wataugademocrat
The following are recaps from App State athletic teams for the week of July 1 to July 6 July 1 BOONE App State's Academic Services for Student-Athletes staff was honored on the national stage recently with the Model Practice Award in Academics for its work on how the department approaches and manages the transfer portal process.
Sharon Sweeting is ASA's interim director, while Kayla Hill and Taylor Webster are assistant directors.
Hill and Webster presented their model at the annual National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) Convention held earlier this month in Las Vegas.
N4A is administered by NACDA, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.
App State's "Evaluating Transfers: A Process Built on Collaboration, Consistency, and the Transfer Tracker" presentation highlighted a model that was developed through a collaborative partnership among ASA, Transfer Admissions and Engagement and campus stakeholders.
It provides coaches, advisors and prospective student-athletes with timely, accurate and transparent information during recruitment.
At the center of the model is the Transfer Tracker, a streamlined system designed to improve communication, standardize evaluations and ensure compliance with NCAA and institutional requirements.
The process allows transfer prospects to be reviewed efficiently while providing detailed academic evaluations, eligibility assessments, degree pathway options and timelines.
Since the model was implemented two years ago, Appalachian State University has completed more than 640 transfer evaluations, enrolled 176 transfer student-athletes and successfully managed high-volume transfer portal periods without sacrificing accuracy or service.
A Boone native who earned a Master's degree from App State, Sweeting has been part of the ASA staff for the last 15 years.
Hill, who also joined the ASA staff in 2011, was a pitcher for App State's softball program during her time as a collegiate student-athlete.
A national-championship-winning field hockey player at the collegiate level, Webster joined the ASA staff in 2018.
BOONE App Family, Another athletics year is in the books, and momentum is already building toward an exciting 2026-27 season.
Last week, App State Football season tickets sold out for the fifth straight year a testament to the unmatched passion of App Nation! We are all excited to see our team run out in front of a packed crowd at The Rock, which has been recognized by ESPN and The Athletic as one of the top 25 stadiums in college football for two straight years.
Your energy creates one of the best home-field advantages in the country! Please gather your friends and families at The Rock and assist in selling out each individual home game.
Yosef Club members and current season tickets holders now have early access to single-game tickets before they go on sale to the general public on July 7.
Be sure to check your email for your early access code.
The excitement surrounding athletics extends well beyond the playing fields.
App State Athletics continues to be one of western North Carolina's most impactful economic drivers, generating an estimated $100+ million in annual economic activity.
Local hotels, restaurants, shops and businesses thrive throughout the High Country when fans travel up the mountain for our events.
Gathering and engaging our student-athletes, fans and community remains central to our mission.
In the ever-changing landscape of college athletics, resource generation is of the utmost importance.
Our investments in our programs need to match our expectations.
We continue to innovate and develop additional avenues to raise resources.
The financial environment continues to present challenges as we look to grow.
THANK YOU to everyone who has invested in App State Athletics by joining the Yosef Club, purchasing tickets, attending events, buying licensed merchandise, donating to sport-specific support funds or participating in our golf tournaments and auctions.
Your investment and commitment to the A fuels our success.
We have recently received a transformational gift from a longtime member of the App Family (more on that soon).
In addition, we are in active discussions with several supporters and corporate partners about substantial investments that will elevate our competitive excellence, enhance the world-class experience for our student-athletes and position App State for continued success.
That commitment is also being championed by two proud App State alumni and former football student-athletes, Steve Wilks and Rick Beasley.
Both have stepped up in a major way, investing their time and resources to meet with individuals and groups, to share what makes App State special, and rally the Mountaineer faithful as we enter this next chapter of making Magic on the Mountain.
We enjoyed connecting with many of you at the annual football golf tournament and auction earlier this month.
Thank you to everyone who participated, sponsored the event, volunteered or donated.
Your support continues to make this one of our signature fundraising events each year.
There is still time to register for the annual Yosef Club Golf Classic on July 20.
On July 25, Jon Pardi will perform live at The Rock with special guest Alexandra Kay.
If you haven't already secured your tickets, make plans to enjoy the show of the summer.
Be sure to visit our Mountaineer Experiences web page for a full list of upcoming concerts, comedy shows, fundraising events, FanFest and more.
Your attendance at all these events helps directly support App State Athletics.
We look forward to seeing you in the High Country this summer.
Our student-athletes continue to excel in the classroom, in competition and in the community.
Their achievements this year were remarkable.
I am inspired daily by their commitment, and by the coaches and support staff who work tirelessly to support their success.
Highlights from the 2025-26 academic year include: - 28th straight semester with a cumulative student-athlete GPA of 3.0+ - Winner of the inaugural Sun Belt SAAC Community Impact Award - Sun Belt Men's Cross Country Champions - Sun Belt Women's Cross Country Champions - SoCon Wrestling Champions - Sun Belt Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year Brad Herbster - Sun Belt Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year Annie Richards - Highest-ranked football recruiting class in Sun Belt history - Matthew Gray set App State and Sun Belt pole vault records and now ranks No.
12 all-time in NCAA history.
He earned first-team All-America honors by placing fifth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships - Savannah Dada-Mascoll became the first All-American in App State women's tennis history when she reached the final eight of the NCAA Singles Championship.
