BOONE, N.C. — App State Wrestling, ranked in the top 25 nationally by several publications, opens its conference schedule Sunday by facing The Citadel to begin a Varsity Gym doubleheader.
Ranked 23rd by FloWrestling and 24th by The Open Mat, the Mountaineers (2-2) will face the Bulldogs (8-2) in a SoCon dual at 2 p.m., with App State Wrestling alums being honored before App State faces Greensboro College in another dual at approximately 3:30 p.m.
A
ticket to the doubleheader costs $10 (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.
Fans can also watch the doubleheader 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".
App State's first four duals were all against ACC programs, as the Mountaineers went 1-2 against ranked opponents NC State, North Carolina (24-14 victory) and Virginia Tech in addition to shutting out Duke by a 44-0 score. The Mountaineers have four ranked wrestlers in
Ethan Oakley (133 pounds),
Cody Bond (149),
Tommy Askey (157) and
Will Miller (165).
The Bulldogs' 8-2 record this season includes victories against Clarion (via a team tiebreaker), Duke (26-9) and Brown (26-10).
One of The Citadel's top performers this season has been West Virginia transfer Jeffery Boyd, who started two seasons for the Mountaineers and is 8-9 as a SoCon newcomer. His third-place finish at the Navy Classic included a ranked overtime win against Lock Haven's Nick Stonecheck, a ranked win against Princeton's Eligh Rivera and a 1-0 loss to top-ranked Ridge Lovett from Nebraska. Seven of Boyd's nine losses are by one or two points, with one exception being a major decision from App State's
Jeremiah Price to open the season.
At last year's SoCon Championships, Ben Haubert (10-10 this year at 165) placed third, while Jacob Silka (14-9 this year at 141) placed fourth.
Division III Greensboro College was winless on the season entering a Saturday dual against Southern Virginia, but three of those losses were on the same day against Division I opponents Oregon State, North Carolina and Queens at the season-opening Carolina Duals.
That day, reigning ODAC league champion Josh Wilson from Greensboro picked up a pair of wins against North Carolina and Queens at 141. The Pride's coach, Justin Harty, was a four-time All-American at North Carolina from 1994-97.
The 2023-24 season is presented by Hungry Howie's and Penn Station.
