Air Force Academy
Western State
Falcons Fall to Western State, 32-12
2/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 18, 2004
An injury-plagued Air Force wrestling team continued to struggle, losing its third consecutive dual meet competition. Western State, ranked seventh in the nation at Division II, won seven of 10 individual weight classes en route to a 32-12 victory over the Falcons.
Air Force started the match in a 6-0 hole when the team was forced to forfeit the 125-pound weight class due to an injury to two-time NCAA qualifier Heath McKim. The team, which has battled injuries to the top half of the line up the entire season, proceeded to lose the next four matches, including three matches to Western State grapplers ranked in the nation's top five. They trailed 23-0 midway through the dual.
Blaine Brown, who leads the team with 22 wins, put the Falcons on the board with a 17-1 technical fall over Tyler Lancaster at the 165-pound weight class. Jacob Lillich followed up Brown's victory with a dominating victory over Cameron Bretz at 174 pounds. Lillich notched an 11-1 major decision to cut the deficit to 14 points with three matches remaining.
It was as close as the Falcons would get, however, as Matt Trout (184 pounds) sealed the victory for the Mountaineers in the following match with a 4-0 decision over Luke Lefever. Blake Wilson then notched a pin of Brenden McLean just 34 seconds into the 197-pound weight class to pad the lead.
The meet ended on a good note for the Falcons as Kurt Skarstedt, a local wrestler out of Colorado Springs' Air Academy High School, notched a 10-5 victory at heavyweight over State's Kipp Cullen.
The Falcons fall to 2-6 overall in dual competition. They will be back in action on Friday (Feb. 20) when they host Colorado School of Mines. The Mines are winless in 12 dual meets this season.
WESTERN STATE 32, AIR FORCE 12
Wt Result125 Jared Haberman wins by forfeit133 Jeremy Goss (WS) dec. Seth Weatherman (AF), 11-7141 #4 R.C. LaHaye (WS) t-fall Matthew Crippes (AF), 19-4 (6:36)149 #2 Adrian Jiron (WS) dec. Chris Nissen (AF), 14-8157 #2 Jack Quintana (WS) def. Josh Peterson (AF), Fall (3:53)165 Blaine Brown (AF) t-fall Tyler Lancaster (WS), 17-1 (5:34)174 Jacob Lillich (AF) major dec. Cameron Bretz (WS), 11-1184 Matt Trout (WS) dec. Lucas Lefever (AF), 4-0197 Blake Wilson (WS) def. Brenden McLean (AF), Fall (0:34)HWT Kurt Skarstedt (AF) dec. Cody Mumma (WS), 10-5
Attendance: 164 Referee: David Frisch
Players Mentioned
