Air Force Academy
Western State
Falcons Fall To Western State, 19-12
12/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 8, 2006
Gunnison, Colo. - Despite capturing an early lead, the Air Force wrestling team was unable to hold on for the victory against host Western State Friday evening, falling 19-12. The Falcons, in their first dual meet of the year, open at 0-1, while the Mountaineers, ranked sixth in the Division II ranks, improve to 4-1.
Junior Jake Kriegbaum (Abilene, Kan.) gave the Falcons a 3-0 lead with a 9-4 decision over Chris Freiji at 141 pounds, but Western State came back with a victory at 149 pounds to tie the score at 3-3. Zach Lord (Sr., Missoula, Mont.) then registered a 4-3 decision at 157 pounds, followed by a 4-1 decision from junior Duane Miller (Bellevue, Idaho) at 165 pounds to put the Falcons back on top.
A major decision by Larry Willbanks at 174 pounds brought the Mountaineers back within two points, and Western State regained the lead with back-to-back decisions at 184 and 197 pounds. Junior heavyweight Anthony Stegeman (Cincinnati, Ohio) responded with a 3-0 decision to cut the Falcons' deficit to a single point, but Air Force was unable to get a win in the final two weight classes, dropping decisions at 125 and 133 pounds.
Air Force will be back in action tomorrow evening, when it hosts Colorado School of Mines at 7:00 p.m. The Falcons will also host a Kid Force wrestling clinic prior to the start of the match against the Orediggers.
Western State 19, Air Force 12
141 Jake Kriegbaum (AF) dec. Chris Freiji, 9-4149 Camille DuPont (WSC) dec. Bridger Lord, 6-1157 Zach Lord (AF) dec. Nick Ross, 4-3165 Duane Miller (AF) dec. Nate Wiggins, 4-1174 Larry Wilbanks (WSC) maj. dec. Stephen Crozier, 15-5184 Charlie Pipher (WSC) dec. Jacob Devlin, 20-13197 Lars Lueders (WSC) dec. Peter Bozynski, 8-4HWT Anthony Stegeman (AF) dec. Andrew Skinner, 3-0125 Daren Hockett (WSC) dec. Zach Valdez, 5-3133 Marques Bravo (WSC) dec. Stephen Makuka, 7-0
Players Mentioned
