Air Force Wrestling Welcomes 12 Freshmen
8/29/2023 11:26:00 AM | Wrestling
USAF ACADEMY -- Air Force has unveiled its roster for the 2023-24 campaign, announcing the addition of 11 C4C's to the ranks. The class marks the seventh top-25 recruiting class in the last 10 years.
"Adding the class of 2027 to our program will allow us to reload and continue to sustain and build on last year's record-breaking season," head coach Sam Barber said. "The incoming class represents another top-25 recruiting class secured by our staff and led by our recruiting coordinator, coach Chris Heilman. The class of 2027 possesses all the right attributes that will position them for a seamless transition into our Mission First/Values Base program committed to pursuing excellence on and off the mat. We are excited about their growth and development over the next 48 months; it will be a transformational experience. As a staff, we look forward to strengthening our relationship with them and enhancing their development as they work hard to make their mark in our program, at USAFA, and for our nation."
Name: Dany Asongkeng Tanefeu
Hometown: Bismarck, ND
High School: Century
State Tournament Placings: 6th
Why I chose the Academy: To pursue a prestigious education; to better serve myself and those around me.
Name: Gavin Caprella
Hometown: Bluffton, OH
High School: Lima Central Catholic
Career Record: 160-24
State Placings: 5th, 5th
Other Wrestling Credentials: 5th NHSCA, two-time Greco State Champion, 4th Powerade
Why I chose the Academy: I chose the academy because of the endless opportunities it offers for my athletics, academics, as well as the skills I will develop to become an officer in the United States Air Force.
Name: Joshua Cordio
Hometown: Lancaster, MA
High School: Wyoming Seminary
Career Record: 117-11
State Tournament Placings: National Prep 3rd, New England Champ, PA prep state champ, MA state champ
Other Wrestling Credentials: Powerade 3rd, Beast of the East 3rd, NHSCA 8th
Why I Chose the Academy: I chose the academy to challenge myself to be the best person I can be in both athletics and academics.
Name: Jackson Dewald
Hometown: Sloan, IA
High School: Westwood
Career Record: 163-9
State Tournament Placings: 7th, 2nd, 2nd, 1st
Other Tournament Credentials: U.S. Junior Open Greco Runner-up 2022, 4th 2023
Why I chose the Academy: I chose the Academy to become the best person and wrestler I can, and to give back to my country.
Name: Jake Doone
Hometown: Nazareth, PA
High School: Nazareth Area
Career Record: 107-37
State Tournament Placings: 7th, 6th
Why I chose the Academy: To be a part of something bigger than myself while getting a world class education and opportunities I can't get anywhere else in the world.
Name: Owen Heiser
Hometown: Oregon, WI
High School: Evansville
Career Record: 119-18
State Tournament Placings: 2nd, 1st, 6th
Other Wrestling Credentials: USAW Preaseason Nationals Champion
Why I chose the Academy: To become the best version of myself and to meet like-minded people that want to get better and to serve their country.
Name: Soren Herzog
Hometown: Inver Grove Heights, MN
High School: Simley
Career record: 156-20, 117 pins
State tournament: 6th, 3rd, 2nd, 1st
Other credentials:10-time All-American, Double All-American Fargo, 8th freestyle, 2nd Greco Runner up, Greco 2022 US Open (World Team alternate) Future Olympic Rankings: 9th among all weight classes
Why I chose the Academy: There is no better place in the world to learn, lead, and wrestle all at the same time!
Name: Paul King
Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO
High School: Pine Creek
Career Record: 77-27
State Tournament Placings: 5th, 2nd
Other Wrestling Credentials: 2023 Midwest Classic Nationals (215lb Champion), 2023 Midwest Classic Nationals (285lb 2nd), 2023 Colorado 5A State Championship ( 215lb 2nd), 2023 Colorado 5A Regionals (215lb Champion), 2023 COS Metro Championship (215lb Champion), 2023 Rocky Welton Invitational (215lb Champion), 2022 Midwest Classic Nationals (220lb Champion) 2022 Colorado 5A State Championship (220lb 5th), 3 Time All-American.
