Air Force Wrestling Announces 2006-07 Team Awards
4/11/2007 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
April 11, 2007
USAFA, Colo. - Air Force head wrestling coach Joel Sharratt is proud to announce the recipients of the 2006-07 team awards, given out during the team's annual awards banquet Tuesday evening.
The Falcons' top awardwinner this year was senior co-captain Bridger Lord (Missoula, Mont.), named the 2006-07 Outstanding Wrestler, given to the wrestler who demonstrates outstanding leadership, a hard work ethic and competitive spirit. Lord, who posted the team's highest winning percentage this season, was one of three Air Force wrestlers to earn WWC Wrestler of the Week honors this year, and recorded a 10-4 mark in dual action.
The Most Falls Award, given to the wrestler who earned the most wins by fall on the season, was presented to junior Anthony Stegeman (Cincinnati, Ohio). Stegeman, another WWC Wrestler of the Week honoree, led the team with seven wins by fall, with a fastest fall of 56 seconds.
The recipient of the Most Improved Award, presented to the wrestler who made steady improvements over the course of the 2006-0, was junior Tony Dorward (Seattle, Wash.). While Dorward did not begin the season in the starting lineup, he was able to work hard to move up a weight class, eventually earning a chance to represent Air Force at the NCAA West Regional.
The Coaches Appreciation Award was presented to the wrestler who has displayed great leadership and work habits in the wrestling room on a consistent basis. This year's winner was junior Jake Kriegbaum (Abilene, Kan.), the Falcons' starter at 141 pounds and two-time NCAA qualifier.
The final team award presented on Tuesday was the Wayne Baughman/A-10 Wart Hog Award. Named in part for the Falcons' former head coach, the award is earned by the wrestler who, like Coach Baughman and the A-10 Wart Hog, is relentless and aggressive, demonstrates an unwavering determination to succeed and who embodies good sportsmanship and team spirit. The recipient of this year's award was senior co-captain Zach Lord (Missoula, Mont.). Lord was named the WWC Wrestler of the Week after helping the Falcons to their final dual victory of the season, a 25-20 win over Northern Colorado.
A series of recognition awards were also handed out at the banquet. Bridger and Zach Lord were honored as the team captains, while sophomore Stephen Crozier (Monona, Iowa), a member of the WWC All-Academic team, was the recipient of the Scholar-Athlete Award. Meanwhile, senior Andrew Teigeler (Yorktown, Va.) was given the Commitment to Excellence Award, granted to the cadet with the best all-around performance at the Academy (academics, military and athletics).
The Falcons, who graduate seniors Bridger and Zach Lord, Peter Bozynski (Birmingham, Mich.), Matt Crippes (Cloverdale, Calif.), Chris Nissen (Denver, Colo.) and Teigeler, finished the 2006-07 season with a 6-10 overall record and 3-1 in the Western Wrestling Conference.
