Sunday, December 9
USAFA
2 p.m. MT
Air Force Academy
vs
North Dakota State
Photo by: Darcie Ibidapo
Wrestling Returns Home to Host No. 19 North Dakota State
12/4/2018 4:23:00 PM | Wrestling
The dual is set to begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 9
#19 North Dakota State
Sunday, Dec. 9 | 2 p.m. MT
Clune Arena | USAFA, Colo.
THIS WEEK: The Air Force Academy wrestling team returns to Big 12 dual action when it hosts No. 19 nationally ranked North Dakota State Sunday afternoon, Dec. 9, at Clune Arena. The dual is set to begin at 2 p.m. MT.
FOLLOWING THE ACTION: The dual can be watched via free live stream on TrackWrestling.com, while live results will be posted to TrackWrestling as well. Fans can also follow along on Twitter, @AFAWrestling.
RECAPPING LAST WEEKEND: The Falcons had a solid overall weekend at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite, Nov. 30-Dec. 1. Junior Alec Opsal and senior Alex Mossing both came one match shy of placing in the top eight of the elite tournament. Opsal knocked off a pair of ranked wrestlers, while Mossing had two pins in his three victories. Both of their two losses came against nationally ranked opponents. Overall the team totaled 17.5 points to finish in 30th place out of 43 teams.
OPSAL RANKED BY TRACKWRESTLING: Thanks in part to his two wins over nationally ranked wrestlers at CKLV, junior 149 pounder Alec Opsal came in ranked 24th in the nation by TrackWrestling. It is the first national ranking for a Falcon this season, and the first time Opsal has been ranked in his career.
LAST SEASON VS. NDSU: Alec Opsal and Anthony McLaughlin notched a win apiece in a 33-7 loss to North Dakota State in conference action, Sunday morning, Feb. 4, at the Scheels Center in Fargo. McLaughlin defeated Cordell Eaton by 5-3 decision, while Opsal was perfect in an 11-0 major decision victory. Based on probable lineups, McLaughlin and the now No. 20 ranked Eaton could rematch this season. McLaughlin is 2-1 all-time against Eaton in college.
ALL-TIME VS NDSU: Sunday will mark the 17th meeting between the two programs dating all the way back to 1964. NDSU leads the all-time series, 14-2, including winning the last seven meetings. Air Force won the first ever meeting in 1964, 25-3, and last claimed victory in 2011, 22-19.
USA WRESTLING DAY: Sunday will be USA Wrestling Day at Clune Arena, as the Falcons will host members and staff of Team USA for the dual. The 2017 World Champions and 2018 World Runners Up will be honored during a ceremony at the dual's intermission.
TAKEDOWN CANCER: The team will also host a Takedown Cancer event on Sunday in support of the Randy Shaver Cancer Research and Community Fund. Both teams will wear shirts during warm ups to help spread awareness, while a portion of proceeds from the dual will be donated to the foundation. For more details or to donate, please visit takedowncancer.org.
NEXT UP: Air Force will have off from competition until after the New Year, as they return to the mats for the Southern Scuffle, Tuesday-Wednesday, Jan 1-2, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The two-day event will run throughout the day both days, and will feature some of the top teams in the country, including No. 1 Penn State.
Probable Lineups
(Rankings Highest from Intermat/Flo/Track/TOM)
Air Force
125: Sidney Flores
133: John Twomey
141: Garrett O'Shea
149: No. 24 Alec Opsal
157: Alex Mossing
165: Marcus Amico
174: Randy Meneweather or Cody Surratt
184: Tyler Wiederholt
197: Anthony McLaughlin or Casey Jumps
285: Kayne Hutchison or Matt Wagner
No. 19 North Dakota State
125 -- No. 8 Brent Fleetwood
133 -- No. 15 Cam Sykora OR Nico Colunga
141 -- Gavin Sutton
149 -- Jaden Van Maanen
157 -- Nick Knutson
165 -- No. 13 Andrew Fogarty
174 -- Lorenzo De La Riva OR Jesse Shearer
184 -- Tyler McNutt
197 -- No. 20 Cordell Eaton
285 -- No. 24 Brandon Metz OR Dan Stibral
Sunday, Dec. 9 | 2 p.m. MT
Clune Arena | USAFA, Colo.
