Air Force Academy
South Dakota State/Grand Canyon
Air Force Wrestling Splits A Pair of Sunday Duals
2/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force wrestling split a pair of duals, falling to South Dakota State, 23-9, and defeating Grand Canyon 38-3, early Sunday at Clune Arena. The Falcons are now 6-6, 0-4 WWC on the season.
Air Force had three wins in the 23-9 loss to South Dakota State in a Western Wrestling Conference dual to open the day.
The Falcons opened with senior Carter McElhany earning a decision over Lucas Zilverberg at 141 pounds to take an early 3-0 lead. South Dakota State won the next two bouts, including a win by seventh-ranked Cody Pack over freshman Sam Kreimier at 157 pounds to jump ahead 7-3.
Air Force pulled to within one as senior Jesse Stafford, ranked 18th at 165 pounds earned a decision over John Nething II to make it a 7-6 score. The Jack Rabbits took control of the dual by winning the four weight classes to jump ahead 20-6. 20th-ranked Nathan Rotert won at 197 and 30th-ranked J.J. Everard won at 285 for SDSU.
Junior Josh Martinez, ranked ninth at 125 pounds, defeated Isaac Andrade for AFA's third win of the dual.
In the dual against Grand Canyon, Air Force won the final nine bouts to roll to a dominant 38-3 win. The Falcons had six points at 125, 149 and 197 pounds.
After dropping the 141 pound bout, the Falcons took the lead when McGinty picked up six points at 149 pounds with a forfeit. Kreimier defeated Chayse Jackson in overtime at 157 pounds and Stafford earned a technical fall at 165 pounds to put AFA ahead 14-3. Stafford had a strong weekend for the Falcons, going undefeated in three bouts.
Billingsley won over Pierre Gaud at 174 pounds and freshman Zen Ikehara won at 184 over Brady Ayers. Senior Jack Carda picked up a fall at 197 and junior Marcus Malecek had a decision over Marcus Haughian at 285.
The Falcons closed out the duals with a fall by Martinez at 125 and a win in overtime by sophomore Anthony McHugh at 133.
Air Force returns to action Saturday, Feb. 7, at the All-Academy Championships in Kings Point, N.Y.
South Dakota State 23, Air Force 9
141: Carter McElhany (AF) dec Lucas Zilverberg, 1-0/0-3
149: Alex Kocer (SDSU) dec Jerry McGinty, 6-0/3-3
157: #7 Cody Pack (SDSU) maj dec Sam Kreimier, 13-4/7-3
165: #18 Jesse Stafford (AF) dec John Nething II, 4-1/7-6
174: David Kocer (SDSU) maj dec Michael Billingsley, 16-5/11-6
184: Brady Ayers (SDSU) dec Zen Ikehara, 10-3/14-6
197: #20 Nathan Rotert (SDSU) dec Jack Carda, 6-3/17-6
285: #30 J.J. Everard (SDSU) dec Marcus Malecek, 5-2/20-6
125: #9 Josh Martinez (AF) dec Isaac Andrade, 9-2/20-9
133: Brance Simms (SDSU) dec Anthony McHugh, SV-1, 6-4/23-9
Air Force 38, Grand Canyon 3
141: Uzo Owuama (GCU) dec Carter McElhany, 5-3/0-3
149: Jerry McGinty (AF) forfeit, 6-3
157: Sam Kreimier (AF) dec Chayse Jackson, SV-1, 7-5/9-3
165: #18 Jesse Stafford (AF) tech fall Casey Larsen, 15-0, 5:44/14-3
174: Michael Billingsley (AF) dec Pierre Gaud, 7-5/17-3
184: Zen Ikehara dec Austin Trujillo, 7-5/20-3
197: Jack Carda (AF) fall Gabe Gonzalez, 1:14/26-3
285: Marcus Malecek (AF) dec Marcus Haughian, 6-1/29-3
125: #9 Josh Martinez (AF) fall Jacob Reyes, 1:52/35-3
133: Anthony McHugh (AF) dec A.J. Salazar, SV-1, 8-6/38-3
Players Mentioned
