NC State Wolfpack

Jan. 1, 2013

Chattanooga, Tenn. -

The NC State wrestling squad returned to action today after a couple of weeks off, as the Wolfpack traveled to Chattanooga, Tenn., to compete in the 2013 Southern Scuffle.

One of the top collegiate tournaments each season, this year’s 23 team field featured five of the top 10 teams and seven top-25 teams overall.

Sophomore Nick Gwiazdowski continues his dominate early season, as he coasted into the semifinals at 285 pounds. Seeded fourth, Gwiazdowski started with a 16-1 technical fall win over Brendan Kahle of Navy and then defeated Nicholas Ruggear of Penn State 9-3. In the quarterfinals, Gwiazdowski scored another technical fall, this a 17-1 win over 18th-ranked Levi Cooper of Arizona State.

Another pair of Pack wrestlers remain alive in the consolation brackets of their weight classes, Thomas Gantt at 149 pounds and Nijel Jones at 165 pounds.

Gantt is competing in his second meet of the year. He started with a pair of decisions of 7-5 and 6-3, before falling to 17th-ranked Christopher Villalonga of Cornell in the quarterfinals.

Jones was the ninth-seed at 165 pounds, and is currently ranked 17th nationally. Jones started with an 8-4 decision followed by a 12-1 major decision. Jones’ loss was to top-ranked and three-time NCAA Champion Kyle Dake of Cornell in the quarterfinals.

Action will continue for three Pack wrestlers tomorrow beginning at 9 a.m. Gwiazdowski will be in the semifinals at 285 pounds against reigning NCAA champion Tony Nelson of Minnesota. Gantt (149) and Jones (165) will both be in action in the consolation bracket in their weight classes.

141
Michael Avelar
won 9-4 decision over Ben Gillette (South Dakota)
lost 10-2 major decision to Julian Feikert (Oklahoma State)
lost 13-2 major decision to Brent Jorge (Campbell)

149
Cohl Fulk
lost 9-5 decision to Seth Lange (Minnesota)
lost 6-3 decision to Dustin Walraven (South Dakota)

Thomas Gantt
won 7-5 decision over Conrad Rangell (Minnesota)
won 6-3 decision over Kevin Tao (American)
lost 6-0 decision to #17 Christopher Villalonga (Cornell)

157
Matt Nereim
lost 8-4 decision to Kyle Bradley (Missouri)
won 14-5 major decision over Trey Stavrum (Chattanooga)
lost 9-8 decision to Joel Smith (Arizona State)

165
Ryan Fox
lost 6-5 decision to Josh Condon (Chattanooga)
won 3-1 decision over Michael Harper (The Citadel)
won 13-5 major decision over Marcos Peralta (American)
won 4-1 decision over Corey Carlo (Cleveland State)
lost 12-8 decision to Tyler Mergen (Air Force)

Nijel Jones
won 8-4 decision over Michael Harper (The Citadel)
won 12-1 major decision over Peyton Walsh (Navy)
lost by fall (3:50) to #1 Kyle Dake (Cornell)

174
Patrick Davis
lost 6-4 decision to Turtogto Luvsandorj (The Citadel)
won by fall (1:16) over John Nething (South Dakota)
lost 10-6 decision to Jordan Gagliano (Missouri)

285
Josh Davis
lost 1-0 decision to James Lawson (Penn State)
lost 12-2 major decision to Blake Herrin (American)

Nick Gwiazdowski
won 16-1 technical fall over Brendan Kahle (Navy)
won 9-3 decision over Nicholas Ruggear (Penn State)
won 17-1 technical fall over #18 Levi Cooper (Arizona State)

Mike Kosoy
lost 8-0 major decision to #15 Jeremy Johnson (Ohio)
won 10-5 decision over Andrew Fulk (Duke)
won 8-4 decision over Stephen Snyder (Army)
lost 5-3 decision to Kevin Malone (Chattanooga)