BOONE, N.C. — App State Wrestling enters Sunday's regular season finale with a chance to earn at least a share of another SoCon title.
On Senior Day at Varsity Gym, the Mountaineers (9-6, 6-1 SoCon) will face Gardner-Webb (4-3 SoCon) at 3 p.m. Six wrestlers will be recognized before the dual, and it's also Student Appreciation Day, with free App State Wrestling T-shirts and pizza available to students, while supplies last.
Doors open to the public at 2 p.m.
Under head coach
JohnMark Bentley's direction, the Mountaineers are looking to earn at least a share of a SoCon regular season title for the fourth time in the last five years and the eighth time in the last 11 years. App State, Chattanooga and The Citadel are all 6-1 in the league going into their final matches Sunday.
Chattanooga (9-5, 6-1) travels to Bellarmine (7-7, 4-3), and The Citadel (10-7, 6-1) takes on VMI (5-8, 1-5). The standings are crowded at the top because of matching 1-1 head-to-head records among the three co-leaders:
Jan. 31: The Citadel 19, Chattanooga 18 (in Chattanooga)
Feb. 8: App State 23, The Citadel 13 (in Boone)
Feb. 15: Chattanooga 20, App State 13 (in Chattanooga)
*Jan. 31 match finished 18-18; tie broken in The Citadel's favor because it had the only pin
App State will honor six team members before the dual:
Drake Acklin,
Hunter Adams,
Nick Grizales,
Colby McBride,
Kai O'Dell and
Joe Zovistoski.
Tomas Brooker (6-0 at 184 pounds) and
Stephan Monchery (7-0 at heavyweight) have unbeaten SoCon records this season for the Mountaineers, while Gardner-Webb's T.K. Davis (19-1 overall, 7-0 SoCon at 133 pounds) is the league's highest-ranked wrestler at No. 17 in the NCAA Coaches' Rankings.
Gardner-Webb's most accomplished wrestlers kickstart the Runnin' Bulldogs' lineup at 125, 133 and 141 pounds, with Tyson Lane (4-1 in SoCon duals at 125), Davis (7-0 league record includes one pin, three tech falls, three major decisions) and Dominic DiTullio (5-1 in SoCon duals at 141).
GWU built a 10-0 lead in a 19-13 loss to The Citadel and a 12-0 lead in a 19-18 win over Bellarmine.
For fans attending Sunday, tickets in advance of match day
are available online at $10 for general admission, with a $5 order charge. Tickets purchased on match day are $15 at the door.
Home duals are
streamed live on FloWrestling, which has a subscription model.
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 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 2025-26 season is presented by Hungry Howie's and Penn Station.
