App State Brew 8/20: Breaking Ground

Good Morning, App State Fam. Sure, the thrilling plays, exciting moments and wins are great, but THIS, this is what it’s all about!

What else do we have stirring? Check it out below!

👷 Breaking Ground
⚽️ Back For More
🥇 Golden Boy
🟡 And much more!

🔼 Breaking Ground. Late last week, the building of the future of App State Football officially broke ground. Thanks to Tommy Sofield, his family and many generous supporters, the Mountaineers officially put shovels in the ground to start the construction of the brand new Sofield Family Indoor Practice Facility.

The new 85,000-square-foot, multipurpose facility will increase the size of the practice field to 100-plus yards, allowing for more frequent and comprehensive practice sessions for most App State athletic programs. The larger facility will also increase its scope, to serve more areas across campus and allow for public–private health care collaborations.

🔼 Back For More. After a thrilling victory over Miami this past Sunday, the App State Soccer squad is set to be back in action at the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex tomorrow night when in-state rival Davidson comes to town. The Mountaineers are looking to improve to 3-0 to start a season for the first time since 1999.

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.

🔼 Golden Boy. App State Softball assistant coach Alex Ibarra is bringing back some hardware to his second season with the Mountaineers.

Ibarra served as an assistant coach with Team USA during the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China. The Americans blew through the competition to a 5-0 record to take the gold medal on Sunday.

9️⃣ days from kickoff…

There are plenty of exciting new faces wearing an App State uniform this fall, including sophomore defensive lineman Dylan Manuel.

Manuel arrived in Boone after a stellar freshman campaign at Charleston Southern last fall, when he earned Freshman All-America honors for the Bucs. He played in all 12 games, registering 15 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble. He led a defense that ranked in the top-20 nationally in TFLs.

The Stockbridge, Ga., native was an All-Region honoree three times coming out of high school and helped his Stockbridge High School squad to a state championship game appearance during his senior season.

During that 3-0 start to the 1999 soccer season, which three teams did the Mountaineers beat to open the slate?

Scroll down to see if you know your stuff!

Thursday, August 21st
⚽️ Soccer vs. Davidson @ 6 pm

Sunday, August 24th
⚽️ Soccer at William & Mary @ 12 pm

Friday, August 29th
🏈 Football vs. Charlotte @ 7 pm l Tickets l (Bank of America Stadium)
👟 Cross Country at Covered Bridge Open @ 9:15 am (Boone, N.C.)
🏑 Field Hockey at Towson @ 4pm
🏐 Volleyball vs. Mercer @ 4:30 pm (Charleston, S.C.)

Saturday, August 30th
🏐 Volleyball at College of Charleston @ 11 am
🏐 Volleyball vs. Eastern Kentucky @ 4:30 pm (Charleston, S.C.)

Sunday, August 31st
🏑 Field Hockey at Georgetown @ 3pm
⚽️ Soccer at Clemson @ 7 pm

🟡 Click here to see the full App State Athletics Calendar

Answer: Charleston Southern (1-0), High Point (5-1) and Campbell (3-1)

🟡 See y’all tomorrow night!