As has become a summer tradition, appstatesports.com is counting down Appalachian State University athletics' 30 most memorable games, matches and meets from the 2015-16 academic year. This year's countdown begins on Tuesday, July 5 and will continue until Tuesday, August 2.
Be sure to check appstatesports.com each day to relive all of the Mountaineers' most lasting memories of an exciting and successful 2015-16.
Denzel Dejournette Wins SoCon Wrestler of the Year
March 2, 2016
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Redshirt-junior Denzel Dejournette was named the Southern Conference Wrestler of the Year for the 2015-16 season and joined three other Mountaineer wrestlers on the all-Southern Conference team, the league office announced on Wednesday.
“Our all-conference selections have done an outstanding job and have been instrumental in the dual meet season we have had,” said head coach JohnMark Bentley. “I expect these guys to lead us in the postseason as we strive to produce All-Americans.”
The heavyweight from Winston-Salem, N.C. put together one of the best seasons in school history, compiling 27 wins and just two losses going into the conference tournament. Dejournette went undefeated in Southern Conference matches with a 7-0 record. Dejournette also won the Michigan State Open and the Keystone Classic and placed second at the ultra-competitive Southern Scuffle.
Dejournette was named SoCon Wrestler of the Week three times during his 2015-16 campaign which gave him five for his career and was also named Southern Conference Wrestling Athlete of the Month for November.
Vito Pasone at 125 pounds, Michael Longo at 141 pounds, and Nick Kee at 174 pounds joined Dejournette on the all-SoCon team. All three wrestlers went 7-0 in Southern Conference matches this season.
Pasone enjoyed another outstanding season after moving down to 125 pounds and tallied a 17-10 record over the course of the season that included a 4th place finish at the Keystone Classic. Pasone, the SoCon runner-up at 133-pounds last season, will look to make his first NCAA appearance this season.
Longo earned his first all-SoCon team selection after making the all-freshman team a year ago. Longo went 16-12 in his sophomore campaign. Longo really turned it up down the stretch of the season, winning nine of his last 11 matches. Longo heads into the SoCon Tourney looking to repeat as the 141-pound champion.
After winning Freshman of the Year last season at 165 pounds, Kee was selected to the all-SoCon team for the second-consecutive year, this time at 174 pounds. Kee excelled at his new weight class, going 25-7 with a 14-2 dual match record. Kee was named Wrestler of the Week after winning matches against UNC and NC State.
The Mountaineers had two true-freshman make the all-freshman team in Matt Zovistoski at 149 pounds and Irvin Enriquez at 133 pounds. Zovistoski went 16-12 overall and 4-3 in SoCon matches. Enriquez took over the 133 pounds spot late in the season and had an overall record of 6-6 with a 4-2 dual match record. Enriquez went 3-1 against Southern Conference schools.
The Mountaineers will travel to Asheville, N.C. for the Southern Conference Wrestling Championship on Mar. 5 at Kimmel Arena.
2015-16 Wrestler of the Year
Denzel Dejournette, R-Jr., 285, Appalachian State
2015-16 Freshman of the Year
Kamaal Shakur, R-Fr., 157, Chattanooga
2015-16 All-Southern Conference Team
125 Vito Pasone, R-Jr., Appalachian State
133 Nathan Kraisser, R-Jr., Campbell
141 Michael Longo, So., Appalachian State
149 Chris Vassar, R-So., Gardner-Webb
157 Aaron Walker, Jr., The Citadel
165 Austin Trott, R-Jr., Gardner-Webb
174 Nick Kee, R-So., Appalachian State
184 Hunter Gamble, R-Jr., Gardner-Webb
197 Scottie Boykin, Jr., Chattanooga
285 Denzel Dejournette, Appalachian State
2015-16 All-Freshman Team
Irvin Enriquez, Appalachian State
Matt Zovistoski, Appalachian State
Jere Heino, Campbell
Nate Higgins, SIUE
Alonzo Allen, Chattanooga
Dominic Lampe, Chattanooga
Kamaal Shakur, Chattanooga
Chase Zemenak, Chattanooga
Dominick Gallo, VMI
Neal Richards, VMI
Appalachian State Athletics' Most Memorable Moments of 2015-16
No. 30: Women's Tennis 4, Georgia Southern 2 (April 20, 2016)
No. 29: App State Knocks Off No. 24 Duke (December 15, 2015)
No. 28: Another 8-7 Walkoff Win Clinches Series Victory (April 4, 2016)
No. 27: Apps Catch Fire in Resilient Win (January 28, 2016)
No. 26: Mountaineers Receive Votes for AP Top 25 (October 15, 2015)
No. 25: Men's Tennis Ousts Troy, Advances to SBC Semis (April 22, 2016)
No. 24: Apps Down GSU with Clutch Plays in Late Moments (Feb. 27, 2016)
No. 23: Frank Eaves Nets 1,000 Career points in 76-67 Win over GSU (Jan. 21, 2015)
No. 22: Jalin Moore Breaks Freshman Rushing Record in 47-20 Win (Nov. 14, 2015)
No. 21: Van Ord Leads App State with 10,000-Meter Win - Sun Belt Champ (May 13, 2016)
No. 20: Broaden Claims Sun Belt Title in 400-Meter Hurdles - Sun Belt Champ (May 13, 2016)
No. 19: Moriarty Cards Career-Low 65; Ties Program Record (March 7, 2016)
No. 18: Pepper Butler Graduates During Special Ceremony (March 19, 2016)
No. 17: Mountaineers Down NJIT, Advance to SBC Semifinal (Nov. 12, 2015)
No. 16: Women's Golf Wins Mimosa Hills Intercollegiate (April 4, 2016)
No. 15: Men's and Women's XC Take Home Second at SBC Championships (November 1, 2015)
No. 14: Dawson Secures First Win as Head Coach (August 30, 2015)
No. 13: Mountaineers Walk Past No. 23 South Alabama, 4-3 (April 15, 2016)
No. 12: Apps Down Little Rock, Advance to Semi-Final Match (November 4, 2015)
No. 11: Denzel Dejournette Wins SoCon Wrestler of the Year (March 2, 2016)
