Sunday, January 17
USAFA, Colo.
12 p.m. MT
Air Force Academy
vs
South Dakota State
Photo by: Gage Jenkins
Wrestling Opens 2021 Season Hosting South Dakota State
1/15/2021 2:52:00 PM | Wrestling
Bonus matches will run at the same time as the dual
South Dakota State Jackrabbits (1-3, 0-2 Big 12)
Sunday, Jan. 17 | 12 p.m. MT
East Gym | USAFA, Colo.
THIS WEEK: The Air Force Academy wrestling team finally gets its 2020-21 campaign underway at home with a dual against Big 12 foe South Dakota State, Sunday, Jan. 17, inside the East Gym. Action against the Jackrabbits will start at noon MT. In addition to the normal varsity duals, a second mat will be set up for extra matches between AF, SDST, Northern Colorado, and Wyoming.
FOLLOWING THE ACTION: The dual, as well as the bonus matches, will be streamed live for free on Trackwrestling, with live results through Trackwrestling as well. Fans can also follow results live on Twitter by following @AF_Wrestle.
DUAL VS. NORTHERN COLORADO CANCELED: Sunday was originally supposed to feature a second dual against #23 Northern Colorado, but due to COVID protocols within the UNC program, the dual was canceled.
MEET CLOSED TO PUBLIC: Fan attendance will be not be allowed for Air Force wrestling home events due to Academy and local COVID restrictions until further notice.
NATIONALLY RANKED FALCONS: Coming into the weekend, Air Force has six wrestlers begin ranked by national wrestling outlets:
125: Cody Phippen - #29
133: Jared Van Vleet - #28
141: Lenny Petersen - #29
174: Cody Surratt - #30
184: Jake Thompson - #29
HWT: Wyatt Hendrickson - #25
ALL-TIME VERSUS SDST: Sunday will be the 16th meeting between the Falcons and Jackrabbits. Despite being in the same conference, this will be the first dual between the two teams since 2018. The Falcons lead the all-time series, 9-6, with the first dual taking place back in 1993. South Dakota State has won the last five meetings, with AF's last win coming in 2013.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE JACKRABBITS: Air Force dropped its 2018 home dual opener, 32-6, to Big 12 foe No. 15 South Dakota State, Jan. 14. AF won two matches, both by decision. Only one of the projected starters for either team wrestled in the dual that day.
AF RETURNING SOME FIREPOWER: The Falcons are poised to make some noise this season, as they return nine of the 10 primary starters from a season ago, as well as 15 wrestlers who have experience as a starter in a Big 12 dual. All four placewinners in the Big 12 tournament from a season ago also return in Cody Phippen, Lenny Petersen, Cody Surratt, and Jake Thompson.
AF RECRUITING CLASS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED: Air Force's 16-man recruiting Class of 2024 was recognized by WIN Magazine as the 26th-best recruiting class in the country, while also being recognized by theopenmat.com as a recruiting class to watch. This marks the sixth time in seven seasons Air Force has landed a top-30 class. The group is headlined by heavyweight Wyatt Hendrickson, who was the second-ranked recruit in his weight class by theopenmat.com and third by Flowrestling. He begins his freshman season ranked 25th by Trackwrestling.
NEXT WEEK: The Falcons hit the road as they head up to Greeley, Colo. for a neutral site dual with nationally ranked Oklahoma State. Action against the Cowboys is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. MT.
Sunday, Jan. 17 | 12 p.m. MT
East Gym | USAFA, Colo.
THIS WEEK: The Air Force Academy wrestling team finally gets its 2020-21 campaign underway at home with a dual against Big 12 foe South Dakota State, Sunday, Jan. 17, inside the East Gym. Action against the Jackrabbits will start at noon MT. In addition to the normal varsity duals, a second mat will be set up for extra matches between AF, SDST, Northern Colorado, and Wyoming.
FOLLOWING THE ACTION: The dual, as well as the bonus matches, will be streamed live for free on Trackwrestling, with live results through Trackwrestling as well. Fans can also follow results live on Twitter by following @AF_Wrestle.
DUAL VS. NORTHERN COLORADO CANCELED: Sunday was originally supposed to feature a second dual against #23 Northern Colorado, but due to COVID protocols within the UNC program, the dual was canceled.
MEET CLOSED TO PUBLIC: Fan attendance will be not be allowed for Air Force wrestling home events due to Academy and local COVID restrictions until further notice.
NATIONALLY RANKED FALCONS: Coming into the weekend, Air Force has six wrestlers begin ranked by national wrestling outlets:
125: Cody Phippen - #29
133: Jared Van Vleet - #28
141: Lenny Petersen - #29
174: Cody Surratt - #30
184: Jake Thompson - #29
HWT: Wyatt Hendrickson - #25
ALL-TIME VERSUS SDST: Sunday will be the 16th meeting between the Falcons and Jackrabbits. Despite being in the same conference, this will be the first dual between the two teams since 2018. The Falcons lead the all-time series, 9-6, with the first dual taking place back in 1993. South Dakota State has won the last five meetings, with AF's last win coming in 2013.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE JACKRABBITS: Air Force dropped its 2018 home dual opener, 32-6, to Big 12 foe No. 15 South Dakota State, Jan. 14. AF won two matches, both by decision. Only one of the projected starters for either team wrestled in the dual that day.
AF RETURNING SOME FIREPOWER: The Falcons are poised to make some noise this season, as they return nine of the 10 primary starters from a season ago, as well as 15 wrestlers who have experience as a starter in a Big 12 dual. All four placewinners in the Big 12 tournament from a season ago also return in Cody Phippen, Lenny Petersen, Cody Surratt, and Jake Thompson.
AF RECRUITING CLASS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED: Air Force's 16-man recruiting Class of 2024 was recognized by WIN Magazine as the 26th-best recruiting class in the country, while also being recognized by theopenmat.com as a recruiting class to watch. This marks the sixth time in seven seasons Air Force has landed a top-30 class. The group is headlined by heavyweight Wyatt Hendrickson, who was the second-ranked recruit in his weight class by theopenmat.com and third by Flowrestling. He begins his freshman season ranked 25th by Trackwrestling.
NEXT WEEK: The Falcons hit the road as they head up to Greeley, Colo. for a neutral site dual with nationally ranked Oklahoma State. Action against the Cowboys is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. MT.
Players Mentioned
HWT
/ Wrestling
141
/ Wrestling
125
/ Wrestling
174
/ Wrestling
184
/ Wrestling
133
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