App State sweeps Chattanooga, Presbyterian

BOONE, N.C. -- Dramatic takedowns at the beginning and end of App State's dual with Chattanooga set the stage for a SoCon sweep Sunday in Varsity Gym.

The Mountaineers opened Senior Day with a 20-13 victory to hand the Mocs their first league loss, and App State capped the tri-meet with a 54-0 shutout of Presbyterian.

Codi Russell, Jonathan Millner, Cody Bond, Will Formato, Thomas Flitz and Michael Burchell enjoyed 2-0 days as the Mountaineers (5-2, 5-1) followed a tight win against a longtime rival with their third shutout in six SoCon duals this season. They recorded five pins and nine wins with bonus points in that matchup.

In a showdown between top-25 wrestlers at 125 pounds to open the tri-meet, Russell won 4-3 against Fabian Gutierrez by erasing a 3-2 deficit on a takedown with 53 seconds left and preventing an escape the rest of the way despite several close calls.

Millner's major decision, Bond's one-point overtime win, Formato's 6-1 decision and Flitz's major decision gave App State a 17-6 lead with three matches remaining, but the Mountaineers still had work to do in the finale against Chattanooga (7-3, 5-1) after a major decision and a 12-5 victory that narrowly missed being a major decision trimmed the Mocs' deficit to 17-13.

They needed a bonus-point win in the heavyweight division to possibly snatch away a team victory, but Burchell broke a 1-1 tie on a takedown with 1:31 left in his 4-1 decision against Grayson Walthall.

After Chattanooga won all its matches against Presbyterian, the Mountaineers benefited from pins by Russell, Anthony Brito, Millner, Flitz and Burchell against the Blue Hose. Julian Gorring and Mason Fiscella also picked up six points apiece with wins by forfeit, Formato improved to 11-1 with a tech fall, Bond added a major decision and true freshman Tyler Kellison won a 9-6 decision at 133 pounds in his first career dual start.

App State 20, Chattanooga 13
125: #23 Codi Russell (APP) def. #21 Fabian Gutierrez (UTC), 4-3 dec.
133: Colton Landers (UTC) def. Sean Carter (APP), 4-2 dec.
141: Franco Valdes (UTC) def. Anthony Brito, 5-3 (SV-2)
149: #21 Jonathan Millner (APP) def. Aidan Murphy (UTC), 15-5 maj. dec.
157: Cody Bond (APP) def. Weston Wichman (UTC), 7-6 dec. (SV-1)
165: #10 Will Formato (APP) def. Drew Nicholson (UTC), 6-1 dec.
174: #19 Thomas Flitz (APP) def. Carial Tarter (UTC), 17-4 maj. dec.
184: #23 Matthew Waddell (UTC) def, Julian Gorring (APP), 11-2 maj. dec.
197: Logan Andrew (UTC) def. Mason Fiscella (APP), 12-5 dec.
285: Michael Burchell (APP) def. Grayson Walthall (UTC), 4-1 dec.

Extra matches:
157: Grant Lundy (UTC) def. Tommy Askey (APP), 6-4 dec. (SV-1)
141: Heath Gonyer (APP) def. Matthew Williams (UTC), 9-0 maj. dec.
149: Tristan Pugh (APP) def. George Coleman (UTC), 8-0 maj. dec.

App State 54, Presbyterian 0
125: #23 Codi Russell (APP) def. Benny Gomez (PC), fall (1:11)
133: Tyler Kellison (APP) def. Dominic Chavez (PC), 9-6 dec.
141: Anthony Brito (APP) def. Jacob Brasseur (PC), fall (2:43)
149: #21 Jonathan Millner (APP) def. Reid Stewart (PC), fall (4:48)
157: Cody Bond (APP) def. Zachary Phillips (PC), 11-1 maj. dec.
165: #10 Will Formato (APP) def. Bryton Goering (PC), 18-2 tech fall (4:02)
174: #19 Thomas Flitz (APP) def. Victor Tello (PC), fall (4:04)
184: Julian Gorring (APP) won by forfeit
197: Mason Fiscella (APP) won by forfeit
285: Michael Burchell (APP) def. Will Pontoon (PC), fall (1:56)

Extra matches:
133: Caleb Smith (APP) def. Khalid Brinkley (PC), fall (3:20)
149: Tristan Pugh (APP) def. Michael Ramirez (PC), 15-0 tech fall (5:37)