BOONE, N.C. — With its voting points in the National Wrestling Coaches Association top 25 poll and ranking of No. 14 in the NWCA's Mid-Major poll, Appalachian State's wrestling program has ended the 2018 regular season with more national recognition.
The Mountaineers (9-4, 7-0) are preparing for next weekend's Southern Conference tournament in Charleston, S.C., after wrapping up another run to an unbeaten SoCon regular season championship.
App State's 20-1 record in SoCon dual meets since the start of the 2015-16 season has included three straight conference championships and two straight outright titles with a 7-0 league mark.
Nationally, during the same three-year stretch, coach
JohnMark Bentley's program is 29-1 against non-Power Five Conference opponents with five victories against teams from Power Five leagues: Duke (2015-16), Indiana (2015-16), No. 15 Oregon State (2016-17), No. 25 North Carolina (2016-17) and Duke (2016-17).
App State cracked the top 25 of the NWCA poll for the first time thanks to an 8-2 start to the 2015-16 season and climbed to as high as No. 16 with its 13-2 start to the 2016-17 season. With a rebuilt lineup often including six or seven underclassmen among the 10 weight classes, the Mountaineers have received top-25 voting points at several points this season. They're currently No. 29 based on their two voting points following a 45-6 victory at The Citadel on Sunday.
The 2018 Southern Conference tournament will be held March 3 at The Citadel's McAlister Field House, with competition beginning at 10 a.m.
