LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Back at home for the first time in over two months, the Bellarmine University wrestling team battled to its last breath, falling just short to Appalachian State 23-19 on Friday night in Knights Hall.
 
With the loss, Bellarmine moves to 1-3 on the season, 0-2 in Southern Conference action. With the win, App State improves to 5-3 overall, 4-0 in SoCon duals.
 
"I'm really proud of my team for their fight! The gains these guys have made is inspiring," head coach Ned Shuck said of his team's effort. "We are excited to get back to work to keep improving."
 
Despite the score going in favor of the Mountaineers, the Knights were in it the entire dual. The 23-19 result is the closest losing margin the Knights have faced against the Mountaineers in five meetings.
 
"That's a tough team that's well coached," Shuck added. "We did our best to make it happen and we fell a little short."
 
The night started in Bellarmine's favor as redshirt junior Jack Parker (125) secured a 6-3 decision over Bryson Terrell for a 3-0 team lead.
 
After a loss at 133, reigning SoCon Wrestler of the Week AJ Rallo got the dual going back in Bellarmine's favor, winning a 7-1 decision at the 141-pound weight class. Immediately after, redshirt junior Zac Cowan tallied another win for the Knights, defeating Kaden Keiser by an 11-6 decision, putting BU on top 9-5. Entering the match, Keiser was 14-3 in his last 17 matches with all three of his losses coming via decision to ranked opponents.
 
From there, Bellarmine was scoreless until the 184-pound bout. Redshirt senior Devan Hendricks stayed to his game, holding a late 10-7 lead before he went on the attack in the final seconds of the third period to rip off an 18-7 major decision over Logan Eller to bring the Knights within four, down 17-13. The win for Cowan, Bellarmine's first Preseason All-SoCon selection, was his first of the season in dual action.
 
In the final bout of the night, senior Daulton Mayer (285) stepped to the mat with the match already clinched in App State's favor. Despite the outlook, Mayer, who owns the third most pins in NCAA this season, went on the attack immediately, securing his 11^th pin of the season in just 38 seconds.
 
Up next, Bellarmine continues its homestand on Sunday, February 2 as the Knights welcome SoCon foe VMI to Knights Hall.
 
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Bellarmine (19) vs. App State (23)
125: Jack Parker (BU) def. Bryson Terrel (APP) by Dec., 6-3
133: #33 Chad Bellis (APP) def. Trayce Eckman (BU) by TF, 18-3
141: #27 AJ Rallo (BU) def. Aldo Hernandez (APP) by Dec., 7-1
149: Zac Cowan (BU) def. Kaden Keiser (APP) by Dec., 11-6
157: Jeremiah Price (APP) def. Jeb Prechtel (BU) by TF, 25-8
165: #7 Will Miller (APP) def. Cole Nance (BU) by MD, 10-1
174: #28 Luke Uliano (APP) def. Grant O'Dell (BU) by Dec., 3-0
184: Devan Hendricks (BU) def. Logan Eller (APP) by MD, 18-7
197: #28 Carson Floyd (APP) def. Andrew Liber (BU) by Fall, 3:53
285: Daulton Mayer (BU) def. Stephan Monchery (APP) by Fall, 0:39