Around the area

Rubinstein named All-American
TUCSON, Ariz. — After becoming Appalachian State University baseball’s first all-American in 19 years last season, junior outfielder David Rubinstein has been tabbed a Louisville Slugger preseason third-team all-American by Collegiate Baseball newspaper.

Rubinstein, who garnered postseason third-team Louisville Slugger all-America accolades after hitting .361 and setting school records with 30 doubles and 67 runs scored in 2007, joins Western Carolina catcher Blake Murphy as the Southern Conference’s only representatives among the 73 players recognized on Collegiate Baseball’s 2008 preseason all-America squads.

Last spring, Rubinstein became ASU’s first postseason all-American since 1988 and only the sixth Mountaineer to earn all-America recognition since Appalachian joined the NCAA ranks in 1973. In addition to the gaudy individual numbers, Rubinstein helped lead the Mountaineers to a 33-26 record a season ago, the program’s best showing in over two decades.

Appalachian opens the 2008 season in less than two months with a three-game series at N.C. State, Feb. 22-24.

ASU goes 3-1 in Lone Star Duals
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Appalachian State wrestling team improved to 6-5 on the season with a 3-1 record at the Lone Star Duals. Appalachian opened the day with consecutive wins over North Dakota State (26-16), Eastern Michigan (30-9) and Air Force (25-9) before falling to No. 7 ranked Michigan (25-9) in the night cap.

Appalachian State opened 2008 against Summit League foe North Dakota State. After four bouts, Appalachian trailed 10-7 with senior Eddie Hutchinson stepping up to the mat. Hutchinson pinned NDSU’s Adam Aho in only 44 seconds to grab six big points giving ASU the 13-10 lead after the 157-pound match.

Sophomore Brett Houghton added a pin at 174-pounds to extend the lead to 22-10. Freshman Austin Trotman added the final four points with a 13-4 majority decision at 184-pounds.

In the second match of the day, Appalachian faced Eastern Michigan. Frank Celorrio opened the match with a 7-3 decision to give ASU the early 3-0 lead. Marcus Cox and Scott Ervin claimed majority decision and tech fall victories at 141-pounds and 149-pounds respectively. Cox captured the impressive 16-6 win while No. 14 ranked Ervin blanked Drew Lesko 16-0 to earn five team points.

Tommy Hutchinson followed his brothers example and earned a pin in only 40 seconds over Justin Brandel. Houghton earned his second pin of the day over Don Funk in 1:40 to put ASU up to a 27-3 lead. Freshman Dylan Temple scratched out a 3-1 victory at 197-pounds to put Appalachian State up to a 30-6 lead. Junior Jared Campbell dropped his bout at 285-pounds 0-3 to arive at the final outcome of 30-9.

Appalachian achieved their longest winning streak of the season when they downed Air Force 25-9. Celorrio and senior Terreyl Williams earned 9-3 and 7-5 decisions at 125 and 133-pounds to open up a 6-0 lead.

Mountaineers Cox, Ervin and Eddie Hutchinson rolled on with consecutive victories to sprint out to a 16-0 lead. Tommy Hutchinson earned his second pin of the day to push the lead to 22-0. Freshman John Allen Griswold dropped a 1-3 decision to Sterling Tribble, part of Air Force’s 9-3 rally in the final four bouts.

In the final match of the day, Appalachian faced Michigan. Celorrio earned a pin on Jason Lara to give the Apps the 6-0 lead. The Wolverines rallied, scoring 12 points in three matches including a pin by No. 1 ranked Kellen Russel on Cox at 141 pounds. Eddie Hutchinson took a 4-2 decision over No. 20 Jeff Marsh to cut the Michigan lead to 12-9. Unfortunately it was as close as ASU would get, as the Mountaineers dropped the final five matches, surrendering 20 points to the Wolverines down the stretch.

Next up for the Mountaineers is the home opener against UNC Greensboro on Jan. 13 at 2 p.m.