BOONE, N.C. — For the first time in 658 days, App State will host a wrestling dual with a full crowd in Varsity Gym.
The Mountaineers open their 2021-22 dual schedule Sunday with a visit from No. 5 NC State (2-0). The match begins at 3 p.m., and the event will be streamed live by Yosef Media, with access available by subscribing to The Grind's Rokfin channel.
App State is unofficially No. 30 in the NWCA Coaches Poll (fifth in the others receiving votes category), while the Wolfpack followed a 34-6 victory against West Virginia by winning all 10 matches against Gardner-Webb. Last year, the Mountaineers won four of 10 matches against NC State and trailed 14-12 heading into the final two matches of a 24-12 loss.
Tickets, which are $12 for adults and $7 for youth, can be purchased at the Rivers Street entrance to Varsity Gym or online by
clicking HERE.
COVID-19 safety precautions
- Face coverings are required in all indoor areas on campus, including Varsity Gym, regardless of vaccination status. If actively eating, face coverings are not required to be worn
- Face coverings are not required outside Varsity Gym
- Hand sanitizer stations are available in the facility
Parking
- Parking lots are free to the public on Sundays, with the Rivers Street Deck across from Varsity Gym being the most popular option for wrestling events
TORNADO RELIEF DONATIONS
App State Athletics is asking fans and community members to bring items to Varsity Gym on Sunday to help those in Western Kentucky following Friday night's devastating tornadoes.
Tornado clean-up items of need:
Household bleach
Rubber gloves
Bottled water
Paper towels
Toilet paper
Protective goggles
Hand soap
Canned food
When and where to bring items:
Drop off items at the Varsity Gym entrance across from Rivers Street Parking Deck from 2-3 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. on Sunday.
Thank You:
In exchange for your donation, you will be offered a ticket to one of the following upcoming App State sporting events of your choice.
- App State Women's Basketball vs. Eastern Kentucky on Dec. 21 (1 p.m.)
- App State Wrestling vs. VMI (5:45 p.m.) and Little Rock (7:30 p.m.) on Jan. 21
- App State Men's Basketball vs. Louisiana on Dec. 30 (6:30 p.m.)
For additional information, contact Sarah Strickland at
stricklandsc@appstate.edu or 828-406-5351.
MATCH BREAKDOWN
After App State hosted a Senior Day dual against VMI on Feb. 23, 2020, the Mountaineers wrestled in front of reduced-capacity crowds last season and made their 2021-22 home debut with the Mountaineer Invitational tournament on Nov. 14.
The projected lineups for App State and NC State include 16 wrestlers out of a possible 20 that are either returning NCAA qualifiers from last season or ranked wrestlers this season.
Jonathan Millner is a returning All-American at 149 pounds, and he is ranked No. 7 in his weight class by Intermat.
Codi Russell is ranked No. 24 at 133 pounds,
Will Formato is No. 26 at 165, and first-year starter
Caleb Smith is No. 30 at 125. The Mountaineers' other probable starters are
Anthony Brito (returning NCAA qualifier at 141),
Cody Bond (returning NCAA qualifier at 157),
Thomas Flitz (returning NCAA qualifier at 174),
Barrett Blakely (first-year starter at 184),
Mason Fiscella (197) and
Michael Burchell (285).
The Wolfpack has returning NCAA qualifiers at six of 10 weights, led by two All-Americans from 2020-21: Hayden Hidlay (has moved up from 157 to 174 pounds) and Trent Hidlay (184 pounds).
Jakob Camacho (125), Jarrett Trombley (133), Thomas Bullard (165) and Deonte Wilson (one of two options at 285, along with Owen Trephan) also competed in last year's NCAAs. Tariq Wilson, an All-American who moved up from 141 to 149 pounds, and 17th-ranked Kai Orine (133 pounds) aren't expected to wrestle Sunday.
