Air Force Academy
New Mexico Highlands/North Dakota State
Air Force Wrestling Splits Duals vs. NMHU and NDSU
1/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force wrestling split a pair of duals Friday night, defeating New Mexico Highlands, 25-10, and falling to North Dakota State, 28-11, Friday night at Clune Arena. The Falcons are now 5-5, 0-3 WWC on the season.
Against New Mexico Highlands (6-4), Air Force rallied back from an early 7-0 deficit by winning seven of the last eight bouts for the 25-10 win.
After losses at 133 and 141 pounds to start, the Falcons got wins by a trio of freshmen to take the lead. Air Force got its first win at 149 pounds, as Dane Robbins earned a decision over Reis Humphrey. Sam Kreimier then picked up a decision over Kellen Pelzel at 157 pounds to make it a 6-7 score. The Falcons took the lead when Michael Billingsley earned a decision over Juan Alvarado at 165 pounds to make it 9-7 in AFA's favor.
Junior Adam Jackson earned a major decision over Jacob Hawthorne at 174 pounds to extend Air Force's lead. After a Falcon loss at 184 pounds, senior Jack Carda had a fall over Luis Terrazas at 197 pounds. Junior Marcus Malecek earned a decision over Cody Marquez at 285 and freshman Drew Romero capped the dual with a 10-4 decision over Jacob Espana at 125 pounds.
The Falcons were only able to muster three wins against North Dakota State (6-3, 2-0 WWC) in a Western Wrestling Conference match-up that featured five ranked wrestlers including a bout at 125 pounds against two nationally-ranked wrestlers.
Sophomore Anthony McHugh opened the dual with a decision over Kyle Gliva at 133 pounds, giving Air Force the early 3-0 lead. The Bison took control of the dual afterwards, by winning the 141, 149 and 157 pound bouts to jump ahead 13-3.
Senior Jesse Stafford, ranked 18th in the nation at 165 pounds, picked up a technical fall over Trevour Chavez to pull the Falcons to within five at 13-8. Back-to-back wins at 174 and 184 put NDSU ahead 22-8. In the 184 match, ninth-ranked Hayden Zillmer earned a decision over freshman Zen Ikehara.
The Falcons got their third win when Carda earned his second win of the day in a decision over Thomas Petersen. At 285, 15th-ranked Evan Knutson picked up a decison over junior Marcus Malecek.
Capping the night, 20th-ranked Josh Rodriquez knocked off ninth-ranked Josh Martinez in overtime for the upset win. It was Martinez's first dual loss this season for the Falcons.
Air Force returns to action Sunday, Feb. 1, hosting South Dakota State and Grand Canyon.
Air Force 25, New Mexico Highlands 10
133: Tre Humphrey (NMHU) major Lyle Plummer, 10-2/0-4
141: Dan Gaylor (NMHU) dec David Walker, 3-2/0-7
149: Dane Robbins (AF) dec Reis Humphrey, 8-5/3-7
157: Sam Kreimier (AF) dec Kellen Pelzel, 6-4/6-7
165: Michael Billingsley (AF) dec Juan Alvarado, 3-1/9-7
174: Adam Jackson (AF) major Jacob Hawthorne, 17-7/13-7
184: Easton Hargrave (NMHU) dec Willie Baker, 3-2/13-10
197: Jack Carda (AF) fall Luis Terrazas, 2:01/19-10
285: Marcus Malecek (AF) dec Cody Marquez, 4-2/22-10
125: Drew Romero (AF) dec Jacob Espana, 10-4/25-10
North Dakota State 28, Air Force 11
133: Anthony McHugh (AF) dec Kyle Gliva, 8-2/0-3
141: Mitchell Bengtson (NDSU) major Cody Hancock, 14-4/4-3
149: Clayton Ream (NDSU) dec Jerry McGinty, 3-0/7-3
157: Grant Nehring (NDSU) fall Sam Kreimier, 2:34/13-3
165: #18 Jesse Stafford (AF) tech fall Trevour Chavez, 17-0/13-8
174: Kurtis Julson (NDSU) dec Adam Jackson, 13-0/16-8
184: #9 Hayden Zillmer (NDSU) fall Zen Ikehara, 0:40/22-8
197: Jack Carda (AF) dec Thomas Petersen, SV-1, 6-4/22-11
285: #15 Evan Knutson (NDSU) dec Marcus Malecek, 3-1/25-11
125: #20 Josh Rodriguez (NDSU) dec #9 Josh Martinez, SV-1, 6-4/28-11
Players Mentioned
