By Bret Stelow. BOONE, N.C. — Ranked No. 24 in the country, App State Wrestling closed the regular season with a 45-3 home win against Gardner-Webb on Senior Day in Varsity Gym. The Mountaineers (10-4, 7-1 SoCon) won 62 of 70 individual matches in their seven SoCon victories during the regular season, including nine of 10 on Sunday against the Runnin’ Bulldogs (7-9, 3-5). Will Miller (165 pounds), Luke Uliano (174), Chad Bellis (125) and Kaden Keiser (in the 149 finale) all recorded pins for App State, which earned at least one bonus point in all nine victories. Tommy Askey opened the dual with a tech fall at 157, while wins by major decision came from Carson Floyd (197), Triston Norris (season debut at heavyweight), Ethan Oakley (133) and Ike Byers (141). Gardner-Webb’s Jha’Quan Anderson, a two-time NCAA qualifier ranked 28th at 184 pounds, won a 7-3 decision against freshman Tomas Brooker. The Mountaineers improved to 66-6 in SoCon duals over the past 10 years. Miller needed just 99 seconds to record his pin, and Keiser ended the dual just 43 seconds after he took the mat for his first start at 149 pounds. He opened the regular season with a start at 141. Before the dual, App State recognized four wrestlers on Senior Day: Byers, Cody Bond, Jacob Sartorio and Heath Gonyer. The 2023-24 season is presented by Hungry Howie’s and Penn Station. App State is back in action on Saturday, March 9 as the host school for the 2024 SoCon Championship tournament at the Holmes Center. App State 45, Gardner-Webb 3157: #19 Tommy Askey (APP) def. Tyler Brignola (GW) 21-5 tech fall (5:16)165: #22 Will Miller (APP) def. Andrew Wilson (GW), fall (1:39)174: Luke Uliano (APP) def. Samuel Mora (GW), fall (4:33)184: #28 Jha’Quan Anderson (GW) def. Tomas Brooker (APP), 7-3 dec.197: Carson Floyd (APP) def. Josh McCutchen (GW), 9-1 maj. dec.HWT: Triston Norris (APP) def. Edison Flores (GW), 11-1 maj. dec.125: Chad Bellis (APP) def. Matthew Rowland (GW), fall (6:04)133: #27 Ethan Oakley (APP) def. Aedyn Concepcion (GW), 14-2 maj. dec.141: Ike Byers (APP) def. Tyler Lamon (GW), 14-3 maj. dec.149: Kaden Keiser (APP) def. Sam Harris (GW), fall (0:43)
