CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel wrestling team fell to No. 25 Appalachian State 31-13 on Wednesday evening inside McAlister Field House.
 
After a 30-minute delay due to technical difficulties, the match began with Caleb Smith (0-12) and Irvin Enriquez at 133 pounds. Enriquez won by technical default, giving Appalachian State (9-2, 4-0) a 5-0 lead. The Citadel dropped the 141-pound bout by tech fall as well, making it 10-0 Mountaineers.
 
Matt Frisch (15-7) was the next Bulldog on the mat at 149 pounds and got on the board quickly with a two-point takedown. Matt Zovistoski tallied two escapes to even the score at 2-2 in the second period. After two stalls were called on the Mountaineers, Frisch earned another point to take a 3-2 lead into the third period. The senior added to his lead with 1:30 remaining the third period, recording a two-point reversal to make it 5-2 and then securing the riding time point to take the 6-2 decision and put the first points on the board for The Citadel. With three weight classes complete, Appalachian State still held the lead 10-3.
 
At 157 pounds, Southern Conference Wrestler of the Week Aaron Walker (18-5) held a 5-3 lead heading into the third period after recording a two-point takedown right before the buzzer in the second period. The junior then picked up his fifth pin of the season to decrease the Mountaineers lead to just one. Walker is now 10-0 in duals and 3-0 in the SoCon.
 
Daniel Smith (0-11) stumbled at 165 pounds, losing by major decision, and App State increased its lead to 14-9.
 
The Citadel lost the next two bouts and App State increased its lead to 23-9 with three weights remaining.
 
Marshall Haas (17-7) was the next Bulldog on the mat and built a 4-1 lead in the first period. The senior took a 7-1 lead into the third period and tallied two two-point takedowns en route to earning the 13-3 major decision and closing the gap to 23-13 in the match.
 
At 285 Joe Bexley (9-10) took the 11-3 major decision loss to No. 6 Denzel Dejournette and with only one weight class remaining, sealed the team win over the Bulldogs.
 
With the 31-13 loss, the Bulldogs fall to 1-2 in SoCon action and 4-6 overall.
 
The Bulldogs now hit the road for a four-match road swing. First up is SoCon foe Campbell on Jan. 28th at 6 p.m. Results will be available at CitadelSports.com after the match is complete.
 
For more information on The Citadel wrestling, follow @CitadelWrestle or visit CitadelSports.com.