BOONE, N.C. – Gardner-Webb rallied from an early deficit to blow past Buffalo, 32-7, and rolled to a 56-0 win over Cumberland Sunday for a pair of wins at the 2014 Mountaineer Duals at Appalachian State.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (2-0) fell behind 7-0 to Buffalo after the first two matches, but ran off 32 unanswered points over the final eight individual bouts for a convincing win over the Bulls.
It marked Gardner-Webb's first win over a team from the Mid America Conference.
Preseason All-SoCon selection Chris Vassar topped Jason Estevez at 141 pounds to start the rally, picking up an 8-3 win. Ryan Mosley defeated Justin Cooksey (4-0) at 149 pounds and Kyle Ash picked up a 10-7 decision at 157 pounds – before standout sophomore Austin Trott recorded a tech fall win over Rrok Ndokaj (16-0) at 165 pounds to put the 'Dogs up 14-7.
An injury default win for Hunter Gamble at 174 pounds was followed by consecutive decisions at 184 pounds for Brett Stein (10-4) and 197 pounds for Gray Jones (2-1).
Heavyweight veteran Justin Kozera capped the match by pinning Mike Silvis in 1:43 for the final margin.
Gardner-Webb recorded seven pins in its 10 individual bouts against Cumberland and won the other three via two major decisions and a tech fall.
Trott at 165 (1:30), Mosley at 149 (1:32) and Vassar at 141 (2:01) recorded the four quickest falls.
Cortez Starkes (125, 6:19), Hunter Gamble (174, 4:37), Brett Stein (184, 3:21) and Kozera (HVY, 2:25) also recorded pins.
Tyler Ziegler picked up a 10-2 major decision over Robbie Resendiz at 133 pounds and Kyle Ash recorded a 16-1 tech fall win at 157 pounds over Dalton Baysinger. Gray Jones picked up a 10-2 major decision at 197 pounds over Kyle Delaune.
Up next for Gardner-Webb is an appearance at The 2014 Hokie Open at Virginia Tech on Sunday, November 9 (All Day). The next dual match action for GWU will come at Virginia on Saturday, November 15 – followed by a busy November 16 that features dual matches with Virginia Tech (3:00 pm) and North Dakota State (4:30 pm).
Gardner-Webb 32, Buffalo 7
125: Max Soria (BUF) major dec. Cortez Starkes (GW), 12-3 (BUF 4-0)
133: Sean Peacock (BUF) dec. Tyler Ziegler (GW), 4-1 (BUF 7-0)
141: Chris Vassar (GW) dec. Jason Estevez (BUF), 8-3 (BUF 7-3)
149: Ryan Mosley (GW) dec. Justin Cooksey (BUF), 4-0 (BUF 7-6)
157: Kyle Ash (GW) dec. Alex Smythe (BUF), 10-7 (GW 9-7)
165: Austin Trott (GW) tech fall Rrok Ndokaj (BUF), 16-0 (GW 14-7)
174: Hunter Gamble (GW) injury default Tyler Rill (BUF), (GW 20-7)
184: Brett Stein (GW) dec. Austin Weigel (BUF), 10-4 (GW 23-7)
197: Gray Jones (GW) dec. Joe Ariola (BUF), 2-1 (GW 26-7)
HVY: Justin Kozera fall (GW) Mike Silvis, 1:43 (GW 32-7)
Gardner-Webb 56, Cumberland 0
125: Cortez Starkes (GW) fall Chris Mosher (CU), 6:19 (GW 6-0)
133: Tyler Ziegler (GW) major dec. Robbie Resendiz (CU), 10-2 (GW 10-0)
141: Chris Vassar (GW) fall Ladigo Williams (CU), 2:01 (GW 16-0)
149: Ryan Mosley (GW) fall Ethyn Holbrook (CU), 1:32 (GW 22-0)
157: Kyle Ash (GW) tech fall Dalton Baysinger (CU), 16-1 (GW 27-0)
165: Austin Trott (GW) fall Michael Gonzalez (CU), 1:30 (GW 33-0)
174: Hunter Gamble (GW) fall Dustin Harris (CU), 4:37 (GW 39-0)
184: Brett Stein (GW) fall Aric Fernandez (CU), 3:21 (GW 45-0)
197: Gray Jones (GW) major dec. Kyle Delaune (CU), 10-2 (GW 50-0)
HVY: Justin Kozera (GW) fall Corey Daniels (CU), 2:25 (GW 56-0)
