App State Wrestling Wins 4th Straight SoCon Title

Hernandez, Brooker, and Monchery claim individual championships for the Mountaineers

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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The Appalachian State University wrestling team won its fourth consecutive Southern Conference Tournament championship, led by individual titles from 141-pound Aldo Hernandez, 184-pound Tomas Brooker, and heavyweight Stephan Monchery. Despite being picked to finish third in the preseason, the young Mountaineers squad proved resilient and found a way to win under head coach JohnMark Bentley.

Why it matters

App State's wrestling program has established itself as a dominant force in the Southern Conference, winning four straight tournament titles. This continued success highlights the program's ability to develop talent and overcome adversity, even with a young roster. The individual champions' performances also showcase the high level of competition in the SoCon and prepare them for the upcoming NCAA Championships.

The details

Hernandez, a redshirt sophomore, entered the tournament as the No. 5 seed with a 16-14 regular season record, but defeated several wrestlers who had beaten him earlier in the year, including a dominant 8-1 win over AJ Rallo of Bellarmine University in the finals. Brooker, a redshirt sophomore, won his second SoCon title after missing last season due to a torn ACL. Monchery, a sophomore, clinched the team title for App State with his heavyweight victory over Chattanooga's Ethan Vergara.

  • The Southern Conference Tournament took place on March 5-6, 2026 in Asheville, North Carolina.
  • The NCAA Championships will be held from March 19-22, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio.

The players

Aldo Hernandez

A redshirt sophomore 141-pound wrestler for Appalachian State University who won his first career Southern Conference championship.

Tomas Brooker

A redshirt sophomore 184-pound wrestler for Appalachian State University who won his second consecutive Southern Conference championship.

Stephan Monchery

A sophomore heavyweight wrestler for Appalachian State University who won his second straight Southern Conference championship, clinching the team title for the Mountaineers.

JohnMark Bentley

The head coach of the Appalachian State University wrestling team, who led the Mountaineers to their fourth consecutive Southern Conference Tournament championship.

AJ Rallo

A wrestler from Bellarmine University who was the defending Southern Conference champion at 141 pounds and faced Aldo Hernandez in the finals.

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What they’re saying

“Our guys are just tough and persevere even through adversity and when things are stacked against us. We seem to just find a way to get it done.”

— JohnMark Bentley, Head Coach (theappalachianonline.com)

“Hats off to Rallo. I'm blessed to have him in the conference because he pushes me to be better. We push each other and he pushes me to be better and I strive to beat guys like him.”

— Aldo Hernandez (theappalachianonline.com)

“I missed it a lot when I was out so this helped me really get back into it. It's nice to be able to experience this again.”

— Tomas Brooker (theappalachianonline.com)

What’s next

The three individual champions - Hernandez, Brooker, and Monchery - will now prepare to compete in the NCAA Championships in Cleveland, Ohio from March 19-22, 2026.

The takeaway

Appalachian State's wrestling program has solidified itself as a powerhouse in the Southern Conference, overcoming preseason doubts to win its fourth straight tournament title. The individual champions' performances showcase the program's ability to develop talent and prepare wrestlers for success at the highest levels of collegiate competition.