April 2, 2007

JEFFERSON CITY, TN-- The Carson-Newman wrestling team built an early 11-0 lead, but Appalachian State rallied to win six of the last seven matches to defeat the Eagles, 23-15 in the final regular season match of 2007.

C-N (20-14) gained the advantage when Kody Pierson scored three takedowns in the first two rounds en route to a 9-4 decision over ASU's Dustin Smith in the 125-lb. match. Jake Brumbelow, one of four seniors wrestling in their final match at Butler-Blanc Gymnasium, gained a 4-0 lead with a takedown and back points in the first period. After a scoreless second, Brumbelow held off a rally by opponent Frank Celorrio to earn a 4-3 decision. In the 141-lb. match, Kent Pierson dominated from start to finish, building a 12-2 lead after two periods with three reversals, one takedown, and four back points. Pierson defeated Clinton Swango, 19-4 in a major decision. Those three wins gave C-N an 11-0 lead as Mike Rogers took on eight-ranked Scott Ervin in the 149-lb. match. After a scoreless first period, Rogers earned three back points and built a 3-2 lead heading into the third period. A Rogers reversal quickly made the score 5-2 in the third period, but Ervin earned two points and a reversal to defeat Rogers, 6-5 and earn ASU's first points of the match.

Senior Cody Humphrey secured a 4-1 lead with two takedowns in the first period, but opponent Eddie Hutchinson pinned him at the 3:13 mark to move ASU to within two points of the lead at 11-9. In the 165-lb. match, ASU's Tommy Hutchinson refused to give ground in an 11-0 defeat of C-N's Sherman White as ASU took the match lead for good at 13-11. C-N's Justin Ransom took on ASU's Neal Martin in the 174-lb. match. Martin scored a takedown and reversal for a 5-0 lead heading into the third period. Ransom could only manage two escape points in falling 11-2 to Martin. Senior Nate Jones earned a win in his final regular season match as an Eagle. Jones garnered two takedowns and a reversal in the first two periods while adding tow more takedowns and a reversal in a 13-3 victory over Dan Carrasco. Jones' win put C-N within striking distance at 17-15. In the 197-lb. match, C-N's John Trevor took on Aaron Barnette. After a scoreless first period, Barnette scored a reversal and Trevor countered with an escape to put the match at 2-1 heading into the third period. Trevor earned one stalling point to tie the match at the end of three periods, but Barnette earned a takedown early in the extra period to win the match 4-2. Finally, C-N's Chuck Robinson and ASU's Dave Hazell battled in the 285-lb. match. Hazell earned an escape point in the second period and earned more than a minute of riding time to defeat Robinson, 3-0 to give the Mountaineers the eight-point victory.

Senior Brad Argabright wrestled his final 149-lb. match and earned a fall at the 6:28 mark over his ASU opponent.

Carson-Newman will now look forward to the NCAA Midwest Regional at Ashland, Ohio on February 24 and the Division II National Championships from March 8-10 in Kearney, Nebraska.