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No. 21 App State Wrestling Continues Winning Ways With Victory Over Campbell

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Senior 125-pounder Vito Pasone upset Campbell’s No. 11 Nathan Kraisser on Wednesday, helping Appalachian State wrestling win five of its last six bouts to defeat the Camels, 24-13. Courtesy: Rob Moore (Appalachian ’93) / App State Athletics

Senior 125-pounder Vito Pasone upset Campbell’s No. 11 wrestler en route to Appalachian State University wrestling’s impressive 24-13 win over the Camels on Wednesday night at Varsity Gym.

Pasone came out of the gates quickly, controlling the tempo and forcing his will from the very beginning against Campbell’s Nathan Kraisser. Once the momentum was on the senior’s side, Pasone never let up, eventually taking the weight class with a 9-3 decision.

The Mountaineers (6-1, 2-0 Southern Conference) won five of the last six bouts to seal the victory over the Camels (3-3, 0-1 SoCon), beginning with an all-out barnburner at the 197-pound weight class between sophomore Randall Diabe and Campbell’s Willie Bivens III. 

Diabe used a quick start to put Bivens on his heels, however, the Camel would battle back toward the end to force the sudden death round at the end of three periods. Once in the overtime period, Diabe got caught in a bind early but made his way out of it without giving up points before returning the favor with a two-point takedown to get the 9-7 sudden victory and bring the Mountaineers within one, 8-9.

Senior No. 8 heavyweight Denzel Dejournette carried the momentum forward to put Appalachian up on the team score, taking down Jere Heino in a quick 7-2 decision, to give App the 11-9 lead.

After Pasone’s match, freshman Colby Smith continued his impressive year at the 133-pound weight class. Facing Jonathan Ryan, the two battled tough for 6:06 before Smith got the decisive pin.

Sophomore No. 15 149-pounder Matt Zovistoski sealed the win for the Mountaineers in the final bout of the evening against Benjamin Barton. After a close first period, Zovistoski took over the match and recorded the 13-3 major decision to get the win.

Appalachian had to battle back from losing three of its first four matches of the day as things got off to a sluggish start. A shining part of the first half of play came when No. 18 junior Nick Kee made a furious start to the 174-pound match, getting takedown after takedown and a few near-falls. Kee would end up getting the 17-2 technical fall victory over Alexander Herringshaw.

The Black and Gold only dropped a total of four matches all night, as freshman Gavin Londoff and senior Forrest Przybysz fell in decisions decided by less than five points each. Junior David Peters-Logue fell by just three points off a late takedown while Irvin Enriquez fell 16-6 in a major decision.

Appalachian State wrestling now heads on the road for the next three weeks, traveling to wrestle SIUE in Edwardsville, Ill. on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 5 p.m. and Missouri at Columbia, Mo. on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. The Mountaineers then start of 2017 on New Year’s Day when they head to the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The Apps will return home on Sunday, Jan. 8 when they host The Citadel and Clarion in Varsity Gym. Action will begin at 2 p.m.

RESULTS: 
157: Austin Kraisser (CAM) def. Gavin Londoff (APP), 4-1 dec.
165: Quentin Perez (CAM) def. #23 Forrest Przybysz (APP), 9-4 dec.
174: #18 Nick Kee (APP) def. Alexander Herringshaw (CAM), 17-2 TF
184: Ville Heino (CAM) def. David Peters-Logue (APP), 8-5 dec.
197: Randall Diabe (APP) def. Willie Bivens III (CAM), 9-7/S-V – 8-9
HWT: #8 Denzel Dejournette (APP) def. Jere Heino (CAM), 7-2 dec. -11-9
125: Vito Pasone (APP) def. #11 Nathan Kraisser (CAM), 9-3 dec. – 14-9
133: Colby Smith (APP) def. Jonathan Ryan (CAM), pinned (6:06) – 20-9
141: Joshua Heil (CAM) def. Irvin Enriquez (APP), 16-6 maj dec. – 20-13
149: #15 Matt Zovistoski (APP) def. Benjamin Barton (CAM), 13-3 maj dec. 

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