BOONE, N.C. — Less than 10 seconds after the home dual against Duke began,
Caleb Smith brought fans in Varsity Gym to their feet with an emphatic takedown.
Fans of the 19th-ranked Mountaineers had reason to cheer all evening, as App State won the first nine matches in a 42-3 victory against Duke on Tuesday night. The crowd of 968 witnessed eight of those wins produce bonus points in a one-sided affair that gave the Mountaineers their 10th victory over a Power Five program since
JohnMark Bentley became head coach.
After climbing to its highest-ever ranking in the NWCA Coaches Poll earlier in the day — App State is as high as No. 18 in the country in a different poll and has been as high as No. 16 in InterMat's rankings, back in 2016-17 — the Mountaineers improved to 7-2 overall by dominating their final nonconference dual.
The Appalachian Open on Saturday is next on the schedule, and App State will take a 3-0 league record into its SoCon dual at Gardner-Webb on Monday.
Smith's fast start in Tuesday's opener at 125 pounds propelled him to a six-point pin with 20 seconds left in the second period — he was on the verge of a five-point tech fall with an 18-4 lead before securing the fall.
Tommy Askey also earned six team points against Duke (3-7) with his second-period pin at 157, and a Duke forfeit at 174 allowed
Will Miller to contribute six more points to the team score.
Jon Jon Millner delivered a takedown and nearly received back points four seconds into his 21-4 tech fall at 149 pounds, and App State posted four major decisions:
Ethan Oakley (13-3 win at 133 pounds),
Will Formato (13-0 shutout at 165),
Luke Uliano (11-1 win at 184) and
Carson Floyd (11-2 win at 197).
Heath Gonyer won a 5-1 decision at 141.
Duke's lone victory occurred in the last official match, with 20th-ranked Jonah Niesenbaum winning 3-2 against
Triston Norris in the redshirt freshman's second career dual start.
Formato, who won 7-4 against Gabe Dinette last year in Durham, recorded a takedown 22 seconds into the rematch. A takedown and four-point near fall in the second period enabled him to open up a 9-0 lead.
Leading 2-1 after a second-period rideout, Uliano quickly followed a third-period reversal with a four-point near fall to take control of his match.
Facing Duke's Vincent Baker, who was coming off a Friday win against previously ranked Max Shaw of North Carolina, Floyd recorded a takedown in the first 15 seconds and led 4-1 with 1:51 in riding time after one period. Ahead 6-1 after two periods, Floyd used a third-period reversal and takedown to collect a bonus point.
The 2022-23 season is presented by Hungry Howie's and Penn Station.
No. 19 App State 42, Duke 3
125: #11
Caleb Smith (APP) def. Ethan Grimminger (DU), fall (4:40)
133:
Ethan Oakley (APP) def. Logan Agin (DU), 13-3 maj. dec.
141:
Heath Gonyer (APP) def. Jarred Papscy (DU), 5-1 dec.
149: #9
Jon Jon Millner (APP) def. Patrick Rowland (DU), 21-4 tech fall
157: #28
Tommy Askey (APP) def. Logan Ferrero (DU), fall (3:31)
165: #26
Will Formato (APP) def. Gabe Dinette (DU), 13-0 maj. dec.
174: #27
Will Miller (APP) won by forfeit
184:
Luke Uliano (APP) def. Luke Chakonis (DU), 11-1 maj. dec.
197:
Carson Floyd (APP) def. Vincent Baker (DU), 11-2 maj. dec.
Hwt: #20 Jonah Niesenbaum (DU) def.
Triston Norris (APP), 3-2 dec.
Extra match
141:
Riley Edwards (APP) def. Christian Colman (DU), 4-0 dec.
