App State wrestling hit the mats Sunday in the Varsity Gym for the first time this season. They welcomed over 20 teams from all around the country for the annual Mountaineer Open. Nearly all of the Mountaineer roster took place in the event, 25 of the total 28.
Some of the notable teams attending included UNC-Chapel Hill and the University of Ohio. More than just schools attended the tournament as several clubs from all across North Carolina joined in. Wrestling clubs are usually gyms, similar to App State’s own Jiu Jitsu Club, that recruit college age or high schoolers that are not in college.
The Black and Gold had four wrestlers take first place in their weight class: 125-pound freshman Cooper Foster, 149-pound redshirt junior Kaden Keiser, 184-pound redshirt sophomore Tomas Brooker and heavyweight sophomore Stephan Monchery. All four wrestlers were undefeated with Keiser, Brooker and Monchery going 4-0 in the tournament while Foster went 3-0.
“It’s nice to get a lot more tournaments like we have earlier in the season, to kind of resemble what it’s like going into the conference tournament. I think that’s what our schedule is based off of right now,” Keiser said. “It’s nice to get multiple matches in a day like that instead of just one match with a dual.”
In addition to the champions, six wrestlers placed second: 125-pound redshirt junior Colby McBride, 141-pound redshirt sophomore Aldo Hernandez, 157-pound redshirt sophomore Jeremiah Price, 165-pound redshirt junior Anthony Conetta, 174-pound freshman Colt Campbell and 197-pound redshirt sophomore Logan Eller.
To finish out the podium placements, 133-pound redshirt freshman Jarvis Little, 149-pound redshirt freshman Brayden Fahrbach and 157-pound redshirt junior Kai O’Dell all placed third. Rutgers transfer and 141-pound redshirt junior Joe Fongaro achieved fourth.
Brooker, who missed most of last season after a torn ACL, made his return to the Varsity Gym, dominating his first three opponents with 2 tech falls and a major decision. His finals opponent, 184-pound Nick Fea from UNC-Chapel Hill, gave him a run for his money, but strong defensive holds in the third period allowed Brooker to have his hand raised when it was all said and done.
“It’s great to be back in Varsity in front of the fans here,” Brooker said. “It’s exciting and I’m ready to have a whole season of it.”
Brooker will not have to wait long as the North Carolina State University Wolfpack head to Boone Sunday for a dual meet. The Wolfpack are No. 6 in the country according to FloWrestling and have the reigning National Champion in 125-poundVince Robinson. The match will begin at 3:30 p.m. and it can be streamed on FloWrestling.
