BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State handed Gardner-Webb its first Southern Conference loss of the season on Tuesday night, taking a 43-2 win.

The Mountaineers (5-2, 3-0 SoCon) sent six nationally-ranked wrestlers onto the mat and came away with wins in nine weight classes – including a forfeit at 141 pounds. Six bouts saw the hosts score bonus points.

Gardner-Webb (4-5, 2-1 SoCon) got a win at 184 pounds from 2021 NCAA qualifier Jha'Quan Anderson, who defeated Barrett Blakely by a 5-3 decision. Anderson scored a takedown in the third period to secure the win.

One of the night's tightest matches came at 165 pounds, with Gardner-Webb NCAA qualifier RJ Mosley going toe-to-toe with No. 16 Will Formato. The low-scoring battle saw each wrestler score a point with an escape and Formato eventually slipped past with a 2-1 decision (SV-3) on the strength of riding time.

Anthony Perrine also engaged in a tough match at 197 pounds, falling by a 4-3 score to Wyatt Miller.

Gardner-Webb will return home for the first time since December 19 when it hosts Chattanooga in a key SoCon dual on Friday, January 28. The match is set for a 7:00 pm start on ESPN+.

FINAL: Appalachian State 43, Gardner-Webb 3
125: #22 Caleb Smith (APP) def. Aedyn Concepcion (GWU), fall (4:24)
133: #25 Codi Russell (APP) def. Todd Carter (GWU), 16-7 maj. dec.
141: Heath Gonyer (APP) won by forfeit
149: #5 Jonathan Millner (APP) def. Corbin Dion (GWU), fall (0:56)
157: #33 Cody Bond (APP) def. Taylor Parks (GWU), fall (4:16)
165: #16 Will Formato (APP) def. RJ Mosley (GWU), 2-1 dec. (TB)
174: #26 Thomas Flitz (APP) def. Evan Schenk (GWU), 12-4 maj. dec.
184: Jha'Quan Anderson (GWU) def. Barrett Blakely (APP), 5-3 dec.
197: Wyatt Miller (APP) def. Anthony Perrine (GWU), 4-3 dec.
285: Michael Burchell (APP) def. Peyton McComas (GWU), 8-0 maj. dec.