BOONE, N.C. -- The Indiana wrestling team preceded the tournament postseason with a dual meet at No. 18 Appalachian State, as part of the annual NWCA Division-I National Dual Championship series. The Hoosiers (10-9, 2-7) scored their first top-20 win of the season over the Mountaineers (13-3, 8-0), winning six bouts for a 21-12 victory.
With the win, the Hoosiers complete a winning record with their first win in the NWCA Dual Series, avenging their 21-13 loss to Appalachian State in the series last season. It also gives head coach Duane Goldman his 18th season at Indiana with a winning record.
Before the meet began, it appeared that the advantage would swing to whichever team could score a winning start in the 125 lbs. match between #20 Elijah Oliver and #18 Vito Pasone. Not only did this match, a 7-5 win for Oliver, weigh on the dual meet result; it delivered on its promise as the bout of the afternoon.
Pasone kicked it off with the first takedown of the match, but Oliver ensured a first period tie with a reversal. Oliver went on to score the only point in the second with a late escape, taking a 3-2 lead. Pasone edged Oliver's third period takedown with two escapes and a stall point to tie the bout at 5-5, forcing a sudden victory period.
Oliver, in similar fashion to last year's match-winning takedown in short time, prevailed with the decisive drop to end the year with a top-20 win.
Cole Weaver (141) continued his momentum from last weekend's pin to score a 5-4 decision over Irvin Enriquez, breaking an early tie on the team score sheet. Weaver scored the only two takedowns of the match and pulled away with a third period escape.
Indiana's lead erupted just before intermission as they won four consecutive bouts, starting with Jake Danishek's (157) decision over Gavin Londoff. Danishek had a 4-0 lead entering the final period before Londoff scored an escape, and he finished the third with the riding time point for a 5-1 win. Bryce Martin (165) followed with a convincing 6-2 decision over Forrest Przybysz, led by his 4-1 scoring run in the final two periods.
The Hoosiers' leaders in bonus point victories followed with a pair of dominating results that widened the gap on the team score. Freshman Devin Skatzka (174) clocked out early with a 5:43 technical fall, 18-2, which featured 8 nearfall points and 4 takedowns.
Senior #6 Nate Jackson (184) completed an unbeaten 19-0 run through duals in the 2016-17 with his major decision against David Peters-Logue. Jackson poured on 3 takedowns in the first period, another 2 in the second, and shutout the third for a 15-3 win. The major decision, Jackson's 19th bonus point victory this year, is his ninth win in a row.
Results:
125: #20 Elijah Oliver (IU) dec. #18 Vito Pasone (ASU), SV-1 7-5 | IU 3, ASU 0
133: #20 Colby Smith (ASU) dec. Garrett Pepple (IU), 5-0 | IU 3, ASU 3
141: Cole Weaver (IU) dec. Irvin Enriquez (ASU), 5-4 | IU 6, ASU 3
149: #18 Matt Zovistoski (ASU) dec. Chris Perez (IU), 5-3 | IU 6, ASU 6
157: Jake Danishek (IU) dec. Gavin Londoff (ASU), 5-1 | IU 9, ASU 6
165: Bryce Martin (IU) dec. Forrest Przybysz (ASU), 6-2 | IU 12, ASU 6
174: #23 Devin Skatzka (IU) tech. fall Elliott Raiford (ASU), 18-2 | IU 17, ASU 6
184: #6 Nate Jackson (IU) maj. dec. David Peters-Logue (ASU), 15-3 | IU 21, ASU 6
197: Randall Diabe (ASU) dec. Jake Hinz (IU), 4-0 | IU 21, ASU 9
285: #9 Denzel Dejournette (ASU) dec. Fletcher Miller (IU), 4-1 | IU 21, ASU 12
Up Next: Big Ten Championships
Saturday, March 4 â€" Sunday, March 5 • Stream on BTN Plus • Finals on BTN
Simon Sjkodt Assembly Hall • Bloomington, Ind.
The Hoosiers are proud to host this year's installation of the Big Ten Wrestling Championships, which will take place at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Saturday, March 4 and Sunday, March 5. The tournament seeding and brackets will be announced on Friday, March 3.
