Appalachian State wrestling opened its 2026-27 campaign in Salem, Virginia, with a stack of podium finishes that included a silver medal for senior Tomas Brooker at 184 pounds and four bronze medals in the Open Division, The Appalachian reported.
Brooker’s run to the 184-pound final and the quartet of third-place finishes signal that the Black and Gold roster is battle-tested in both the championship and consolation brackets.
West Virginia Secures Bronze Medal Victories
- The four Open Division bronze medals came at 125, 133, 157, and heavyweight.
- West Virginia defeated App State wrestlers in multiple semifinals and the final.
Brooker’s Silver Run Ends in Technical Fall Against West Virginia
Senior Tomas Brooker posted the weekend’s best individual performance with a total of 184 pounds, carrying the Open Division bracket through endurance and decisive scoring. After dispatching UNC-Chapel Hill 3-0 in the quarterfinals, Brooker survived an overtime thriller against Virginia Tech, prevailing 8-5 to reach the championship match. West Virginia University’s wrestler lost his title match via technical fall, highlighting the difference between App State’s upper-weight limits and the region’s top programs. The technical fall—a 15-point margin victory—highlights the intensity of the final and the physical toll of a deep tournament run.
Bronze Rush: Four Mountaineers Claim Third Place in Open Division
The Black and Gold’s depth showed in the consolation bracket, where four wrestlers combined to secure third-place finishes. Sophomore Cooper Foster took bronze at 125 pounds with a 2-1 victory, while senior Joe Fongaro went 3-1 at 133 pounds before falling 4-2 to West Virginia in the semifinals. Fifth-year Kaden Keiser also posted a 3-1 record at 157 pounds, advancing to the semifinals before losing to West Virginia, and junior Stephan Monchery finished 3-1 at heavyweight after an 11-2 major decision in the quarterfinals followed by a 5-1 semifinal loss to West Virginia. These results demonstrate that App State can consistently place wrestlers in the top three even when facing elite competition.
Youth Division Delivers Three Third-Place Finishes
The underclassmen contingent matched the veterans’ podium success, with three freshmen earning third-place honors in the freshman and sophomore division. Ty Murray placed third at 133 pounds, Brady Hand took bronze at 149, and Bentley Sly secured third at 157. Freshman Peter Rincan placed fourth at 125 pounds, sophomore Kenneth Pritz finished fourth at 157, and freshman Dalton Weber came in fifth at 133.
| Wrestler | Weight Class | Division | Placement | Record/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomas Brooker | 184 lbs | Open | 2nd | Lost final by technical fall to West Virginia |
| Cooper Foster | 125 lbs | Open | 3rd | Won 2-1 |
| Joe Fongaro | 133 lbs | Open | 3rd | 3-1; lost SF 4-2 to West Virginia |
| Kaden Keiser | 157 lbs | Open | 3rd | 3-1; lost SF to West Virginia |
| Stephan Monchery | Heavyweight | Open | 3rd | 3-1; 11-2 major decision QF; lost SF 5-1 |
| Jeremiah Price | 149 lbs | Open | 4th | — |
| Jarvis Little | 133 lbs | Open | 5th | — |
| Brayden Fahrbach | 149 lbs | Open | 5th | — |
| Ty Murray | 133 lbs | Fr/Soph | 3rd | Freshman |
| Brady Hand | 149 lbs | Fr/Soph | 3rd | Freshman |
| Bentley Sly | 157 lbs | Fr/Soph | 3rd | Freshman |
WrangleMania Awaits in Bethlehem
App State continues its road schedule this Saturday against Hofstra University and Lock Haven University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, at the Journeymen’s WrangleMania event. With Brooker and the bronze medalists returning against Hofstra University and Lock Haven University on Saturday, the Mountaineers will continue their 2026-27 season.
App State earned multiple podium finishes despite losing several matches to West Virginia. If the freshmen continue their podium finishes and Brooker wins his next final, the Black and Gold will build on their early-season success.
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