Friday, January 30
Brookings, SD
6:00 pm
Air Force Academy
at
#14 South Dakota State
Wrestling Takes the Fight to the Dakotas for a Pair of Big 12 Dual Meets
1/29/2026 2:00:00 PM | Wrestling
Air Force (4-3, 0-2 Big 12) at #14 South Dakota State (10-3, 3-2 Big 12)
7 pm CT, Friday, January 30
First Bank & Trust Arena – Brookings, S.D.
Air Force at North Dakota State (4-7, 1-2 Big 12)
1 pm CT, Sunday, February 1
Scheels Center – Fargo, N.D.
In the National Rankings
With the release of the first NCAA coaches' rankings, two Falcons are among the top 33 of their respective divisions, with others sitting just outside the rankings. Air Force C4C Karson Tompkins checks in at No. 32 in the 197 division while C3C Logan Fowler is No. 33 in the 165 division.
A Word With Coach
A Look at Air Force
125: Tucker Owens (Sr., Mustang, OK) | 15-5 | 2023 NCAA Qualifier
133: Gavin Caprella (Jr., Bluffton, OH) | 10-6
141: Carter Nogle, (So., Laurel, MD) | 13-4 | 2025 Top-10 pins
149: Bryce Shelton, (Sr., Spring Grove, IL) | 14-9 or Lincoln Gregersen (So., Arvada, CO) | 13-4
157: EJ Beloncik, (So., Chandler, OK) | 2-8
165: No. 33 Logan Fowler (So. Murfreesboro, TN) | 10-4 | First national ranking in the 2026 coaches' poll
174: Gunner Cramblett (Fr., St. Paris, OH) | 11-10
184: Brian Burburija (So., Clearwater, FL) | 10-5 | 2025 Big 12 Championships – 6th place
197: Owen Heiser (Jr., Oregon, WI) | 10-6
285: Rylan Kuhn (Fr., Kansas City, MO) | 12-7 or Antonio Ramos (Jr., Springfield, MA) | 7-4
*NCAA Coaches Rankings
#14 South Dakota State at a Glance
125: No. 21 Brady Roark (17-3)
133: No. 23 Derrick Cardinal (6-2) | two-time NCAA Qualifier or Cale Seaton (9-7)
141: No. 20 Julian Tagg (12-4) | NCAA Qualifier
149: Colin Dupill (4-8) or No. 26 Alek Martin (5-7) | NCAA Qualifier
157: No. 20 Cael Swensen (18-4) | two-time NCAA Qualifier
165: No. 27 Marcus Espinoza-Owens (11-8)
174: No. 17 Moses Espinoza-Owens (21-5)
184: Brock Fettig (10-10)
197: No. 6 Bennett Berge (9-2) | 2024 NCAA All-American, two-time NCAA Qualifier
HWT: No. 25 Luke Rasmussen (7-6) | NCAA Qualifier
*InterMat Rankings as of 1/27
Scouting North Dakota State
125: No. 17 Ezekiel Witt (RFr., Manhattan, Kan.) | 17-7
133: No. 32 Tristan Daugherty (Sr., Bartonville, Ill.) | 10-9 | 2025 NCAA Qualifier
141: Michael Olson (RFr., Albert Lea, Minn.) | 7-11 or Zytavius Williams (Fr., Minneapolis, Minn.) | 8-3
149: No. 21 Max Petersen (Jr., Byron, Minn.) | 10-5
157: Gavin Drexler (Jr., Stratford, Wis.) | 6-8 | 2025 NCAA All-American
165: Boeden Greenley (So., Lisbon, N.D.) | 12-11
174: Max Magayna (RFr., Waterloo, Iowa) | 10-11
184: No. 29 Aidan Brenot (So., Clarksville, Tenn.) | 8-6 | 2025 NCAA Qualifier
197: No. 33 Devin Wasley (Jr., Hammond, Wis.) | 16-6
285: Shilo Jones (RFr., Boise, Idaho) | 8-8
The Road Ahead
The Falcons head into the final leg of the regular season with the Big 12 dual meet schedule. Following this weekend's action, Air Force will head to Laramie to take on nationally ranked Wyoming in the final road meet of the season.
Air Force closes out the 2025-26 campaign with a three-meet home stint. Utah Valley comes to the historic Clune Arena on February 13, followed by California Baptist on February 15, and Northern Colorado for Senior Day on February 22.
