BOONE, N.C. – For the second consecutive season, Campbell wrestling has won at least a share of the SoCon regular season championship after defeating App State, 21-15, Sunday afternoon in Varsity Gym.
The Fighting Camels (11-9, 7-1 SoCon) won six of the ten bouts against the Mountaineers (8-4, 7-1), including the final three, to secure a comeback win in the hostile environment.
The win is even more significant considering the history of the two teams. This was only the second time Campbell defeated App State in Boone, with the other coming during the 2018-19 season.
"Beating App State in their home gym is not an easy task," Head Coach Scotti Sentes said after the dual. "We've only ever done it one other time. They have a loud and enthusiastic crowd, so no one can hear any coaching."
The dual started at 149 pounds, where Wynton Denkins earned a 12-8 decision to put the Camels on the board first. App would go on to win the subsequent three bouts to build an 11-3 lead before Riley Augustine pinned Logan Eller at 184 pounds to bring CU back to within two team points.
Levi Hopkins stayed undefeated against SoCon opponents with a 10-7 decision over No. 29 Carson Floyd.
The Mountaineers won their final bout of the day at heavyweight to take a 15-12 lead before Campbell rattled off three straight victories to take the match.
Cooper Shore defeated Bryson Terrell in sudden victory, 9-6, tying the match at 15. Logan Heil followed with a 11-7 decision over Chad Bellis, scoring a takedown in the final 30 seconds to secure the points.
Clinching the match was Shannon Hanna at 141 pounds over Aldo Hernandez. He won by an 8-3 decision to win the match and secure a share of the regular season title.
"The team showed up and battled hard," Sentes said. "It felt like we were being the aggressor in every match and we had a chip on our shoulder. It's going to be important to keep that chip on our shoulders as we prepare for the conference tournament."
The SoCon Tournament will be held March 7-8 in Kimmel Arena on the campus of UNC Asheville. Tournament seedings and the brackets will be announced Wednesday, March 5.
Follow the Camels on Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram for up-to-date information and content throughout the year.
RESULTS
Individual Rankings according to NCAA Coaches' Rankings
Campbell 21, App State 15
149: Wynton Denkins (CAM) def. Kaden Keiser (APP), DEC 12-8 | 3-0
157: Jeremiah Price (APP) def. Chris Earnest (CAM), DEC 5-3 | 3-3
165: #7 Will Miller (APP) def. #32 Dom Baker (CAM), DEC 4-0 | 3-6
174: #29 Luke Uliano (APP) def. Kendrick Hodge (CAM), TF 15-0 (5:50) | 3-11
184: Riley Augustine (CAM) def. Logan Eller (APP), Fall 4:50 | 9-11
197: #25 Levi Hopkins (CAM) def. #29 Carson Floyd (APP) | DEC 10-7 | 12-11
HWT: Stephan Monchery (APP) def. Landon Sargent (CAM), MD 11-2 | 12-15
125: Cooper Shore (CAM) def. Bryson Terrell (APP), SV-1 9-6 | 15-15
133: Logan Heil (CAM) def. Chad Bellis (APP), DEC 11-7 | 18-15
141: #23 Shannon Hanna (CAM) def. Aldo Hernandez (APP), DEC 8-3 | 21-15
