BOONE, N.C.- Appalachian State University wrestling (8-11-1, 2-3 SoCon) has its sights set on its seventh Southern Conference title in program history as it hosts the 74th annual SoCon Championships on Saturday (Mar. 5) at the Holmes Convocation Center on the campus of ASU. Preliminary competition begins at 11 a.m. and runs through the finals that are set to begin at 7 p.m.

Appalachian searches for its first team title since the 2003 campaign when it tallied 97.5 points and crowned five individuals. The Mountaineers will defend SoCon championships in the 125 and 184 matches, but will bow out in the 197 contest as Dylan Temple redshirted the 2010-11 season.

Sophomore Tony Gravely looks to catch fire in the 125 bracket to defend his title, as will redshirt junior and all-SoCon team member Austin Trotman in the 184 bracket.

If the two are able to pull off the feat, they will join an elite group of only 15 Mountaineers that have been able to obtain back-to-back SoCon titles, while only have done it three times.

Gravely had luck last year as the #4 seed and will be the #5 seed this season. Gravely knocked off both the #1 and #2 seeds en route to his title.

Trotman, ranked #18 nationally, has been named the #1 seed for the second straight season and will look to continue his reign as the 184 king.

Looking for his first 165 SoCon crown will be junior Kyle Blevins. Blevins, who drew the #2 seed, leads the team with a career-high 34 victories and only needs four more to garner the most wins in a single season title. The #19-ranked wrestler made it all the way to the final match last year only to lose to Victor Hojilla, 11-5.

Junior Savva Kostis was the #1 seed last year, but will work out of the #3 position this year as he got all the way to the finals and was defeated by Dean Pavlou, 14-9. Kostis, who is 23-10, at 149 is the third piece of ASU's trio that has over 20 victories.

Also looking to step on the winner's podium this weekend is junior Mike Kessler. The 141-pounder was denied the chance last year due to an injury, but will wrestle out of the #3 spot this year. With a 16-16 record, Kessler has been a bright spot for the Mountaineer rotation that has been ever changing.

Sophomore John Blakely has been in and out of the starting lineup this season in the 157 weight class, but garnered an #3 seed heading into competition. Blakely holds a 3-1 mark in SoCon duals this season.

In his first SoCon tourmanent, all-freshman team member, Marc Tyson is sitting in the #4 position at 285. Tyson is currently 12-14, including an even 2-2 mark in SoCon competition.

Sophomores Brett Boston and Jon Hartley and junior Carter Downs are all also looking to make a run in the tournament out of the 133, 197 and 174 weight classes, respectively.

Doors open at 10 a.m. and fans that can not make it to Boone for action can check ASU's twitter page www.twitter.com/GoASU for updates, as well as GoASU.com.