Youth Wrestling Day for Young Falcons
Air Force is proud to host a free youth clinic (K-8) prior to the February 15 Big 12 dual against California Baptist. Aspiring young athletes can join the Band of Birds in the wrestling room starting at 10:30 a.m. Clinic check-in beings at 10:15 while the clinic concludes at 11:30 a.m. The Falcon youths are encouraged to stay after the dual for an autograph signing.
Last Time They Met
Jan. 18, 2025 – No. 12 South Dakota State 38, Air Force 3
125: #15 Tanner Jordan (SDSU) over Bubba Wright (AF) (MD 8-0)
133: #27 Derrick Cardinal (SDSU) over Gavin Caprella (AF) (Dec 4-0)
141: #24 Julian Tagg (SDSU) over Carter Nogle (AF) (Dec 4-0)
149: Colin Dupill (SDSU) over Alec Viduya (AF) (MD 15-3)
157: #20 Cobe Siebrecht (SDSU) over Joshua Palacio (AF) (TF 19-3 4:24)
165: Marcus Espinoza-Owens (SDSU) over EJ Beloncik (AF) (TF 24-8 5:15)
174: #11 Cade DeVos (SDSU) over Jack Ganos (AF) (TF 26-8 5:15)
184: #6 Bennett Berge (SDSU) over Gage Musser (AF) (TF 19-4 6:24)
197: Brian Burburija (AF) over Thomas Dineen (SDSU) (Dec 9-8)
285: #28 Luke Rasmussen (SDSU) over Antonio Ramos (AF) (MD 9-0)
Jan. 19, 2025 – North Dakota State 25, Air Force 12
125: Tristan Daugherty (NDSU) over Bubba Wright (AF) (SV-1 8-1)
133: Kyle Burwick (NDSU) over Gavin Caprella (AF) (TF 16-0 3:42)
141: Carter Nogle (AF) over Gideon Abel-Cole (NDSU) (Fall 4:11)
149: Gavin Drexler (NDSU) over Alec Viduya (AF) (MD 11-2)
157: Maxwell Petersen (NDSU) over EJ Beloncik (AF) (MD 17-6)
165: Boeden Greenley (NDSU) over Logan Fowler (AF) (Dec 7-4)
174: Devin Wasley (NDSU) over Jack Ganos (AF) (Dec 7-3)
184: Gage Musser (AF) over Aidan Brenot (NDSU) (Dec 4-1)
197: Brian Burburija (AF) over Andrew McMonagle (NDSU) (Dec 2-0)
285: Andrew Blackburn-Forst (NDSU) over Antonio Ramos (AF) (Dec 8-3)
Quick Hits
-Senior team captain and125-pounder Tucker Owens leads the lineup with 15 wins, four falls, and a 5-1 dual record.
-C2C Owen Heiser and C3C Lincoln Gregersen lead the team with six technical falls each.
-The starting lineup accounts for five ranked wins this season.
Last Time Out
Air Force fell to 15th-ranked Big 12 foe Oklahoma, 38-4, Friday evening (Jan. 16) in McCasland Field House. Falcon C2C Gavin Caprella picked up a win against the well-rounded Sooners.
Caprella, earning his 10th win of the season, was fantastic against Tyson Charmoli, blanking the Sooner, 8-0, for a major decision. Seven of Caprella's wins this season have come with bonus points attached.
Senior team captain and 2023 NCAA qualifier Tucker Owens won the first two periods against No. 24 Conrad Hendriksen. The Sooner, a three-time UIL State Champion, rallied to a tie and the winning takedown in sudden victory.
Senior team captain Bryce Shelton took Hunter Hollingsworth to deep water, giving up a narrow loss in SV1, 4-1. Shelton has appeared in every dual this season and is 4-3 in dual action.
125: #24 Conrad Hendriksen (OU) over Tucker Owens (AF) (SV-1 7-4)
133: Gavin Caprella (AF) over Tyson Charmoli (OU) (MD 8-0)
141: #26 Tyler Wells (OU) over Carter Nogle (AF) (Dec 10-5)
149: Hunter Hollingsworth (OU) over Bryce Shelton (AF) (SV-1 4-1)
157: Layton Schneider (OU) over Jesse Vanorden (AF) (Fall 2:51)
165: Peyten Kellar (OU) over Logan Fowler (AF) (Dec 6-0)
174: #8 Carter Schubert (OU) over Gunner Cramblett (AF) (Fall 3:57)
184: #11 Anders Thompson (OU) over Talon McCollom (AF) (Fall 4:38)
197: #9 Anthony Harris (OU) over Josh Cordio (AF) (TF 20-5 7:00)
285: #21 Juan Mora (OU) over Antonio Ramos (AF) (Dec 4-2)
7 pm CT, Friday, January 30
First Bank & Trust Arena – Brookings, S.D.