Why I chose the Academy: It was the best way for me to not only continue my family's legacy of service, but also pursue excellence in my academic and wrestling career.
Name: Trason Oehme
Hometown: Brandon, SD
High School: Brandon Valley
Record: 133-7
State Placings: 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 1st
Other Wrestling Credentials: two-time Fargo Greco AA
Why I chose the Academy: I was completely sold by all the opportunities that are given here. Being able to get a world class education and become an officer in four years is hard to pass up. I also wanted to wrestle at the Division I level.
Name: Antonio Ramos
Hometown: Springfield, MA
High School Northfield Mount Hermon
Career Record: 152-32
State Tournament Placings: 6th, 2nd, 1st
Other Wrestling Credentials: 3rd at Prep Nationals, 1st at NHSCA Junior Nationals.
Why I chose the Academy: Wrestling at the collegiate level has always been a goal of mine. Being at the Academy gives me the opportunity to accomplish this goal while being able to be a part of something bigger than myself. I knew by coming to a military academy I would be surrounded by like-minded, driven people. The first time I stepped on base I could tell the culture at Air Force was different and this is where I needed to be.
Name: Nico Tocci
Hometown: Lititz, PA
High School: Warwick
Career Record: 68-24
State Tournament Placing: 8th
Why I Chose the Academy: I chose the academy because I've wanted to serve in the military and this was the best opportunity for me to get a world class education, become an officer in the Air Force, and wrestle Division I.
Name: Bubba Wright
Hometown: Wichita, KS
High School: Kapaun Mt. Carmel
Career Record: 166-12
State Tournament Placings: 4th, 3rd, 1st, 1st
Other Wrestling Credentials: 2019 USAW Preseason Nationals 2nd, 2021 Iowa Preseason Nationals 4th, 2021 Kansas City Stampede 4th
Why I chose the Academy: I chose the Academy because I wanted to grow as a person on and off the mat. Here I am constantly surrounded by great people that push me to be my best self and have like minded goals. There are also many opportunities that are available and a great opportunity to serve my nation.
"Adding the class of 2027 to our program will allow us to reload and continue to sustain and build on last year's record-breaking season," head coach Sam Barber said. "The incoming class represents another top-25 recruiting class secured by our staff and led by our recruiting coordinator, coach Chris Heilman. The class of 2027 possesses all the right attributes that will position them for a seamless transition into our Mission First/Values Base program committed to pursuing excellence on and off the mat. We are excited about their growth and development over the next 48 months; it will be a transformational experience. As a staff, we look forward to strengthening our relationship with them and enhancing their development as they work hard to make their mark in our program, at USAFA, and for our nation."
Name: Dany Asongkeng Tanefeu
Hometown: Bismarck, ND
High School: Century
State Tournament Placings: 6th
Why I chose the Academy: To pursue a prestigious education; to better serve myself and those around me.
Name: Gavin Caprella
Hometown: Bluffton, OH
High School: Lima Central Catholic
Career Record: 160-24
State Placings: 5th, 5th
Other Wrestling Credentials: 5th NHSCA, two-time Greco State Champion, 4th Powerade
Why I chose the Academy: I chose the academy because of the endless opportunities it offers for my athletics, academics, as well as the skills I will develop to become an officer in the United States Air Force.
Name: Joshua Cordio
Hometown: Lancaster, MA
High School: Wyoming Seminary
Career Record: 117-11
State Tournament Placings: National Prep 3rd, New England Champ, PA prep state champ, MA state champ
Other Wrestling Credentials: Powerade 3rd, Beast of the East 3rd, NHSCA 8th
Why I Chose the Academy: I chose the academy to challenge myself to be the best person I can be in both athletics and academics.
Name: Jackson Dewald
Hometown: Sloan, IA
High School: Westwood
Career Record: 163-9
State Tournament Placings: 7th, 2nd, 2nd, 1st
Other Tournament Credentials: U.S. Junior Open Greco Runner-up 2022, 4th 2023
Why I chose the Academy: I chose the Academy to become the best person and wrestler I can, and to give back to my country.
