Wildcats Suffer One-Point Loss
2/7/2007 4:28:18 PM | Wrestling
Rick Bender
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- Despite pins by freshman Ben Altman and senior Jim Avola, Davidson fell a point shy against visiting Appalachian State on Wednesday evening at Belk Arena in a 22-21 Southern Conference thriller. The Wildcats, who never trailed until forfeiting at heavyweight to end the dual, dropped to 5-9 on the season and 0-4 in the conference, while the Mountaineers improved to 5-15 overall and 1-3 in the league.
The 125-pound Altman opened the match in fine fashion for the Wildcats, pinning Brody Essick in the second period for his 20th victory of the year. The Mountaineers got four of those points back at 133 when Frank Celorrio scraped out a major decision over Chris Panfili, 12-4.
Davidson got right back to work at 141 when Avola needed just 1:18 to pin his opponent. But Scott Ervin, ranked ninth nationally at 149 pounds, returned the favor for ASU with a fall in the first period as well, leaving the 'Cats with a 12-10 advantage.
The bouts became more hotly contested beginning with the 157-pound weight class. Junior Ben Graham took care of business for Davidson with a 6-1 decision before fellow junior Trebor Clavette held off Appalachian's Tommy Hutchinson at 165, 3-2.
In a battle of two 20-match winners entering the evening, Mountaineer Neal Martin outlasted Marcus Boyd at 174, 4-2. In the 184-pound bout, Davidson's Sam O'Hair and ASU's Dan Carrasco dueled to a 1-1 stalemate through the first overtime. After O'Hair pulled off an escape, Carrasco just beat the buzzer with a reversal to scrape out the 3-2 victory, which pulled Appalachian State within two points at 18-16.
With the forfeit looming at heavyweight, freshman Mike Waters needed to score at least a major decision at 197 to avoid the team loss. Although he won the bout, he could only manage a 10-5 decision, and Appalachian State took the match by one point.
Davidson will finish its home and conference schedule in its next bout against The Citadel on Sunday evening in Belk Arena at 6 p.m. In a bit of odd scheduling, Appalachian State also wrestles The Citadel on Sunday at home in Boone, N.C., but at 1 p.m.
Appalachian State 22, Davidson 21
125 -- Ben Altman (DAV) pinned Brody Essick, 3:29 DAV 6-0
133 — Frank Celorrio (ASU) major dec. Chris Panfili, 12-4 DAV 6-4
141 — Jim Avola (DAV) pinned Clinton Swango, 1:18 DAV 12-4
149 — Scott Ervin (ASU) pinned Scott Matthews, 2:45 DAV 12-10
157 — Ben Graham (DAV) dec. Eddie Hutchinson, 6-1 DAV 15-10
165 — Trebor Clavette (DAV) dec. Tommy Hutchinson, 3-2 DAV 18-10
174 — Neal Martin (ASU) dec. Marcus Boyd, 4-2 DAV 18-13
184 — Dan Carrasco (ASU) dec. Sam O'Hair, TB 3-2 DAV 18-16
197 — Mike Waters (DAV) dec. Brandon Brothers, 10-5 DAV 21-16
HWT — Dave Hazell (ASU) won by forfeit ASU 22-21
The 125-pound Altman opened the match in fine fashion for the Wildcats, pinning Brody Essick in the second period for his 20th victory of the year. The Mountaineers got four of those points back at 133 when Frank Celorrio scraped out a major decision over Chris Panfili, 12-4.
Davidson got right back to work at 141 when Avola needed just 1:18 to pin his opponent. But Scott Ervin, ranked ninth nationally at 149 pounds, returned the favor for ASU with a fall in the first period as well, leaving the 'Cats with a 12-10 advantage.
The bouts became more hotly contested beginning with the 157-pound weight class. Junior Ben Graham took care of business for Davidson with a 6-1 decision before fellow junior Trebor Clavette held off Appalachian's Tommy Hutchinson at 165, 3-2.
In a battle of two 20-match winners entering the evening, Mountaineer Neal Martin outlasted Marcus Boyd at 174, 4-2. In the 184-pound bout, Davidson's Sam O'Hair and ASU's Dan Carrasco dueled to a 1-1 stalemate through the first overtime. After O'Hair pulled off an escape, Carrasco just beat the buzzer with a reversal to scrape out the 3-2 victory, which pulled Appalachian State within two points at 18-16.
With the forfeit looming at heavyweight, freshman Mike Waters needed to score at least a major decision at 197 to avoid the team loss. Although he won the bout, he could only manage a 10-5 decision, and Appalachian State took the match by one point.
Davidson will finish its home and conference schedule in its next bout against The Citadel on Sunday evening in Belk Arena at 6 p.m. In a bit of odd scheduling, Appalachian State also wrestles The Citadel on Sunday at home in Boone, N.C., but at 1 p.m.
Appalachian State 22, Davidson 21
125 -- Ben Altman (DAV) pinned Brody Essick, 3:29 DAV 6-0
133 — Frank Celorrio (ASU) major dec. Chris Panfili, 12-4 DAV 6-4
141 — Jim Avola (DAV) pinned Clinton Swango, 1:18 DAV 12-4
149 — Scott Ervin (ASU) pinned Scott Matthews, 2:45 DAV 12-10
157 — Ben Graham (DAV) dec. Eddie Hutchinson, 6-1 DAV 15-10
165 — Trebor Clavette (DAV) dec. Tommy Hutchinson, 3-2 DAV 18-10
174 — Neal Martin (ASU) dec. Marcus Boyd, 4-2 DAV 18-13
184 — Dan Carrasco (ASU) dec. Sam O'Hair, TB 3-2 DAV 18-16
197 — Mike Waters (DAV) dec. Brandon Brothers, 10-5 DAV 21-16
HWT — Dave Hazell (ASU) won by forfeit ASU 22-21
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