Air Force Academy
Southern Scuffle
Falcon Wrestling Concludes Action at the Southern Scuffle
1/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Chattanooga, Tenn. - Falcon wrestling concluded action at the 2016 Southern Scuffle, Saturday night in UTC's McKenzie Arena. Senior team captain, Josh Martinez led the Falcons with a fifth place finish in the 133 weight class while junior, Parker Hines earned an eighth place finish in the 197 weight class. Air Force finished in 16th place with 37 points, enough to place them ahead of service academy rivals, Army West Point and Navy. Air Force also outscored two of four Big 12 conference opponents, Wyoming and Northern Colorado.
Martinez began day two action undefeated (2-0) in the championship bracket round of eight against Oklahoma State's four-seed, Kaid Brock who is ranked as high as 10 in national publications. Martinez would drop the 10-6 decision and head to the round of eight in the consolation bracket at 2-1.
In his first consolation match, Martinez squared off against Northern Colorado's Rico Montoya where he earned an 8-5 decision to advance to the next round against Minnesota's Sam Brancale. Martinez would pick up the 8-5 decision over Brancale and advance to the consolation quarter finals against Virginia's George DiCamillo. DiCamillo entered the tournament ranked fourth by national publications.
DiCamillo would best Martinez with a 10-5 decision, sending Martinez to the fifth place bout against Kaid Brock, who suffered a knee injury in the preceding match giving Martinez fifth place by injury default with a 4-2 record on the tournament.
Martinez's fifth place finish makes him a three-time Southern Scuffle place winner in as many tries. Martinez earned fourth, third and fifth place finishes in 2013, 2014 and 2015 respectively.
Hines started day two action undefeated (3-0) in the championship round of eight against Duke's Connor Hartmann who is ranked third by national publications. Hines would drop the 13-0 major decision and head the consolation round of eight.
Hines would enter the consolation bracket with a 7-4 decision win over North Carolina's Chip Ness to advance to the second consolation round of eight against Lehigh's John Bolich who is ranked No. 15 in national publications.
Bolich narrowly escaped defeat by earning a takedown for a one point lead with six seconds remaining in the match. Hines would take the 4-3 decision loss and compete for a seventh place finish against Northern Colorado's Trent Noon.
Hines would finish the tournament with a 4-3 record, enough for an eighth place finish after dropping the 6-3 decision to Noon. Hines has earned two top-eight tournament finishes so far this season and the first Southern Scuffle placing in his career. Hines also had a notable victory over No. 18 Scottie Boykin of UT-Chattanooga in day one action.
Zach Stepan (157, 2-2) and Anthony McLaughlin (184, 2-2) were two other Falcons to earn victories in day two action.
Falcon wrestling continues action in Gunnison, Colorado on Sat., Jan. 9, to take on a host of opponents in the Tracy Borah duals.
