Takedown Report

Appalachian State Leans On Sustained Culture Of Winning As Postseason Nears

Appalachian State’s track record of SoCon success is something coach JohnMark Bentley points to in an effort to get the Mountainers climbing toward March.
With roughly 50 days left in the NCAA men’s wrestling season, athletes around the country can feel a heightened sense of urgency with each passing moment. The season will be over before you know it — and for some, their college careers.
But amidst that ticking clock (and mounting pressure), Appalachian State head coach JohnMark Bentley wants his wrestlers to know they’re at a place perfectly suited to ready them for what’s ahead. That place — nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Boone, North Carolina — has been under Bentley’s stewardship for 17 years now.
During that tenure, the four-time national coach of the year finalist has amassed nearly half (13/28) of the program’s regular season/tournament titles as a member of the Southern Conference. He’s also helped produce 64 individual NCAA qualifiers, including four of the eight wrestlers in App State history to earn NCAA All-American honors. “We can point to the ratings and stuff that we’ve won over the last several years, (the) last decade, and you can talk about those and say, ‘Hey guys, this is evidence that we know how to prepare you for the postseason, and you can have confidence that you’re in a program that has a culture of sustained winning,” Bentley said. “I think just having our guys take confidence in that, like hey, you’re going to be the best version of yourself in March. “That’s how this program’s always been built. And yeah, there’s been some ups and downs throughout the season and competition, but that’s going to help prepare you for March. And you can take confidence in that because there’s results to back it up.”
Staying In The Fight
Sporting a 6-5 dual record to date (3-0 in the SoCon), the Mountaineers, like most teams, have had their highs and lows this season. Coach Bentley has regularly tested his guys against the best programs in the region, and this year is no different.
Of App State’s five dual losses, three have come against ranked power conference foes, including #9 NC State, #11 Virginia Tech and #17 West Virginia. … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/15319073-appalachian-state-leans-on-sustained-culture-of-winning-as-postseason-nears

February 25, 2026 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | sports