BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University wrestling will try to defend its 2016 Southern Conference Tournament title and back-to-back regular-season championships on Saturday when it heads to Charleston, S.C. for the 2017 SoCon Tournament.

Highlighted by two-time SoCon Wrestler of the Year Denzel Dejournette at the heavyweight, the Mountaineers (13-3, 7-0 SoCon) have five wrestlers in the top three seeds of their respective weight classes – seven in the top four. He went 23-5 to go along with both him and App State going undefeated in SoCon play at 6-0 and 7-0, respectively. Dejournette had 10 bonus point victories and two seven-match win streaks on the season. The senior was also named SoCon Wrestler of the Year this year. His 106 career victories rank him fifth all-time.

Dejournette will try for his third-straight heavyweight title from the No. 1 seed, while Vito Pasone will try to dethrone two-time defending 125-pound champion SIUE as the No. 1 seed. He went 14-7 on the season and 10-3 in duals – undefeated in conference action. This year, the senior has seven bonus point victories, including a string of three straight over a group that included nationally ranked opponents. His 88 career victories place him eighth all-time at Appalachian.

At the No. 2 spot in 133 pounds is Colby Smith, who finished the regular season with an impressive 24 wins and only eight losses, going 13-3 in duals. He placed first in the freshman/sophomore division at the Southeastern (Hokie) Open to start the season, getting six wins (four bonus) before also placing at the Keystone Classic (fifth). Featured a seven-match win streak at one point and finished the regular season with 14 bonus point victories. 

Irvin Enriquez made the No. 3 seed for 141 pounds. He went 13-16 on the season and 7-9 in duals. Enriquez got key conference victories over VMI, Gardner-Webb, The Citadel, Davidson and SIUE. 

Forrest Przybysz and David Peters-Logue are the No. 4 seeds at 165 and 184 pounds, respectively. Przybysz finished the year 20-11 overall but went 11-5 in duals, including a four-match win streak.  Ten of Przybysz' wins were bonus point victories. Peters-Logue played the clutch role for Appalachian early on, getting a huge pin against then-No. 15 Oregon State. He went 15-12 overall on the season with a 10-6 record in duals.

2017 Southern Conference Wrestling Championship Schedule
9 a.m. – Doors open
10 a.m. – First-round matches
12 p.m. – Semifinals
2 p.m. – Consolation quarterfinals (consolation semifinals immediately after)
5:30 p.m. – Consolation finals
7 p.m. – Finals, true-place matches and award presentation

Seeds

125 (3 NCAA allocations)
1. Vito Pasone, App State
2. Alonzo Allen, Chattanooga
3. Freddie Rodriguez, SIUE
4. Nathan Kraisser, Campbell
5. Dalton Henderson, VMI
6. Landon LoAlbo, Gardner-Webb
7. Patrick Kearney, The Citadel
8. No entry, Davidson 

133 (1 NCAA allocation)
1. Chris Debien, Chattanooga
2. Colby Smith, App State
3. Jonathan Ryan, Campbell
4. John Muldoon, SIUE
5. Philip Anderson, Gardner-Webb
6. Michael Hulcher, VMI
7. Andrew Szalwinski, The Citadel
8. Dustin Runzo, Davidson

141 (1 NCAA allocation)
1. Josh Heil, Campbell
2. Chase Zemenak, Chattanooga
3. Irvin Enriquez, App State
4. Douglas Gudenburr, The Citadel
5. Trevor Feagans, SIUE
6. Ryan Hull, Gardner-Webb
7. John Reed, VMI
8. Hunter Costa, Davidson

149 (2 NCAA allocations)
1. Matt Zovistoski, App State
2. Ty Buckiso, The Citadel
3. John Fahy, SIUE
4. Joby Armenta, Gardner-Webb
5. Ben Barton, Campbell
6. Stevan Smith, VMI
7. Roman Boylen, Chattanooga
8. Aiden Conroy, Davidson

157 (2 NCAA allocations)
1. Aaron Walker, The Citadel
2. Austin Kraisser, Campbell
3. Neal Richards, VMI
4. Ryan Mosely, Gardner-Webb
5. Gavin Londoff, App State
6. Karsten Van Velsor, SIUE
7. Tony Palumbo, Davidson
8. Dylanger Potter, Chattanooga

165 (1 NCAA allocation)
1. Justin Lampe, Chattanooga
2. Tyler Marinelli, Gardner-Webb
3. Quentin Perez, Campbell
4. Forrest Przybysz, App State
5. Clayton Bass, SIUE
6. Cade Kiely, VMI
7. Ruston Hill II, The Citadel
8. Noah Satterfield, Davidson

174 (1 NCAA allocation)
1. Jake Residori, SIUE
2. Austin Trott, Gardner-Webb
3. Sean Mappes, Chattanooga
4. John Weiss, Campbell
5. Shabaka Johns, VMI
6. Conor Fenn, Davidson
7. Martin Duane, The Citadel
8. Angel Najar, App State

184 (3 NCAA allocations)
1. Ville Heino, Campbell
2. Bryce Carr, Chattanooga
3. Hunter Gamble, Gardner-Webb
4. David Peters-Logue, App State
5. Konner Pritchard, Davidson
6. Chris Beck, VMI
7. Jake Godinez, SIUE
8. Chandler Sambets, The Citadel

197 (1 NCAA allocation)
1. Sawyer Root, The Citadel
2. Jake Tindle, SIUE
3. Willie Bivens III, Campbell
4. Clay Dent, Chattanooga
5. Randall Diabe, App State
6. Kyle Ash, Gardner-Webb
7. Taylor Thomas, VMI
8. Ryan Devlin, Davidson

285 (3 NCAA allocations)
1. Denzel Dejournette, App State
2. Jere Heino, Campbell
3. Jared Johnson, Chattanooga
4. Jake McKiernan, SIUE
5. Boyce Cornwell, Gardner-Webb
6. Joe Bexley, The Citadel
7. Will Cooley, Davidson
8. Thomas Shea-Roop, VMI