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ASU’s Jackson earns state award
SALISBURY — Appalachian State University associate athletics director for public affairs David Jackson has been named the 2007 North Carolina Sportscaster of the Year, the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association announced Friday.

A 2000 ASU graduate, Jackson is in his eighth year as the “Voice of the Mountaineers,” serving as the play-by-play announcer for Appalachian football, men’s basketball and baseball radio broadcasts. He is also the host of ASU’s Appalachian Football Weekly and Mountaineer Basketball with Houston Fancher television shows and oversees Appalachian’s marketing and ticket operations in his role as associate AD.

Jackson joins an elite group of broadcasters that have previously received the North Carolina Sportscaster of the Year award. Past winners include CBS college basketball analyst Billy Packer, legendary University of North Carolina play-by-play announcer Woody Durham and the voice of the Carolina Panthers, Mick Mixon.

“On behalf of the entire Appalachian family, I congratulate David for receiving this well-deserved honor,” director of athletics Charlie Cobb said. “In addition to the outstanding job that he does as the ‘Voice of the Mountaineers,’ David does many things behind the scenes everyday that contribute to the unprecedented growth that ASU athletics has experienced over the past several years.”

Jackson will be honored along with the rest of the NSSA’s state and national award winners during the organization’s national convention, May 3-5 in Salisbury. In addition to Jackson, CBS’s Jim Nantz will be honored as the National Sportscaster of the Year and the Boston Globe’s Bob Ryan will receive the National Sportswriter of the Year award.

ASU sweeps Winston-Salem State
WINSTON-SALEM — The Appalachian State men's tennis team beat Winston-Salem State 7-0 Sunday.

Playing at the No.1 spot for the first time this season, senior Ryan Brookshaw won his match in two sets 6-1, 6-1. At No. 2 singles, the Mountaineers’ Lee Floyd won his match in two sets.

Two freshman made their college debut for the Mountaineers (2-1). Russ Ferrari won his match at No. 4 singles, while Taylor Bianco won at No. 6. Both Mountaineers won in two sets.

In doubles play, the team of Trent Constance and Peter Jacobs was solid at the No.1 spot, as they beat Brian Coxton and Ian Hunter 8-2. David Doverspike and Bobby Lake also had an impressive showing as they won 8-1. Closing out the match, Bianco and Gareth Thomas handily won their match 8-0.

The Rams fall to 0-3.

On the women’s side, Appalachian State also beat Winston-Salem State 7-0 Sunday.

The Mountainers (2-2) were led by Monica Tomas, who won her match at No. 1 singles 6-1, 6-1. Amanda Cash, Lindsay King, Heather Prior, Elizabeth Holland and Carolina Maugh also picked up singles victories for the Mountaineers.

Cash and Prior beat Shannon Loughnon and Laken Joyce 8-4 at No. 1 doubles. Holland teamed with Thomas and Cook paired with King to win at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles.

ASU blasts The Citadel 31-8
CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Appalachian State wrestling team extended its winning streak to three with a 31-8 victory over The Citadel Saturday.

The Mountaineers (10-7, 3-1 Southern Conference) won seven individual matches over the Bulldogs (4-7, 1-3) and moved into second place tie with UNC Greensboro in the Southern Conference standings.

The match opened up at 197-pounds with The Citadel’s John Buck going ahead 3-2 with a takedown with 32 seconds left in the match. ASU freshman Dylan Temple escaped with 12 seconds left to tie the bout and send it to overtime.

In overtime, Temple tried to elude Buck’s takedown attempt and in the process caught Buck by surprise and scored a pin with only one second remaining in the extra period. After the loss, Buck was charged with an unsportsmanlike penalty giving The Citadel -1 points to Appalachian’s 6.

At 285, Appalachian’s Jared Campbell defeated Aaron Brown 2-1, even though Brown scored the only active points of the match on an escape after starting the second period on the bottom. Campbell’s points both came off of stalling penalties on Brown in the first and second periods.

In the 125-pound match, Appalachian’s Frank Celorrio used two takedowns, a caution penalty, an escape and the riding bonus to beat Tyler Sim, 7-1.

Appalachian’s 133-pounder, Terreyl Williams, used six takedowns and riding time including one takedown, with less than a second left in the match, to secure a 13-4 major decision over The Citadel’s Anthony Easter.

In the 149-pound match, Appalachian’s Scott Ervin took down Derek Royster 24 seconds in and added three near-fall points with 25 seconds left in the first period. Ervin chose the top position to start the second period, securing the pin 62 seconds into the period. Ervin, ranked No. 12 in the nation improves his record to 29-5 on the season with his fourth pin in his last six matches and sixth pin this season.

Appalachian’s 157-pound Eddie Hutchinson secured a takedown 40 seconds into the bout and pinned The Citadel’s Keith Koziel 45 seconds later at 1:25. The pin sealed the victory for the Mountaineers and made the team score 28-2.

In the match’s final bout, Appalachian freshman Austin Trotman used two takedowns, an escape and riding time to defeat The Citadel’s Darius Caldwell, 6-0 at 184 pounds.