She was also named the Sun Belt Player of the Year and the ITA National Most Improved Player - Zoe Duval became the first NCAA Regional qualifier in App State women's golf history - Men's Basketball tied for second in Sun Belt play - Track & Field posted program-best Sun Belt outdoor finishes 2nd (men) and 3rd (women) - Baseball finished third in the nation's fifth-best conference, with a win at No.
11 Southern Miss and a road series win against College World Series participant Troy - Field Hockey climbed to No.
17 in the national rankings and reached the MAC Tournament semifinals - Wins over ACC opponents in soccer (Miami) and volleyball (Virginia, Duke) Our commitment to investing in championship-caliber facilities continues to transform the student-athlete experience while creating new opportunities to engage App Nation.
The new Sofield Family Indoor Practice Facility remains on schedule, with the 100+ yard turf field opening early this fall.
The facility will also serve the community through its large event space and public-private health care collaborations.
The Mildred Southern Indoor Tennis Facility at App 105 is scheduled for completion this summer.
The facility will be the new home of App State Tennis and will offer opportunities for students, faculty, staff and community engagement.
Momentum continues for the East Tower project at The Rock.
If you are interested in premium seating options, contact our development staff at [email protected].
Planned renovations to Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium will further enhance one of the most beautiful baseball venues in the country.
Thank you for believing in our mission, investing in our student-athletes and helping us continue to build something special.
It's Great to be a Mountaineer! Go App! Doug Gillin, Director of Athletics July 2 BOONE The initial matchups for the third year of the MAC-SBC Challenge were announced Thursday, with App State Women's Basketball scheduled to open the 2026-27 season at Eastern Michigan on Nov.
2.
The MAC features 12 basketball-playing members, compared to 14 for the Sun Belt.
Four Sun Belt teams will not be participating in the November segment of the challenge: the App State men, Southern Miss men, Southern Miss women and Louisiana women.
The App State women will travel to Ypsilanti, Mich., for the nonconference matchup, and fans will be able to catch the action on ESPN+.
The contest marks an early test for head coach Alaura Sharp's squad.
Sharp enters her third season at the helm after App State split its two MAC-SBC Challenge games last year, highlighted by a dominant 65-45 victory over Western Michigan in Boone to open the season.
Overall, the Mountaineers are 6-6 in the MAC-SBC Challenge across both men's and women's basketball.
The second round of 2026-27 matchups will take place on Feb.
6, with Sun Belt women's teams and MAC men's teams hosting.
Those pairings will be announced by mid-January based on real-time NET rankings, geography and the frequency of previous contests.
The full schedule for the 2026-27 season will be announced at a later date.
MAC-SBC Challenge Women's Basketball Matchups for Nov.
2 - App State at Eastern Michigan - Arkansas State at Ball State - Coastal Carolina at Western Michigan - Georgia Southern at Bowling Green - Georgia State at Buffalo - James Madison at Miami (Ohio) - Louisiana Tech at Toledo - ULM at Ohio - Marshall at UMass - Old Dominion at Central Michigan - South Alabama at Akron - Troy at Kent State BOONE Coming off the program's first top-20 national ranking, App State Field Hockey head coach Emily Dinsmore has signed a contract extension through the 2028 season, Director of Athletics Doug Gillin announced Thursday.
The extension was approved by Chancellor Heather Norris and the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees.
"We are excited about the future of App State Field Hockey under Emily's direction," Gillin said.
"The program has had an upward trajectory throughout her tenure, including its first national ranking last season.
We look forward to supporting our field hockey student-athletes' continued pursuit of excellence in the classroom, in the community and in competition." In three years under Dinsmore, the Mountaineers have reached new heights, establishing themselves as one of the best programs in the Mid-American Conference and rising as high as No.
17 in the 2025 national rankings.
Following six years as an assistant, in her inaugural season as head coach, Dinsmore led App State to its first MAC regular-season championship in program history and was named MAC Coach of the Year.
The Mountaineers carried that momentum into the 2024 season, winning their second consecutive regular-season title under Dinsmore.
App State sustained that high level of play into 2025, matching Dinsmore's program-best 14 wins from 2023, posting a 7-2 record in conference play and capping the year with a postseason victory over Ohio in the MAC Field Hockey Championship.
"App State is my home, and I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue to lead the field hockey program," Dinsmore said.
"Thank you to the Board of Trustees, Chancellor Norris, Doug Gillin and Erika Cheung for believing in me, our staff and student-athletes.
We are building something special here, and I can't wait to compete for more championships.
I'm proud of what we have accomplished over the last three years and even more excited for the years to come.
It's a great day to be a Mountaineer!" Following two exhibition matches against Queens and Liberty at the Dr.
Jan C.
Watson Field at the Brandon & Erica M.
Adcock Field Hockey Complex, the Mountaineers will open the 2026 regular season at home against Towson on Aug.
28 at 6 p.m.
Three Mountaineers earned All-MAC honors last season, with first-team honors belonging to senior Lise Boekaar, App State's all-time assists leader, and Sophia Baxter, who holds the program record with four MAC Player of the Week honors in a single season.
Hadley Kuzmicky earned second-team honors in her senior campaign.
Boekaar and Baxter also received NFHCA accolades, with Boekaar earning All-Region First-Team honors and a spot on the senior team, while Baxter picked up a second-team nod.
In the classroom, the field hockey team holds a 3.61 cumulative GPA, with 12 players being named to the Academic All-MAC Team and 14 earning NFHCA academic honors.