Air Force Splits PAC 12 Double-Header

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Air Force split a pair of Sunday afternoon duals against the PAC 12's CSU Bakersfield and Cal Poly, defeating the Roadrunners, 25-9, and falling to the hosting Mustangs, 27-18, at the Mott Athletics Center. The Falcons overall record moves to 4-8 while Cal Poly improves to 3-2 and Bakersfield drops to 2-8.

Air Force opened dual action in a strong way, defeating CSU Bakersfield in 8-of-10 bouts. Falcon team captain Jared Van Vleet posted a convincing 10-3 decision over Eddie Flores to start, winning his 11th match this season. Air Force senior No. 33 Sidney Flores was the first to upset an opponent on the day, knocking of No. 23 Chance Rich with a hard-fought 3-2 decision at 133. Flores concluded the week on a three-win tear.

AF junior Cody Phippen is back in the win column in a strong way, posting a 10-0 major decision over Louie Ramos to give the Falcons a 10-0 team lead. CSUB responded with a 4-2 decision at 149 to get on the board.

The Falcons quelled the uprising with wins in the ensuing three weight classes. Giano Petrucelli, a sophomore native of Fresno, California, won the 157 bout with a 4-2 decision over Brock Rogers. Senior 165-pounder and commander of Cadet Squadron 14, Trey Brisker, followed up with a decisive 7-1 decision over Bradley Harper to lift the Falcons to a 16-3 team score.

AF strong man No. 31 Sam Wolf represented the Falcons at 174, grinding to an 8-6 decision loss against Albert Urias. Wolf would not go quietly into the night as he mentally prepared for his next match against No. 8 Jared Kemp of Cal Poly.

The Falcons and Mustangs went tit-for-tat in the next two bouts as Jake Thompson, Air Force's senior 184-pounder, fought his way back into the win column with a 4-3 decision over Jacob Hansen. Josh Loomer of Cal Poly won at 197 with a 4-1 decision over Cole Forrester.

Air Force standout No. 6 Wyatt Hendrickson tallied another pin to his season total, putting Jacob Sieder's back on the mat in just 57 seconds. At the end of the day, 17-of-19 Hendrickson wins have yielded bonus points.

Air Force 25, CSU Bakersfield 9
125: Jared Van Vleet (AF) Dec. Eddie Flores (CSUB), 10-3 | AF 3, CSUB 0
133: #33 Sidney Flores (AF) Dec. #23 Chance Rich (CSUB), 3-2 | AF 6, CSUB 0
141: Cody Phippen (AF) MD Louie Ramos (CSUB), 11-0 | AF 10, CSUB 0
149: Josh Brown (CSUB) Dec. Dylan Martinez (AF), 4-2 | AF 10, CSUB 3
157: Giano Petrucelli (AF) Dec. Brock Rogers (CSUB), 4-2 | AF 13, CSUB 3
165: Trey Brisker (AF) Dec. Bradley Harper (CSUB), 7-1 | AF 16, CSUB 3
174: Albert Urias (CSUB) Dec. #31 Sam Wolf (AF), 8-6 | AF 16, CSUB 6
184: Jake Thompson (AF) Dec. Jacob Hansen (CSUB) 4-3 | AF 19, CSUB 6
197: Josh Loomer (CSUB) Dec. Cole Forrester (AF), 4-1 | AF 19, CSUB 9
HWT: #6 Wyatt Hendrickson (AF) Fall Jacob Sieder (CSUB), (0:57) | AF 25, CSUB 9

In the second dual of the day the Falcons posted victories in four weight classes, highlighted by an upset in the 174 class as No. 31 Wolf knocked off Cal Poly's No. 8 Adam Kemp with a takedown in sudden victory. Wolf finalized the match with a 3-1 decision. The victory marked Wolf's 14th of the season.

Hendrickson continued his tear in the heavyweight division as he pinned Sam Aguilar in the first period (2:13) to notch his second pin of the day, 12^th of the season. He spent a total of 3:10 on the mat on the day. The fall secured Hendrickson's position among the top-five of Division I pins leaders. The sophomore native of Newton, Kansas, is now 19-0 on the season with a 9-0 mark in dual action. He is one-of-three top-25 heavyweights to remain undefeated next to No. 1 Gable Steveson and No. 2 Cohlton Schultz.

Petrucelli and Flores tallied nine points to round Air Force's scoring. Petrucelli commanded a 6-1 decision over Brawley Lamer at 157 to go 2-0 on the day, and Sidney Flores tallied six team points by way of Cal Poly forfeit, notching his second W of the day.

The Mustangs won six matches, highlighted by a fall at 149, No. 1 Evan Wick's technical fall at 165, and a major decision at 197. The Falcons gave up six points by forfeit at 184.

Cal Poly 27, Air Force 18
125: #29 Antonio Lorenzo (POLY) Dec. Jared Van Vleet (AF), 8-2 | POLY 3, AF 0
133: #33 Sidney Flores (AF) Inj. Def. Abe Hinrichsen (POLY), (0:02) | AF 6, POLY 3
141: #31 Lawrence Saenz (POLY) Dec. Cody Phippen (AF), 6-3 | AF 6, POLY 6
149: #16 Legend Lamer (POLY) Fall Dylan Martinez (AF), (2:26) | POLY 12, AF 6
157: Giano Petrucelli (AF) Dec. Brawley Lamer (POLY), 6-1 | POLY 12, AF 9
165: #1 Evan Wick (POLY) TF Trey Brisker (AF), 17-1 | POLY 17, AF 9
174: #31 Sam Wolf (AF) Dec. #8 Adam Kemp (POLY) | POLY 17, AF 12
184: #5 Bernie Truax (POLY) Inj. Def. Jake Thompson (AF), (0:02) | POLY 23, AF 12
197: Trent Tracy (POLY) MD Cole Forrester (AF), 10-0 | POLY 27, AF 12
HWT: #6 Wyatt Hendrickson (AF) Fall Sam Aguilar (POLY), (2:13) | POLY 27, AF 18

Next up, the Falcons return home to host Northern Colorado in Big 12 dual action for the regular season finale and Senior Night, Sunday, February 20. Action is slated for 1 p.m. MT in Clune Arena.

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Players Mentioned

Trey Brisker

Sidney Flores

Cole Forrester

Wyatt Hendrickson

Dylan Martinez

Giano Petrucelli

Cody Phippen

Jake Thompson

Jared Van Vleet

Sam Wolf

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