Two-time NCAA Qualifier and 2023 Southern Conference Champion Caleb Smith will join the Nebraska wrestling program as a transfer with two remaining years of eligibility, Nebraska Head Coach Mark Manning announced Tuesday.
A native of High Point, N.C., Smith has a career record of 60-16 in three seasons competing for Appalachian State, qualifying for the NCAA Championships the past two years.
Smith finished atop the podium at the 2023 Southern Conference Championships and went 26-7 on the season, including a 14-0 dual record. He tallied five pins, one technical fall and four major decisions. He placed third at the 2022 conference tournament, finishing the season with a 24-8 record and a 9-2 dual record.
Smith prepped at Southwest Guilford where he was a three-time state champion at 126 pounds and finished with a career record of 186-21 and 73 pins. Additionally, he wrestled for the School of Hardknocks club team coached by Bobby Lloyd and Mike Dalton.
2022-23: SoCon champion and All-SoCon at 125 ... Finished with a 26-7 record after going 14-0 in duals, 8-0 in SoCon duals and 3-0 at the SoCon Championship at 125 pounds ... Won 6-3 against Presbyterian’s Dominic Chavez in the SoCon final ... Had seven wins against ranked or NCAA-qualified wrestlers, highlighted by a 12-2 major decision against Nebraska’s Liam Cronin (No. 3 NCAA seed) in Las Vegas and a 5-4 win at the Southern Scuffle against Northern Colorado’s Stevo Poulin (No. 6 NCAA seed) ... Also had wins against Maryland’s Braxton Brown, NC State’s Jarrett Trombley, Virginia Tech’s Eddie Ventresca, UNC’s Jack Wagner and Campbell’s Anthony Molton ... Went 0-2 at the NCAAs with close losses to a two-time All-American (2021, 2023) and the 2022 fourth-place finsher ... Had dual wins against ranked opponents from NC State, Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Campbell ... In App State’s 19-16 victory at North Carolina, with each team winning five matches, came up with six huge points with a pin in a ranked showdown against Wagner ... Opened App State’s 22-14 victory against Campbell by getting a tiebreaking takedown with 25 seconds left to win 4-1 in a ranked matchup at 125 ... Won 3-2 against Trombley in NC State dual by earning a tiebreaking takedown with 39 seconds left ... Quarterfinalist at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational before finishing 2-2.
A native of High Point, N.C., Smith has a career record of 60-16 in three seasons competing for Appalachian State, qualifying for the NCAA Championships the past two years.
Smith finished atop the podium at the 2023 Southern Conference Championships and went 26-7 on the season, including a 14-0 dual record. He tallied five pins, one technical fall and four major decisions. He placed third at the 2022 conference tournament, finishing the season with a 24-8 record and a 9-2 dual record.
Smith prepped at Southwest Guilford where he was a three-time state champion at 126 pounds and finished with a career record of 186-21 and 73 pins. Additionally, he wrestled for the School of Hardknocks club team coached by Bobby Lloyd and Mike Dalton.
2022-23: SoCon champion and All-SoCon at 125 ... Finished with a 26-7 record after going 14-0 in duals, 8-0 in SoCon duals and 3-0 at the SoCon Championship at 125 pounds ... Won 6-3 against Presbyterian’s Dominic Chavez in the SoCon final ... Had seven wins against ranked or NCAA-qualified wrestlers, highlighted by a 12-2 major decision against Nebraska’s Liam Cronin (No. 3 NCAA seed) in Las Vegas and a 5-4 win at the Southern Scuffle against Northern Colorado’s Stevo Poulin (No. 6 NCAA seed) ... Also had wins against Maryland’s Braxton Brown, NC State’s Jarrett Trombley, Virginia Tech’s Eddie Ventresca, UNC’s Jack Wagner and Campbell’s Anthony Molton ... Went 0-2 at the NCAAs with close losses to a two-time All-American (2021, 2023) and the 2022 fourth-place finsher ... Had dual wins against ranked opponents from NC State, Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Campbell ... In App State’s 19-16 victory at North Carolina, with each team winning five matches, came up with six huge points with a pin in a ranked showdown against Wagner ... Opened App State’s 22-14 victory against Campbell by getting a tiebreaking takedown with 25 seconds left to win 4-1 in a ranked matchup at 125 ... Won 3-2 against Trombley in NC State dual by earning a tiebreaking takedown with 39 seconds left ... Quarterfinalist at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational before finishing 2-2.
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