Friday, February 10
Morgantown, WV
5 p.m. MT
Air Force Academy
at
West Virginia
Photo by: U.S. Air Force photo / Elefterio
Falcon Wrestling Takes on West Virginia, American U this weekend
2/9/2023 4:08:00 PM | Wrestling
#27 Air Force (7-3, 3-3 Big 12) vs. #23 West Virginia (7-5, 1-5 Big 12)
7 p.m. ET, Friday, February 10
WVU Coliseum | Morgantown, WV
Air Force vs. American U
12 p.m. ET, Sunday, Feb. 12
Bender Arena | Washington D.C.
The Falcons hit the road for a pair of duals February 10 and 12. On the Friday (Feb. 10), Air Force takes on Big 12 counterpart West Virginia, at 7 p.m. ET in WVU Coliseum. On Sunday (Feb. 12), the Falcons head to the nation's capital to take on American University. Action in Bender Arena kicks off at noon ET.
FOLLOW ALONG
A live stream for the WVU and AU duals will be available on ESPN+ with live results available on Track Wrestling. Fans can also get live match updates on Twitter by following @AF_Wrestle.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
#27 Air Force (7-3, 3-3 Big 12) vs. #23 West Virginia (7-5, 1-5 Big 12)
125 #29 Tucker Owens (21-8) / Quinn Melofchik (7-8) vs. #9 Killian Cardinale
133 #19 Cody Phippen (13-4) vs. David Rhoads
141 Garrett Kuchan (14-11) / Bryce Shelton (9-8) vs. #HM Jordan Titus
149 #30 Dylan Martinez (16-8) vs. #20 Sam Hillegas
157 Jack Ganos (13-8) vs. Alex Hornfeck / Caleb Dowling
165 Seamus Casey (10-7) vs. #12 Peyton Hall
174 #11 Sam Wolf (10-1) / Gage Musser (9-12) vs. Scot Joll
184 #33 Noah Blake (16-11) vs. #HM Anthony Carman
197 Calvin Sund (15-11) vs. Austin Cooley / Brian Finnerty
285 #5 Wyatt Hendrickson (20-1) vs. #15 Michael Wolfgram
125: #29 Tucker Owens or Quinn Melofchik vs. Maximilian Leete (So., 19-8)
133: #19 Cody Phippen vs. Jack Maida (So., 15-8) or Raymond Lopez (Fr., 10-8)
141: Garrett Kuchan vs. Ethan Szerencsits (R-So., 10-10) or Elijah White (R-So., 1-8)
149: #30 Dylan Martinez vs. Patrick Ryan (R-Sr., 6-10) or Antonio Segura (So., 2-8)
157: Jack Ganos vs. Jack Nies (R-So., 9-11)
165: Seamus Casey vs. Caleb Campos (Fr., 16-7)
174: #11 Sam Wolf or Gage Musser vs. Lucas White (R-Fr., 8-15)
184: #33 Noah Blake vs. Colin Shannon (Gr., 8-12) or Carsten Rawls (So., 9-13)
197: Calvin Sund vs. Connor Bourne (R-Jr., 9-7)
285: #5 Wyatt Hendrickson vs. Will Jarrell (R-Jr., 11-9) or Isaac Righter (R-So., 7-5)
IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Seven Falcons will take the mat with numbers in front of their names. Heavyweight standout Wyatt Hendrickson checks in as high as No. 5 in the NCAA Coaches Rankings and No. 6 across Flo, WIN and The Open Mat.
Senior 133-pounder Cody Phippen holds his highest number of No. 19 in the Coaches rankings and 21/22 in the Flo and Intermat, respectively.
Falcon 174-pound junior Sam Wolf jumps up a few spots after upending returning All-American then-No. 8 Demetrius Romero last week—Wolf is 11 in Flo, 18 in TOM and 19 in Intermat. Due to a match participation error, Wolf was erroneously not included in the coaches' rankings.
Four other Falcons have spots in the top-33 of the NCAA Coaches Rankings—Tucker Ownes is No. 29, Dylan Martinez checks in at No. 30, Giano Petrucelli at No. 31 and Noah Blake holding on to No. 33.
As a team, the Falcons are tabbed as No. 27 by Flo and No. 29 by WIN. In the NWCA Mid-Major Top-20 polls, the Falcons checked in at a program-high No. 10.
LAST TIME OUT
The 27th-ranked Air Force Falcons battled to a tough loss against No. 13 North Dakota State, 32-10, in Big 12 dual action Friday evening in Clune Arena.
The Falcons got a breath of fresh air at heavyweight as the NCAA's Most Dominant Wrestler of 2022 took the mat against No. 33 Juan Mora. Hendrickson scored a takedown in the first period and a reversal in the second. In the third period, Hendrickson began cutting Mora loose, scoring a trio of takedowns with a riding time point to finalize a 13-2 major decision against the Bison heavyweight. Hendrickson has scored bonus points in all nine dual of his matches, marking his third major decision and 20th win this season. Hendrickson has wrangled up 49 bonus points for Air Force in dual action.
Freshman 125-pounder Tucker Owens kept the momentum in favor of the Falcons as he commanded a 7-1 victory over three-time California State Champion freshman, Carlos Negrete Jr. Owens was the first to score in the second period via reversal, plus another two for a takedown thereafter. By the final whistle Owens tacked on another takedown and riding time point while denying the Bison any offensive points. Owens has a team-high 21 wins this season and is 4-1 in Big 12 dual action.
Capping off Air Force's late run and his final dual match in Clune Arena, No. 19 Cody Phippen took care of business at 133. Phippen was convincing against McGwire Midkiff, handing the Bison a 6-1 loss via takedown, nearfall and reversal points. Phippen is on a four-dual match win streak and is a perfect 4-0 in Big 12 dual action.