Air Force at North Dakota State (4-7, 1-2 Big 12)
1 pm CT, Sunday, February 1
Scheels Center – Fargo, N.D.
In the National Rankings
With the release of the first NCAA coaches' rankings, two Falcons are among the top 33 of their respective divisions, with others sitting just outside the rankings. Air Force C4C Karson Tompkins checks in at No. 32 in the 197 division while C3C Logan Fowler is No. 33 in the 165 division.
A Word With Coach
A Look at Air Force
125: Tucker Owens (Sr., Mustang, OK) | 15-5 | 2023 NCAA Qualifier
133: Gavin Caprella (Jr., Bluffton, OH) | 10-6
141: Carter Nogle, (So., Laurel, MD) | 13-4 | 2025 Top-10 pins
149: Bryce Shelton, (Sr., Spring Grove, IL) | 14-9 or Lincoln Gregersen (So., Arvada, CO) | 13-4
157: EJ Beloncik, (So., Chandler, OK) | 2-8
165: No. 33 Logan Fowler (So. Murfreesboro, TN) | 10-4 | First national ranking in the 2026 coaches' poll
174: Gunner Cramblett (Fr., St. Paris, OH) | 11-10
184: Brian Burburija (So., Clearwater, FL) | 10-5 | 2025 Big 12 Championships – 6th place
197: Owen Heiser (Jr., Oregon, WI) | 10-6
285: Rylan Kuhn (Fr., Kansas City, MO) | 12-7 or Antonio Ramos (Jr., Springfield, MA) | 7-4
*NCAA Coaches Rankings
#14 South Dakota State at a Glance
125: No. 21 Brady Roark (17-3)
133: No. 23 Derrick Cardinal (6-2) | two-time NCAA Qualifier or Cale Seaton (9-7)
141: No. 20 Julian Tagg (12-4) | NCAA Qualifier
149: Colin Dupill (4-8) or No. 26 Alek Martin (5-7) | NCAA Qualifier
157: No. 20 Cael Swensen (18-4) | two-time NCAA Qualifier
165: No. 27 Marcus Espinoza-Owens (11-8)
174: No. 17 Moses Espinoza-Owens (21-5)
184: Brock Fettig (10-10)
197: No. 6 Bennett Berge (9-2) | 2024 NCAA All-American, two-time NCAA Qualifier
HWT: No. 25 Luke Rasmussen (7-6) | NCAA Qualifier
*InterMat Rankings as of 1/27
Scouting North Dakota State
125: No. 17 Ezekiel Witt (RFr., Manhattan, Kan.) | 17-7
133: No. 32 Tristan Daugherty (Sr., Bartonville, Ill.) | 10-9 | 2025 NCAA Qualifier
141: Michael Olson (RFr., Albert Lea, Minn.) | 7-11 or Zytavius Williams (Fr., Minneapolis, Minn.) | 8-3
149: No. 21 Max Petersen (Jr., Byron, Minn.) | 10-5
157: Gavin Drexler (Jr., Stratford, Wis.) | 6-8 | 2025 NCAA All-American
165: Boeden Greenley (So., Lisbon, N.D.) | 12-11
174: Max Magayna (RFr., Waterloo, Iowa) | 10-11
184: No. 29 Aidan Brenot (So., Clarksville, Tenn.) | 8-6 | 2025 NCAA Qualifier
197: No. 33 Devin Wasley (Jr., Hammond, Wis.) | 16-6
285: Shilo Jones (RFr., Boise, Idaho) | 8-8
The Road Ahead
The Falcons head into the final leg of the regular season with the Big 12 dual meet schedule. Following this weekend's action, Air Force will head to Laramie to take on nationally ranked Wyoming in the final road meet of the season.
Air Force closes out the 2025-26 campaign with a three-meet home stint. Utah Valley comes to the historic Clune Arena on February 13, followed by California Baptist on February 15, and Northern Colorado for Senior Day on February 22.
Youth Wrestling Day for Young Falcons
Air Force is proud to host a free youth clinic (K-8) prior to the February 15 Big 12 dual against California Baptist. Aspiring young athletes can join the Band of Birds in the wrestling room starting at 10:30 a.m. Clinic check-in beings at 10:15 while the clinic concludes at 11:30 a.m. The Falcon youths are encouraged to stay after the dual for an autograph signing.
