Appalachian State University (/ˌæpəˈlætʃən/; Appalachian, App State, App, or ASU) is a public university in Boone, North Carolina. It was founded as a teachers college in 1899 by brothers B. B. and D. D. Dougherty and the latter's wife, Lillie Shull Dougherty. The university expanded to include other programs in 1967 and joined the University of North Carolina System in 1971. The Athletic Teams compete in the Sun Belt Conference, except for a few sports which compete in the Southern Conference, such as wrestling. The teams are known as the Mountaineers.