BOONE, N.C. — App State Wrestling's challenging schedule, which currently includes three top-10 opponents among four ranked foes, begins Friday night with a Varsity Gym visit from No. 3 NC State.
The dual is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
After finishing last season ranked No. 20 in the NWCA Coaches Poll, the Mountaineers are the top team in the "others receiving votes" category beyond the top 25 of this year's preseason poll despite having a new-look lineup. NC State (1-0) has a ranked wrestler in all 10 weight classes, including six top-10 wrestlers and three returning All-Americans.
A
ticket to the NC State match, one of three premium duals on wrestling's home schedule, costs $20 (it's free for App State students who show a student ID). The Rivers Street Deck across from Varsity Gym is the most popular parking option for wrestling events, with fans entering the corner of the gym adjacent to the loading dock area off Rivers Street.
Free of charge, fans not attending will be able to watch on the
App State Wrestling Facebook page, the
App State Athletics YouTube page or the
Twitch.TV channel for App State Athletics.
Fans attending wrestling events should be aware that Varsity Gym has a clear bag policy for visitors. According to App State's clear bag policies:
- Approved bags include clear plastic bags that do not exceed 12" x 6" x 12" and small clutch purses no larger than 4.5" x 6.5".
- Bags that are not approved include diaper bags, backpacks, binocular cases, camera cases, tinted or printed pattern plastic bags, fanny packs, oversized tote bags & mesh bags, and purses exceeding 4.5" x 6.5".
For optimal value, season tickets for wrestling's 10 regular-season competitions (with two doubleheaders and two tournaments) are
available for $60 (adults), or at $85 for a premium season ticket with a chairback seat on the floor, close to the mat. Additionally, there's a
$70 mini-pack for matside tickets to the three dates with No. 3 NC State, No. 25 North Carolina and No. 7 Cornell (as part of a doubleheader) visiting Boone.
Families are encouraged to
sign up their children to become members of the Junior Mountaineer Kids Club, an exclusive club for children in eighth grade or below. The cost is just $35 a year, and members receive free admission with their JMKC credential to all home wrestling duals as well as an App State merchandise pack that includes a T-shirt, clear bag, magnets and more. Families with multiple children receive a discounted membership fee after the first child.
NC State opened the 2023-24 season Wednesday night with a 48-0 shutout of Presbyterian. The Wolfpack potentially has a 10-man lineup with 10 ranked wrestlers, including the six wrestlers ranked in the top 10 of their weight classes and another at No. 12 in his.
On paper, NC State could have a higher-ranked wrestler at each weight class Friday night, but App State has gained national notoriety for how tough it annually wrestles against the Wolfpack. The Mountaineers won four of 10 matches last season, three of 10 two seasons ago and four of 10 in 2020-21, with NC State ranked in the top 10 each time.
App State's roster includes five wrestlers with NCAA Championships experience in
Ethan Oakley (133 pounds),
Sean Carter (133 pounds),
Cody Bond (now at 149 pounds after winning a SoCon title at 157 two seasons ago),
Tommy Askey (returning SoCon champion at 157 pounds) and
Will Miller (back at 165 pounds after making the NCAA Championships at 174 pounds last season).
Intermat's preseason rankings have Askey at No. 20, Bond at No. 25 and
Carson Floyd, the 2023 SoCon Freshman of the Year, at No. 31 in the 197-pound group. Oakley, who is expected to wrestle at 133 on Friday night, is ranked No. 16 in his weight class by FloWrestling.
NC State's returning All-Americans are Kai Orine (ranked No. 5 at 133 pounds), Ed Scott (ranked No. 5 at 157 pounds) and Trent Hidlay (ranked No. 5 at 197 pounds). Other top-10 rankings belong to wrestlers at 141 pounds (No. 9 Ryan Jack), 149 pounds (No. 7 Jackson Arrington) and heavyweight (No. 8 Owen Trephan).
For fans, one notable change came this summer, when the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved making all takedowns in wrestling worth three points instead of two. The intent of increasing the scoring for takedowns is to enhance the sport by rewarding offensive actions and risk-taking.
Eliminating the hand-touch takedown also was approved by the panel, and a three-point near-fall scoring component has been added — previously, officials could award two or four points for near falls.
The 2023-24 season is presented by Hungry Howie's and Penn Station.
