CHARLESTON, S.C. — Appalachian State University wrestling took home second place at the 2017 Southern Conference Tournament with a score of 86.0 as a team on Saturday. Campbell was this year's champion with 89.5.

The Mountaineers had eight wrestlers place and three qualify for the NCAA Championship in St. Louis, Mo.

2016-17 SoCon Wrestler of the Year Denzel Dejournette started off the heavyweight division with a bang, pinning VMI's Thomas Shae-Roop in 30 seconds before getting the 20-4 technical fall win over SIUE's Jake McKiernan. In the first place matchup, Dejournette battled with Campbell's Jere Heino and won out his spot in the NCAA Championship by winning 7-4.

Matt Zovistoski began the 149-pound division with a 12-0 major decision over Joby Armenta of Gardner-Webb before narrowly defeating Ben Barton of Campbell with a 2-1 decision. Zovistoski then faced SIUE's John Fahy for the first place batter where App State got the 6-5 decision victory, earning Zovistoski a ticket to the NCAA Championship.

At 125 pounds, senior Vito Pasone fell to Campbell's Nathan Kraisser, 16-1, before Pasone bounced back to blast Gardner-Webb's Landon LoAlbo with a 20-7 major decision. Pasone then got the third place and spot in the NCAA Championship by defeating Alonzo Allen in an 18-1 technical fall.

Colby Smith started off the 133-pound bracket by downing The Citadel's Andrew Szalwinski in a 9-1 major decision. Smith then got another major decision when he defeated Jonathan Ryan of Campbell, 12-1, to get to the first place bout. The freshman would fall to Chattanooga's Chris Debian 7-4 in double overtime to finish second overall.

In the 141-pound division, Irvin Enriquez started off hot when he downed Gardner-Webb's Ryan Hull with a 20-5 technical fall and a 16-1 tech fall over VMI's John Reed to reach the match for first place. Facing Campbell's Joshua Heil, Enriquez was unable to topple him, falling 10-2 to place second for the tournament.

Forrest Przybysz made quick work of SIUE's Clayton Bass to start the 165-pound weight class before getting the narrow 1-0 decision win over Chattanooga's Justin Lampe to proceed to the first place match. Facing Campbell's Quentin Perez, Przybysz fell 8-4 to garner second place honors.

Randall Diabe pinned Ira Dent of Chattanooga in overtime (7:41) to advance to wrestle The Citadel's Sawyer Root, but Diabe fell 13-1 in the major decision. In consolation, Diabe got the sudden victory, 3-1 win over VMI's Taylor Thomas to battle for third place honors, which he was awarded due to injury forfeit.

At 184-pounds, David Peters-Logue downed Davidson's Konner Pritchard 8-1 before falling to Ville Heino of Campbell by one point, 6-5. Peters-Logue then pinned Chris Beck of VMI in 1:30 to play Gardner-Webb's Hunter Gamble to set up the third place matchup. Gamble stretched the lead over Peters-Logue and he wasn't able to battle back, falling 13-4 to finish fourth overall. 

In the 174-pound division, Angel Najar fell to SIUE's Jake Residori before downing VMI's Shabaka Johns in a 10-2 major decision. Najar then fell to Chattanooga's Sean Mappes in a slight 8-2 decision. At 157 pounds, Gavin Londoff fell in his opener, but responded to down Chattanooga's Dylanger Potter 3-0. Londoff then fell 4-0 to VMI's Neal Ricahrds.

Dejournette, Pasone and Zovistoski will all participate in the 2017 NCAA Wrestling Championship in St. Louis, Mo. The tournament is set to take place March 16-18 at the Scottrade Center.