THIS WEEK: The Air Force Academy wrestling team returns to Big 12 dual action when it hosts No. 19 nationally ranked North Dakota State Sunday afternoon, Dec. 9, at Clune Arena. The dual is set to begin at 2 p.m. MT.
FOLLOWING THE ACTION: The dual can be watched via free live stream on TrackWrestling.com, while live results will be posted to TrackWrestling as well. Fans can also follow along on Twitter, @AFAWrestling.
RECAPPING LAST WEEKEND: The Falcons had a solid overall weekend at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite, Nov. 30-Dec. 1. Junior Alec Opsal and senior Alex Mossing both came one match shy of placing in the top eight of the elite tournament. Opsal knocked off a pair of ranked wrestlers, while Mossing had two pins in his three victories. Both of their two losses came against nationally ranked opponents. Overall the team totaled 17.5 points to finish in 30th place out of 43 teams.
OPSAL RANKED BY TRACKWRESTLING: Thanks in part to his two wins over nationally ranked wrestlers at CKLV, junior 149 pounder Alec Opsal came in ranked 24th in the nation by TrackWrestling. It is the first national ranking for a Falcon this season, and the first time Opsal has been ranked in his career.
LAST SEASON VS. NDSU: Alec Opsal and Anthony McLaughlin notched a win apiece in a 33-7 loss to North Dakota State in conference action, Sunday morning, Feb. 4, at the Scheels Center in Fargo. McLaughlin defeated Cordell Eaton by 5-3 decision, while Opsal was perfect in an 11-0 major decision victory. Based on probable lineups, McLaughlin and the now No. 20 ranked Eaton could rematch this season. McLaughlin is 2-1 all-time against Eaton in college.
ALL-TIME VS NDSU: Sunday will mark the 17th meeting between the two programs dating all the way back to 1964. NDSU leads the all-time series, 14-2, including winning the last seven meetings. Air Force won the first ever meeting in 1964, 25-3, and last claimed victory in 2011, 22-19.
USA WRESTLING DAY: Sunday will be USA Wrestling Day at Clune Arena, as the Falcons will host members and staff of Team USA for the dual. The 2017 World Champions and 2018 World Runners Up will be honored during a ceremony at the dual's intermission.
TAKEDOWN CANCER: The team will also host a Takedown Cancer event on Sunday in support of the Randy Shaver Cancer Research and Community Fund. Both teams will wear shirts during warm ups to help spread awareness, while a portion of proceeds from the dual will be donated to the foundation. For more details or to donate, please visit takedowncancer.org.
NEXT UP: Air Force will have off from competition until after the New Year, as they return to the mats for the Southern Scuffle, Tuesday-Wednesday, Jan 1-2, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The two-day event will run throughout the day both days, and will feature some of the top teams in the country, including No. 1 Penn State.
Probable Lineups
(Rankings Highest from Intermat/Flo/Track/TOM)
Air Force
125: Sidney Flores
133: John Twomey
141: Garrett O'Shea
149: No. 24 Alec Opsal
157: Alex Mossing
165: Marcus Amico
174: Randy Meneweather or Cody Surratt
184: Tyler Wiederholt
197: Anthony McLaughlin or Casey Jumps
285: Kayne Hutchison or Matt Wagner
No. 19 North Dakota State
125 -- No. 8 Brent Fleetwood
133 -- No. 15 Cam Sykora OR Nico Colunga
141 -- Gavin Sutton
149 -- Jaden Van Maanen
157 -- Nick Knutson
165 -- No. 13 Andrew Fogarty
174 -- Lorenzo De La Riva OR Jesse Shearer
184 -- Tyler McNutt
197 -- No. 20 Cordell Eaton
285 -- No. 24 Brandon Metz OR Dan Stibral
Players Mentioned
157/165
/ Wrestling
125
/ Wrestling
HWT
/ Wrestling
197
/ Wrestling
197
/ Wrestling
174
/ Wrestling
157
/ Wrestling
141
/ Wrestling
149
/ Wrestling
174
/ Wrestling
133
/ Wrestling
HWT
/ Wrestling
184
/ WrestlingWyatt Hendrickson Visit
Monday, April 07
Sam Barber Interview March 12, 2025
Wednesday, March 12
Sam Barber Interview March 5, 2025
Wednesday, March 05
Sam Barber Interview February 25, 2025
Tuesday, February 25