Name: Jake Doone
Hometown: Nazareth, PA
High School: Nazareth Area
Career Record: 107-37
State Tournament Placings: 7th, 6th
Why I chose the Academy: To be a part of something bigger than myself while getting a world class education and opportunities I can't get anywhere else in the world.
Name: Owen Heiser
Hometown: Oregon, WI
High School: Evansville
Career Record: 119-18
State Tournament Placings: 2nd, 1st, 6th
Other Wrestling Credentials: USAW Preaseason Nationals Champion
Why I chose the Academy: To become the best version of myself and to meet like-minded people that want to get better and to serve their country.
Name: Soren Herzog
Hometown: Inver Grove Heights, MN
High School: Simley
Career record: 156-20, 117 pins
State tournament: 6th, 3rd, 2nd, 1st
Other credentials:10-time All-American, Double All-American Fargo, 8th freestyle, 2nd Greco Runner up, Greco 2022 US Open (World Team alternate) Future Olympic Rankings: 9th among all weight classes
Why I chose the Academy: There is no better place in the world to learn, lead, and wrestle all at the same time!
Name: Paul King
Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO
High School: Pine Creek
Career Record: 77-27
State Tournament Placings: 5th, 2nd
Other Wrestling Credentials: 2023 Midwest Classic Nationals (215lb Champion), 2023 Midwest Classic Nationals (285lb 2nd), 2023 Colorado 5A State Championship ( 215lb 2nd), 2023 Colorado 5A Regionals (215lb Champion), 2023 COS Metro Championship (215lb Champion), 2023 Rocky Welton Invitational (215lb Champion), 2022 Midwest Classic Nationals (220lb Champion) 2022 Colorado 5A State Championship (220lb 5th), 3 Time All-American.
Why I chose the Academy: It was the best way for me to not only continue my family's legacy of service, but also pursue excellence in my academic and wrestling career.
Name: Trason Oehme
Hometown: Brandon, SD
High School: Brandon Valley
Record: 133-7
State Placings: 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 1st
Other Wrestling Credentials: two-time Fargo Greco AA
Why I chose the Academy: I was completely sold by all the opportunities that are given here. Being able to get a world class education and become an officer in four years is hard to pass up. I also wanted to wrestle at the Division I level.
Name: Antonio Ramos
Hometown: Springfield, MA
High School Northfield Mount Hermon
Career Record: 152-32
State Tournament Placings: 6th, 2nd, 1st
Other Wrestling Credentials: 3rd at Prep Nationals, 1st at NHSCA Junior Nationals.
Why I chose the Academy: Wrestling at the collegiate level has always been a goal of mine. Being at the Academy gives me the opportunity to accomplish this goal while being able to be a part of something bigger than myself. I knew by coming to a military academy I would be surrounded by like-minded, driven people. The first time I stepped on base I could tell the culture at Air Force was different and this is where I needed to be.
Name: Nico Tocci
Hometown: Lititz, PA
High School: Warwick
Career Record: 68-24
State Tournament Placing: 8th
Why I Chose the Academy: I chose the academy because I've wanted to serve in the military and this was the best opportunity for me to get a world class education, become an officer in the Air Force, and wrestle Division I.
Name: Bubba Wright
Hometown: Wichita, KS
High School: Kapaun Mt. Carmel
Career Record: 166-12
State Tournament Placings: 4th, 3rd, 1st, 1st
Other Wrestling Credentials: 2019 USAW Preseason Nationals 2nd, 2021 Iowa Preseason Nationals 4th, 2021 Kansas City Stampede 4th
Why I chose the Academy: I chose the Academy because I wanted to grow as a person on and off the mat. Here I am constantly surrounded by great people that push me to be my best self and have like minded goals. There are also many opportunities that are available and a great opportunity to serve my nation.
Players Mentioned
174
/ Wrestling
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184
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174/184
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