Falcons Open 2008-09 Season at Cowboy Open
11/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 13, 2008
The Air Force wrestling team opens the 2008-09 season this weekend, Nov. 15, as it travels to Laramie, Wyo., for the annual Cowboy Open, hosted by the University of Wyoming.
Scouting the Falcons...
The Air Force wrestling team enters its third season under head coach Joel Sharratt. Last season, the Falcons put together a 9-9 dual record last season and 3-2 mark in the WWC, while finishing second at the NCAA West Regional. The Falcons return four starters from the 2007-08 season, including NCAA qualifiers Stephen Crozier (165) and Tyler French (174), as well as sophomore Derek Gillespie (133) and senior Sterling Tribble (197).
Last Year At The Cowboy Open...
At the 2007-08 Cowboy Open, the Falcons started out the season with five total placewinners, including three in the Elite Division and two in the Amateur Division. The senior class led the way in the Elite Division, with Jake Kriegbaum taking second at 141 pounds, Anthony Stegeman placing third at heavyweight and Jacob Devlin finishing fourth at 197 pounds. Meanwhile, Derek Gillespie opened his career as a Falcon with a first-place finish, winning the 133-pound weight class in the Amateur Division. In addition, classmate Joseph Stafford placed third at 165 pounds in the Amateur Division.
The Lineup...
This weekend, seven Falcons are slated to compete in the Elite Division, while 16 others are scheduled to compete in the Amateur Division. The tentative lineup for this weekend's tournament includes: senior Stephen Crozier (Elite, 165); juniors Stephen Makuka (Elite, 141), Akira Nervik (Elite, 184), James Ciccone (Elite, 197), Samuel Sheppard (Amateur, 125), Thomas Gorry (Amateur, 149) and Michael Erickson (Amateur, 157); sophomores Andrew Zwirlein (Elite, 125), Derek Gillespie (Elite, 133), Joshua Smith (Elite, 174), Carlos Sandoval (Amateur, 141), Matt Torrence (Amateur, 149), Joseph Stafford (Amateur, 157), Wade Stowe (Amateur, 157), Alex Flori (Amateur, 165), Neil Delaney (Amateur, 197), Kazden Ikehara (Amateur, 197) and Josh Larson (Amateur, HWT); and freshmen Tanner Weltzin (Amateur, 149), Alec Williams (Amateur, 149), Samuel Mitchel (Amateur, 157), Karl Oeser (Amateur, 184) and Erik Red (Amateur, 184).
2008 Blue-Silver Intrasquad Match...
Air Force had its first action under the lights of Clune Arena on Nov. 2, as it hosted the annual Blue-Silver Intrasquad Match. Bouts were contested in nine of 10 weight classes, giving the Falcons a preliminary lineup for the season. Following are complete results from the Blue-Silver Match:
Up Next...
The Falcons return to action next weekend, Nov. 22, at the Kaufman-Brand Open, hosted by Nebraska-Omaha.
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