CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Chris DeBien and Bryce Carr claimed Southern Conference championships Saturday here at The Citadel.
DeBien won at 133, while Carr claimed the 184 pound class. Senior Jared Johnson placed thrid at 185 and join the two Moc winners as NCAA qualifiers. Campbell won its first SoCon team title as the Mocs finished fourth.
Debien came into the championships as the No.
1 seed at 133 pounds. He opened with a first-period pin over Davidson’s Dustin Runzo and advanced to the finals with an 11-6 decision over Southern Illinois-Edwardsville’s John Muldon.
In the finals, Debien took on Appalachian State’s Colby Smith. The regular season meeting between these two was a 2-1 win by Debien, and tonight’s final was another close one. Tied at 2-2 at the end of regulation, the match went into overtime.
After no score in the one-minute period, Smith chose bottom for the first tiebreaker. He reversed Debien, but was whistled for locking hands with 15 second left on the clock. Debien escaped to tie it a 4-4, sending it to the second tiebreaker.
There Debien chosen down and escaped. He scored a takedown late for the 7-4 final score. It was his 11thwin in a row as he improved to 17-9 on the season.
“It has been such a great turnaround for Debien,” stated UTC head coach Heath Eslinger. “He struggled in the first semester, but has really hit his stride late in the season.”
Carr was the No. 2 seed at 184 and also opened with a pin against SIUE’s Jake Godinez. He posted an overtime win against Gardner-Webb’s Hunter Gamble to advance to the finals where he went up against No. 17 Ville Heino of Campbell.
These two split in the regular season, with Carr winning in the Southern Scuffle and Heino take the dual win. Carr scored a takedown in the second period and then held off Heino for a 4-2 win.
Carr is No. 18 in the county and has won 12 of his last 13 matches. He is now 25-4 overall.
“Bryce is a winner,” added Eslinger. He loves to compete and is willing to put in the work. I am glad to see him rewarded for his efforts.”
Senior Jared Johnson placed third at heavyweight, taking one of three NCAA allocations at 285. Sophomore Chase Zemenak (141), junior Justin Lampe (165) and senior Sean Mappes (174) also finished third in the tournament.
Debien, Johnson and Carr now start their preparation for the NCAA Tournament. This year’s championships are March 16-18 in St. Louis, Mo.
Campbell won its first SoCon Championship, picking up a pair of individual titles and five NCAA berths as it edged defending champion Appalachian State at The Citadel’s McAlister Field House.
The Camels scored 89.5 team points to out-distance the Mountaineers, who finished with 86 points. SIUE was a distant third with 69.5 points, followed by Chattanooga (66), Gardner-Webb (37.5), The Citadel (33.5), VMI (9.5) and Davidson (7).
Team Scores
1. Campbell - 89.5
2. Appalachian State - 86.0
3. Southern Illinois-Edwardsville - 69.5
4. Chattanooga - 66.0
5. Gardner-Webb - 37.5
6. The Citadel - 33.5
7. VMI - 9.5
8. Davidson - 7.0
UTC Individual Results
125 - Alonzo Allen (17-13) placed 4th and scored 4.50 team points.
Quarterfinal - Alonzo Allen (UTC) won by major decision over Charles Kearney (Citadel) (MD 16-5)
Semifinal - Freddie Rodriguez (SIUE) won by decision over Alonzo Allen (UTC) (Dec 13-8)
Cons. Semi - Alonzo Allen (UTC) won by decision over Dalton Henderson (VMI) (Dec 7-6)
3rd Place Match - Vito Pasone (ASU) won by tech fall over Alonzo Allen (UTC) (TF-1.5 5:22 (18-1))
133 - Chris Debien (17-10) placed 1st and scored 14.00 team points.
Quarterfinal - Chris Debien (UTC) won by fall over Dustin Runzo (DAV) (Fall 1:43)
Semifinal - Chris Debien (UTC) won by decision over John Muldoon (SIUE) (Dec 11-6)
1st Place Match - Chris Debien (UTC) won in tie breaker - 1 over Colby Smith (ASU) (TB-1 7-4)
141 - Chase Zemenak (10-4) placed 3rd and scored 8.00 team points.