7 p.m. ET, Friday, February 10
WVU Coliseum | Morgantown, WV
Air Force vs. American U
12 p.m. ET, Sunday, Feb. 12
Bender Arena | Washington D.C.
The Falcons hit the road for a pair of duals February 10 and 12. On the Friday (Feb. 10), Air Force takes on Big 12 counterpart West Virginia, at 7 p.m. ET in WVU Coliseum. On Sunday (Feb. 12), the Falcons head to the nation's capital to take on American University. Action in Bender Arena kicks off at noon ET.
FOLLOW ALONG
A live stream for the WVU and AU duals will be available on ESPN+ with live results available on Track Wrestling. Fans can also get live match updates on Twitter by following @AF_Wrestle.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
#27 Air Force (7-3, 3-3 Big 12) vs. #23 West Virginia (7-5, 1-5 Big 12)
125 #29 Tucker Owens (21-8) / Quinn Melofchik (7-8) vs. #9 Killian Cardinale
133 #19 Cody Phippen (13-4) vs. David Rhoads
141 Garrett Kuchan (14-11) / Bryce Shelton (9-8) vs. #HM Jordan Titus
149 #30 Dylan Martinez (16-8) vs. #20 Sam Hillegas
157 Jack Ganos (13-8) vs. Alex Hornfeck / Caleb Dowling
165 Seamus Casey (10-7) vs. #12 Peyton Hall
174 #11 Sam Wolf (10-1) / Gage Musser (9-12) vs. Scot Joll
184 #33 Noah Blake (16-11) vs. #HM Anthony Carman
197 Calvin Sund (15-11) vs. Austin Cooley / Brian Finnerty
285 #5 Wyatt Hendrickson (20-1) vs. #15 Michael Wolfgram
125: #29 Tucker Owens or Quinn Melofchik vs. Maximilian Leete (So., 19-8)
133: #19 Cody Phippen vs. Jack Maida (So., 15-8) or Raymond Lopez (Fr., 10-8)
141: Garrett Kuchan vs. Ethan Szerencsits (R-So., 10-10) or Elijah White (R-So., 1-8)
149: #30 Dylan Martinez vs. Patrick Ryan (R-Sr., 6-10) or Antonio Segura (So., 2-8)
157: Jack Ganos vs. Jack Nies (R-So., 9-11)
165: Seamus Casey vs. Caleb Campos (Fr., 16-7)
174: #11 Sam Wolf or Gage Musser vs. Lucas White (R-Fr., 8-15)
184: #33 Noah Blake vs. Colin Shannon (Gr., 8-12) or Carsten Rawls (So., 9-13)
197: Calvin Sund vs. Connor Bourne (R-Jr., 9-7)
285: #5 Wyatt Hendrickson vs. Will Jarrell (R-Jr., 11-9) or Isaac Righter (R-So., 7-5)
IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Seven Falcons will take the mat with numbers in front of their names. Heavyweight standout Wyatt Hendrickson checks in as high as No. 5 in the NCAA Coaches Rankings and No. 6 across Flo, WIN and The Open Mat.
Senior 133-pounder Cody Phippen holds his highest number of No. 19 in the Coaches rankings and 21/22 in the Flo and Intermat, respectively.
Falcon 174-pound junior Sam Wolf jumps up a few spots after upending returning All-American then-No. 8 Demetrius Romero last week—Wolf is 11 in Flo, 18 in TOM and 19 in Intermat. Due to a match participation error, Wolf was erroneously not included in the coaches' rankings.
Four other Falcons have spots in the top-33 of the NCAA Coaches Rankings—Tucker Ownes is No. 29, Dylan Martinez checks in at No. 30, Giano Petrucelli at No. 31 and Noah Blake holding on to No. 33.
As a team, the Falcons are tabbed as No. 27 by Flo and No. 29 by WIN. In the NWCA Mid-Major Top-20 polls, the Falcons checked in at a program-high No. 10.
LAST TIME OUT
The 27th-ranked Air Force Falcons battled to a tough loss against No. 13 North Dakota State, 32-10, in Big 12 dual action Friday evening in Clune Arena.
The Falcons got a breath of fresh air at heavyweight as the NCAA's Most Dominant Wrestler of 2022 took the mat against No. 33 Juan Mora. Hendrickson scored a takedown in the first period and a reversal in the second. In the third period, Hendrickson began cutting Mora loose, scoring a trio of takedowns with a riding time point to finalize a 13-2 major decision against the Bison heavyweight. Hendrickson has scored bonus points in all nine dual of his matches, marking his third major decision and 20th win this season. Hendrickson has wrangled up 49 bonus points for Air Force in dual action.
Freshman 125-pounder Tucker Owens kept the momentum in favor of the Falcons as he commanded a 7-1 victory over three-time California State Champion freshman, Carlos Negrete Jr. Owens was the first to score in the second period via reversal, plus another two for a takedown thereafter. By the final whistle Owens tacked on another takedown and riding time point while denying the Bison any offensive points. Owens has a team-high 21 wins this season and is 4-1 in Big 12 dual action.
Capping off Air Force's late run and his final dual match in Clune Arena, No. 19 Cody Phippen took care of business at 133. Phippen was convincing against McGwire Midkiff, handing the Bison a 6-1 loss via takedown, nearfall and reversal points. Phippen is on a four-dual match win streak and is a perfect 4-0 in Big 12 dual action.
Players Mentioned
174
/ Wrestling
165
/ Wrestling
165
/ Wrestling
HWT
/ Wrestling
133/141
/ Wrestling
149
/ Wrestling
125
/ Wrestling
174
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
157/165
/ Wrestling
125/133
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
184
/ Wrestling
174
/ 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
