
Heath Gonyer (APP) def. Nick Cambria (DAV), 10-2 maj. dec.
149: #4
Jonathan Millner (APP) def. Gavin Damasco (DAV), 13-1 maj. dec.
157: #31
Cody Bond (APP) def. Bryce Sanderlin (DAV), 12-4 maj. dec.
165: #20
Will Formato (APP) def. Jaden Hardrick (DAV), 2-0 dec.
174: #28
Thomas Flitz (APP) def. Lachlan Rosato (DAV), 10-2 maj. dec.
184: Gavin Henry (DAV) def.
Brett Mordecai (APP), 6-3 dec.
197: Finlay Holston (DAV) def.
Wyatt Miller (APP), 3-2 dec.
285:
Michael Burchell (APP) def. Mitchell Trigg (DAV), fall (5:59)
