Air Force Wrestling Heads To Cliff Keen Invite
12/4/2014 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
CKLV Invite
Dec. 5-6, 2014
Las Vegas, Nev. • Las Vegas Convention Center
Event Link
http://www.cklvwrestle.com
This Week...
The Air Force wrestling team returns to action this weekend, Dec. 5-6, as it sends a group of athletes to the 33rd-annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.
ABOUT the CKLV Invitational...
The Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, now in its 33rd season, is being held at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Teams from 39 schools are scheduled to participate in this year's competition, including 10 teams that are ranked in this week's USA Today/NWCA/AWN Coaches' Poll. This year's field also includes three other teams from the Western Wrestling Conference (North Dakota State, Northern Colorado and Utah Valley).
Action begins Friday at 9:00 a.m. (PT), while quarterfinals and consolation rounds 2 & 3 are scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m. Meanwhile, Saturday's action begins at 9:00 a.m., with the championship finals scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m. For complete information on the tournament, visit cklvwrestle.com.
Last Time Out...
Led by one individual title, the Air Force wrestling team finished with 12 placewinners at the UNK Holiday Inn Open, held Saturday at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds. Eight Falcons placed in the top six in the Elite Division, while four others, including one champion, were placewinners in the Amateur Division.
Freshman Zen Ikehara won hist first career title, posting a 4-0 record at 184 pounds in the Amateur Division. Ikehara posted a major decision, a decision and sudden victory to get into the title bout. Ikehara defeated Zach Stodden of Nebraska-Kearney with a 5-1 decision in the championship match.
Of Air Force's eight placewinners in the Elite Division, three were at 141 pounds. Cody Hancock took third with a 3-1 record, including a fall. David Walker was fourth with a 2-2 record and Conor O'Hara was sixth with a 3-2 record.
Anthony McHugh placed second at 133 pounds with 2-1 record including a pair of falls. Jerry McGinty took fourth at 149 pounds, going 3-2 on the day. Adam Jackson was fifth at 174 pounds with a 1-2 record, Jack Carda took fourth at 197 pounds with a 3-2 record and Marcus Malacek took fourth at heavyweight with a 3-2 record including a fall.
On the Amateur side, Lyle Plummer placed fourth with a 5-2 record and two falls and Evan Ulinski took fifth at 125 pounds, going 6-2 with three falls. Michael Billingsley also placed fourth at 165 pounds, going 3-2 with a fall.
In the National Rankings...
The Falcons have a pair of wrestlers currently ranked by numerous wrestling publications. Junior Josh Martinez, a two-time NCAA qualifier, is currently ranked seventh at 125 pounds by InterMat and W.I.N. Magazine, eighth by Open Mat and ninth by Wrestling Report.
Meanwhile, senior Jesse Stafford, is rated 14th in the nation at 165 pounds by Open Mat and 16th by InterMat and W.I.N. Magazine and 18th by Wrestling Report.
Up Next...
The Falcons travel to Wyoming for a dual on Thursday, Dec. 11.
