Falcon Wrestling Class of 2030 Preview
8/31/2026 2:37:00 PM | Wrestling
Air Force welcomes 15 freshmen into the Band of Birds for the 2026-27 campaign. The newly minted cadets boast 24 state champion titles across 11 states ranging from Texas to New York.
"We're fired up to welcome this group of freshmen to Air Force wrestling," Air Force head coach Joe Johnston said. "They've shown the toughness, discipline and competitive edge it takes to be successful at this level. We're a mission-first, values-based championship program, and that means we don't take shortcuts. We expect our guys to embrace hard work, hold each other accountable and earn everything they get—on the mat, in the classroom and in their lives. These young men have a chance to make their mark here, and we're excited to get to work with them and push them toward the standard of excellence that defines Air Force wrestling."
Sam Comes, 125 lbs.
Hometown: Knoxville, TN
High School: Lakeway Christian Academy
Career Record: 159-5
State Tournament Placings:
Jay Eversole, 184 lbs.
Hometown: Talbott, TN
High School: Lakeway Christian Academy
Career Record: 160-15
State Tournament Placings:
Hometown: Kansas City, MO
High School: St. Pius X
Career Record: 166-30
State Tournament Placings:
Colson Hoffman, 149 lbs.
Hometown: Carrollton, GA
High School: Central Carroll
Career Record: 208-26
State Tournament Placings:
Lucas Kaufman, 133 lbs.
Hometown: Newton, KS
High School: Newton High School
Career Record: 136-22
State Tournament Placings:
Justin Lowery, 157 lbs.
Hometown: Leesburg, VA
High School: Loudoun County High School
Career Record: 83-12
State Tournament Placings:
Kolten Mellon, 149 lbs.
Hometown: Wadsworth, OH
High School: Wadsworth High School
Career Record: 128-47
State Tournament Placings:
Bradley Patterson, 125 lbs.
Hometown: Woodbine, GA
High School: Camden County High School
Career Record: 200-15
State Tournament Placings:
Genaro Pino, 184 lbs.
Hometown: Pueblo, CO
High School: Pueblo Central High School
Career Record: 183-13
State Tournament Placings:
Dario Petrucelli, 157 lbs.
Hometown: Rockwall, TX / Fresno, CA
High School: Rockwall High School
Career Record: 115-25
State Tournament Placings:
Griffin Rial, 141 lbs.
Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO
High School: Pine Creek High School
Career Record: 151-21
State Tournament Placings:
Jackson Rotterman, 197 lbs.
Hometown: Weston, MO
High School: St. Pius X
Career Record: 170-19
State Tournament Placings:
Reese Spiro, 184 lbs.
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
High School: Northfield Mount Hermon
Career Record: 125-35
State Tournament Placings / State Credentials:
Landon Thomas, 149 lbs.
Hometown: Saint Joseph, MI
High School: Saint Joseph High School, Valiant College Preparatory
Career Record: 140-17
State Tournament Placings:
Arment Waltenbaugh, 165 lbs.
Hometown: Souderton, PA
High School: The Hill School
Career Record: 121-25
State Tournament Placings:
"We're fired up to welcome this group of freshmen to Air Force wrestling," Air Force head coach Joe Johnston said. "They've shown the toughness, discipline and competitive edge it takes to be successful at this level. We're a mission-first, values-based championship program, and that means we don't take shortcuts. We expect our guys to embrace hard work, hold each other accountable and earn everything they get—on the mat, in the classroom and in their lives. These young men have a chance to make their mark here, and we're excited to get to work with them and push them toward the standard of excellence that defines Air Force wrestling."
Sam Comes, 125 lbs.
Hometown: Knoxville, TN
High School: Lakeway Christian Academy
Career Record: 159-5
State Tournament Placings:
- Freshman: State Champion
- Sophomore: State Champion
- Junior: Transfer
- Senior: State Champion
- NHSCA: 8th place
- NHSCA: 5th place
Jay Eversole, 184 lbs.