Last Time They Met
Jan. 18, 2025 – No. 12 South Dakota State 38, Air Force 3
125: #15 Tanner Jordan (SDSU) over Bubba Wright (AF) (MD 8-0)
133: #27 Derrick Cardinal (SDSU) over Gavin Caprella (AF) (Dec 4-0)
141: #24 Julian Tagg (SDSU) over Carter Nogle (AF) (Dec 4-0)
149: Colin Dupill (SDSU) over Alec Viduya (AF) (MD 15-3)
157: #20 Cobe Siebrecht (SDSU) over Joshua Palacio (AF) (TF 19-3 4:24)
165: Marcus Espinoza-Owens (SDSU) over EJ Beloncik (AF) (TF 24-8 5:15)
174: #11 Cade DeVos (SDSU) over Jack Ganos (AF) (TF 26-8 5:15)
184: #6 Bennett Berge (SDSU) over Gage Musser (AF) (TF 19-4 6:24)
197: Brian Burburija (AF) over Thomas Dineen (SDSU) (Dec 9-8)
285: #28 Luke Rasmussen (SDSU) over Antonio Ramos (AF) (MD 9-0)
Jan. 19, 2025 – North Dakota State 25, Air Force 12
125: Tristan Daugherty (NDSU) over Bubba Wright (AF) (SV-1 8-1)
133: Kyle Burwick (NDSU) over Gavin Caprella (AF) (TF 16-0 3:42)
141: Carter Nogle (AF) over Gideon Abel-Cole (NDSU) (Fall 4:11)
149: Gavin Drexler (NDSU) over Alec Viduya (AF) (MD 11-2)
157: Maxwell Petersen (NDSU) over EJ Beloncik (AF) (MD 17-6)
165: Boeden Greenley (NDSU) over Logan Fowler (AF) (Dec 7-4)
174: Devin Wasley (NDSU) over Jack Ganos (AF) (Dec 7-3)
184: Gage Musser (AF) over Aidan Brenot (NDSU) (Dec 4-1)
197: Brian Burburija (AF) over Andrew McMonagle (NDSU) (Dec 2-0)
285: Andrew Blackburn-Forst (NDSU) over Antonio Ramos (AF) (Dec 8-3)
Quick Hits
-Senior team captain and125-pounder Tucker Owens leads the lineup with 15 wins, four falls, and a 5-1 dual record.
-C2C Owen Heiser and C3C Lincoln Gregersen lead the team with six technical falls each.
-The starting lineup accounts for five ranked wins this season.
Last Time Out
Air Force fell to 15th-ranked Big 12 foe Oklahoma, 38-4, Friday evening (Jan. 16) in McCasland Field House. Falcon C2C Gavin Caprella picked up a win against the well-rounded Sooners.
Caprella, earning his 10th win of the season, was fantastic against Tyson Charmoli, blanking the Sooner, 8-0, for a major decision. Seven of Caprella's wins this season have come with bonus points attached.
Senior team captain and 2023 NCAA qualifier Tucker Owens won the first two periods against No. 24 Conrad Hendriksen. The Sooner, a three-time UIL State Champion, rallied to a tie and the winning takedown in sudden victory.
Senior team captain Bryce Shelton took Hunter Hollingsworth to deep water, giving up a narrow loss in SV1, 4-1. Shelton has appeared in every dual this season and is 4-3 in dual action.
125: #24 Conrad Hendriksen (OU) over Tucker Owens (AF) (SV-1 7-4)
133: Gavin Caprella (AF) over Tyson Charmoli (OU) (MD 8-0)
141: #26 Tyler Wells (OU) over Carter Nogle (AF) (Dec 10-5)
149: Hunter Hollingsworth (OU) over Bryce Shelton (AF) (SV-1 4-1)
157: Layton Schneider (OU) over Jesse Vanorden (AF) (Fall 2:51)
165: Peyten Kellar (OU) over Logan Fowler (AF) (Dec 6-0)
174: #8 Carter Schubert (OU) over Gunner Cramblett (AF) (Fall 3:57)
184: #11 Anders Thompson (OU) over Talon McCollom (AF) (Fall 4:38)
197: #9 Anthony Harris (OU) over Josh Cordio (AF) (TF 20-5 7:00)
285: #21 Juan Mora (OU) over Antonio Ramos (AF) (Dec 4-2)
Players Mentioned
157
/ Wrestling
197
/ Wrestling
133
/ Wrestling
184
/ Wrestling
174
/ Wrestling
165
/ Wrestling
165
/ Wrestling
141
/ Wrestling
174/184
/ Wrestling
HWT
/ Wrestling
184
/ Wrestling
174
/ Wrestling
149
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
HWT
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197
/ Wrestling
157
/ Wrestling
141
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133
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