Air Force Kicks Off Season at Cowboy Open

Nov. 10, 2007

Laramie, Wyo. - Finishing with three placewinners in the Elite Division and two placewinners in the Amateur Division, the Air Force wrestling team opened the 2007-08 season Saturday at the Cowboy Open, hosted by Wyoming.

In the Elite Division, senior Jake Kriegbaum (Abilene, Kan.) took second place at 141 pounds. Kriegbaum opened the day with a 6-0 decision over Cody Weitzel of Colorado School of Mines, followed by a 4-2 win over Western State's Tate Lowe. He then picked up a 10-2 major decision over Robert Sanders from Nebraska before winning a 5-1 decision over Oregon's Brett Gray. Kriegbaum met up with Adams State's Raymond Dunning in the championship bout, but lost the contest in a 2-0 decision to finish second.

Finishing third in the heavyweight division was senior Anthony Stegeman (Cincinnati, Ohio), who opened the day by pinning Northern Colorado's Justin Tuell in a time of 1:31. After an 11-1 major decision over Jason Abell, Stegeman fell to eventual champion Tervel Dlagnev of Nebraska-Kearney, moving into the consolation bracket. Stegeman notched an 8-2 win over Garrett Johnson, a 16-3 major decision against Pat Ryan and a 6-2 decision over Oregon's Charlie Alexander. Stegeman wrapped up the day with a 6-2 win over Brad Fraser of Great Falls to take third place.

Jacob Devlin (Sr., Livingston, N.J.) took fourth place at 197 pounds. After winning a 5-3 decision over Adams State's Andre Harris, Devlin posted a 9-0 major decision against Boise State's Ryan Allen. He then dropped a 9-4 decision to Josh Majerus of Chadron State, but rebounded with an 11-2 major decision against Evan Mattingly. Devlin then competed in the consolation final against Alex Calvi of Great Falls, but dropped the 6-4 contest to finish fourth in his weight class.

In the Amateur Division, freshman Derek Gillespie (Chesapeake, Va.) took first place at 133 pounds. He began with a 9-7 decision over Joseph Quinto, before pinning Northern Colorado's Brett Bahe in a time of 2:37. Gillespie then escaped with an 8-7 decision over Jacob Breslin and moved on to register a 6-0 victory over Avery Garner. In the final bout, Gillespie faced Kevin Jury, winning the 6-0 decision to take the championship.

Finishing third at 165 pounds was freshman Joseph Stafford (Loomis, Calif.). After dropping his first match of the day, a 9-1 major decision to Michael French of Great Falls, Stafford went on a roll through the consolation bracket, starting with a 7-1 decision over New Mexico Highlands' Anthony Gonzales. He then notched a pair of falls, pinning Chris McWhorter and Nate Myers, before registering an 8-3 decision over Western Wyoming's Nate Myers. A forfeit victory moved Stafford into the consolation final against Chris Harvey, where he registered an 8-5 decision to take third place.

The Falcons will return to action next weekend, Nov. 18, at the Kaufman-Brand Open, hosted by Nebraska-Omaha.

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Players Mentioned

Jacob Devlin

Derek Gillespie

Jake Kriegbaum

Joseph Stafford

Anthony Stegeman

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