Brayden Palmer secured a takedown in the final seconds to defeat No. 28 Codi Russel
CHATTANOOGA – University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's wrestling team picked up three ranked wins over the Appalachian State Mountaineers on Sunday afternoon in Southern Conference action. App State logged a pin in the final match of the afternoon to secure a 18-16 win and stay perfect in league competition.
The Mocs fall to 5-10 overall and 2-2 in the SoCon. App State improves to 6-2, 4-0.
No. 22
Fabian Gutierrez got the dual started with a statement win at 125. The senior was down 3-2 entering the third period and picked up a takedown with just over a minute to go to take the lead. He never let 24
th-ranked Caleb Smith escape and Gutierrez logged a riding time point to get the 5-3 decision and his second ranked win in as many weekends.
At 133, No. 21
Brayden Palmer and App State's No. 28 Codi Russell were neck and neck with 15 seconds remaining in the third. Russell had the riding time point secured, giving him a 1-0 advantage. Palmer logged a takedown with five seconds left on the clock to earn a 2-1 decision and put Chattanooga up 6-0.
App State evened the match at six with two narrow decisions at 141 and 149. The Mountaineers had the lead for the first time after a 12-7 decision at 157 pounds.
Drew Nicholson (165) tied the match again with an overtime win over No. 20 Will Formato. Nicholson got a takedown with four seconds to go OT to snag the 4-2 decision. At 174, App State registered its fourth decision of the afternoon to take a 12-9 lead.
Thomas Sell gave the Mocs their second decision in OT, matching Nicholson's 4-2 score. Sell logged a takedown with 21 seconds to go in the extra period to tie the team score at 12.
At 197,
Matthew Waddell picked up the first bonus point of the match, an 11-2 major decision to put the Mocs up 16-12. In the final bout of the day,
Matthias Ervin (285) started the action with an early takedown, but ultimately App State's Michael Burchell pinned Ervin 4:17 into the match to give App State the win, 18-16.
SERIES HISTORY
The Mountaineers improve their winning streak over the Mocs to seven straight. All of those matches have been decided by seven points of less. Chattanooga is now 35-25-1 all-time vs. App State.
UP NEXT:
The Mocs return to Maclellan Gym on Sunday, Feb. 13 to conclude their home slate. The Mocs will face VMI at 1 p.m. followed by Presbyterian at 3 p.m. Chattanooga will recognize its seniors in between the two matches.
125: No. 22
Fabian Gutierrez (CHAT) over No. 24 Caleb Smith (APP) (Dec 5-3)
133: No. 21
Brayden Palmer (CHAT) over No. 28 Codi Russell (APP) (Dec 2-1)
141: Heath Gonyer (APP) over
Franco Valdes (CHAT) (Dec 4-2)
149: No. 4 Jonathan Millner (APP) over
Noah Castillo (CHAT) (Dec 4-1)
157: No. 31 Cody Bond (APP) over
Weston Wichman (CHAT) (Dec 12-7)
165:
Drew Nicholson (CHAT) over No. 20 William Formato (APP) (SV-1 4-2)
174: Thomas Flitz (APP) over
Carial Tarter (CHAT) (Dec 9-3)
184:
Thomas Sell (CHAT) over Barrett Blakely (APP) (SV-1 4-2)
197:
Matthew Waddell (CHAT) over Wyatt Miller (APP) (MD 11-2)
285: Michael Burchell (APP) over
Matthias Ervin (CHAT) (Fall 4:17)
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