BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State University wrestling will travel across the country to Gilroy, Calif. for its first road contest of the 2014-15 season. Appalachian opened its season at home on Nov. 2.

The Mountaineers will compete in a tri-dual with CSU Bakersfield and IllInois set for Friday afternoon. Appalachian wrestled against CSU Bakersfield for the first time last season, dropping the meet 22-12. The Black and Gold won the only previous matchup with Illinois.

Season Opener: App State opened its season with a tri-dual versus Cumberland University and Buffalo at home. Appalachian dominated Cumberland 46-6 with five Mountaineers pinning their opponents including pins from 2014 NCAA Qualifiers Dominic Parisi and Dylan Cottrell and 2013 NCAA qualifier Zack Strickland.

In the second match up of the day the Apps fell to Buffalo 20-18, despite major decisions from Strickland and Denzel Dejournette. No. 10 nationally ranked Cottrell recorded his second pin of the day against Buffalo's Justin Cooksey 1:57 into the match.

Coming Up Next: Bakersfield feature the No. 6 (Intermat) ranked Bryce Hammond at 174 pounds. CSUB fell to Stanford in its season opener 25-6. The No. 9 fighting Illini feature Jesse Delgado the two-time defending NCAA champion at 125. Delgado is ranked No. 1 (intermat). Other nationally ranked wrestlers for Illinois are Zane Richards (No. 7 at 133), Isiah Martinez (No. 11, at 157), Jackson Morse (No. 13 at 165), Steven Rodrigues (No. 17 at 141), Zac Brunson (No. 12 at 174), and Nikko Reyes (No. 19 at 184)

After the tri-dual, Appalachian will head to Fresno to participate in the Road Runner Open on Sunday. The Mountaineers will be competing against Bakersfield, Cal Poly, Grand Canyon, Illinois, Mt. SAC, North Carolina, Oregon State, Purdue, San Francisco State, Simpson (Calif.), and Stanford. Oregon State is ranked No. 24 nationally.

Complete Recap will be avalible following the conclusion of Friday's tri-dual and Sunday's Road Runner Open.