Quarterfinal - John Reed (VMI) won by fall over Chase Zemenak (UTC) (Fall 3:53)
Cons. Round 1 - Chase Zemenak (UTC) won by major decision over Ryan Hull (GWU) (MD 18-6)
Cons. Semi - Chase Zemenak (UTC) won by major decision over Trevor Feagans (SIUE) (MD 19-7)
3rd Place Match - Chase Zemenak (UTC) won by major decision over Douglas Gudenburr (Citadel) (MD 11-3)
149 - Roman Boylen (3-13) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
Quarterfinal - Tyler Buckiso (Citadel) won by decision over Roman Boylen (UTC) (Dec 7-3)
Cons. Round 1 - Aidan Conroy (DAV) won by decision over Roman Boylen (UTC) 3-13 (Dec 3-2)
157 - Dylanger Potter (9-18) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
Quarterfinal - Aaron Walker (Citadel) won by major decision over Dylanger Potter (UTC) (MD 14-2)
Cons. Round 1 - Gavin Londoff (ASU) won by decision over Dylanger Potter (UTC) (Dec 3-0)
165 - Justin Lampe (15-11) placed 3rd and scored 10.50 team points.
Quarterfinal - Justin Lampe (UTC) won by fall over Noah Satterfield (DAV) (Fall 2:03)
Semifinal - Forrest Przybysz (ASU) won by decision over Justin Lampe (UTC) (Dec 1-0)
Cons. Semi - Justin Lampe (UTC) won by fall over Cade Kiely (VMI) (Fall 3:20)
3rd Place Match - Justin Lampe (UTC) won by major decision over Clayton Bass (SIUE) (MD 13-3)
174 - Sean Mappes (17-10) placed 3rd and scored 9.00 team points.
Quarterfinal - Sean Mappes (UTC) won by fall over Conor Fenn (DAV) (Fall 3:45)
Semifinal - Austin Trott (GWU) won by decision over Sean Mappes (UTC) (Dec 1-0)
Cons. Semi - Sean Mappes (UTC) won by decision over Angel Najar (ASU) (Dec 8-2)
3rd Place Match - Sean Mappes (UTC) won by tech fall over Conor Fenn (DAV) (TF-1.5 2:20 (19-0))
184 - Bryce Carr (25-4) placed 1st and scored 14.00 team points.
Quarterfinal - Bryce Carr (UTC) won by fall over Jake Godinez (SIUE) (Fall 3:10)
Semifinal - Bryce Carr (UTC) won in sudden victory - 2 over Hunter Gamble (GWU) (SV-2 4-2)
1st Place Match - Bryce Carr (UTC) won by decision over Ville Heino (Campbell) (Dec 4-2)
197 - Ira Dent (7-7) place is unknown and scored 0.50 team points.
Quarterfinal - Randall Diabe (ASU) won by fall over Clay Dent (UTC) (Fall 7:41)
Cons. Round 1 - Clay Dent (UTC) won by decision over Ryan Devlin (DAV) (Dec 6-3)
Cons. Semi - Willie Bivens (Campbell) won by decision over Clay Dent (UTC) (Dec 6-5)
285 - Jared Johnson (26-7) placed 3rd and scored 5.50 team points.
Quarterfinal - Jared Johnson (UTC) won by decision over Joseph Bexley (Citadel) (Dec 6-0)
Semifinal - Jere Heino (Campbell) won by major decision over Jared Johnson (UTC) (MD 13-3)
Cons. Semi - Jared Johnson (UTC) won by decision over Boyce Cornwell (GWU) (Dec 7-0)
3rd Place Match - Jared Johnson (UTC) won by decision over Joseph Bexley (Citadel) (Dec 6-1)
Individual champions/NCAA qualifiers
125 – Freddie Rodriguez, SIUE
133 – Chris Debien, Chattanooga
141 – Josh Heil, Campbell
149 – Matt Zovistoski, Appalachian State
157 – Ryan Mosley, Gardner-Webb
165 – Quentin Perez, Campbell
174 – Jake Residori, SIUE
184 – Bryce Carr, Chattanooga
197 – Jake Tindle, SIUE
HWT – Denzel Dejournette, Appalachian State
Additional NCAA allocations
125 – Nathan Kraisser, Campbell; Vito Pasone, Appalachian State
157 – Aaron Walker, The Citadel
184 – Ville Heino, Campbell; Hunter Gamble, Gardner-Webb
HWT – Jere Heino, Campbell; Jared Johnson, Chattanooga
Southern Conference Coach of the Year
Cary Kolat, Campbell
Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler
Ryan Mosley, Gardner-Webb