Hometown: Talbott, TN
High School: Lakeway Christian Academy
Career Record: 160-15
State Tournament Placings:
- Freshman: 2nd
- Sophomore: 6th
- Junior: State Champion
- Senior: State Champion
- Walsh Ironman: 6th place
- Preseason Nationals: 3rd place
- NHSCA: 5th place
- Knockout Christmas Classic: 2nd place
- Prep Nationals: 8th place
Hometown: Kansas City, MO
High School: St. Pius X
Career Record: 166-30
State Tournament Placings:
- Freshman: DNP
- Sophomore: 3rd
- Junior: State Champion
- Senior: State Champion
- Southern Plains: 4th place
- The Clash: All-American
- KC Stampede: 5th place
Colson Hoffman, 149 lbs.
Hometown: Carrollton, GA
High School: Central Carroll
Career Record: 208-26
State Tournament Placings:
- Freshman: 2nd
- Sophomore: 2nd
- Junior: State Champion
- Senior: State Champion
- 2× U.S. Open U20 Greco All-American (6th/7th)
- 2× NHSCA All-American (6th/7th)
- Preseason Nationals: 5th place
- 2× Southeast Regional Greco Placewinner (1st/2nd)
- Southeast Regional Freestyle: 3rd place
- 2× Knockout Christmas Classic Placewinner (3rd/6th)
- Georgia Triple Crown — State Champion in all 3 styles (2024 & 2025)
Lucas Kaufman, 133 lbs.
Hometown: Newton, KS
High School: Newton High School
Career Record: 136-22
State Tournament Placings:
- Freshman: 2nd
- Sophomore: State Champion
- Junior: 2nd
- Senior: State Champion
- NHSCA: 4th place (2024)
- KC Stampede:
- Freshman: 7th
- Sophomore: 6th
- Junior: 3rd
- Senior: 2nd
- 2025 Kansas 5A Regional Wrestler of the Year — Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association
- 2023 & 2025 Kansas All-Class Wrestling Team
Justin Lowery, 157 lbs.
Hometown: Leesburg, VA
High School: Loudoun County High School
Career Record: 83-12
State Tournament Placings:
- Freshman: Injured
- Sophomore: State Champion
- Junior: State Champion
- Senior: State Champion
Kolten Mellon, 149 lbs.
Hometown: Wadsworth, OH
High School: Wadsworth High School
Career Record: 128-47
State Tournament Placings:
- Freshman: DNP
- Sophomore: 8th
- Junior: 6th
- Senior: 5th
Bradley Patterson, 125 lbs.
Hometown: Woodbine, GA
High School: Camden County High School
Career Record: 200-15
State Tournament Placings:
- Freshman: 3rd
- Sophomore: State Champion
- Junior: State Champion
- Senior: State Champion
- NHSCA: Champion
- Super 32: 3rd place
- Elite 8 Duals: Undefeated
Genaro Pino, 184 lbs.
Hometown: Pueblo, CO
High School: Pueblo Central High School
Career Record: 183-13
State Tournament Placings:
- Freshman: 2nd
- Sophomore: 3rd
- Junior: State Champion
- Senior: 2nd
Dario Petrucelli, 157 lbs.
Hometown: Rockwall, TX / Fresno, CA
High School: Rockwall High School
Career Record: 115-25
State Tournament Placings:
- Freshman: DNP
- Sophomore: DNP
- Junior: 2nd
- Senior: 3rd
- KC Stampede: 8th
Griffin Rial, 141 lbs.
Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO
High School: Pine Creek High School
Career Record: 151-21
State Tournament Placings:
- Freshman: 5th
- Sophomore: 3rd
- Junior: State Champion
- Senior: 3rd
- Fargo All-American
- Preseason Nationals All-American
- Junior Duals All-Tournament Team
- KC Stampede: 2nd
- Temecula Battle for the Belt Champion
Jackson Rotterman, 197 lbs.
Hometown: Weston, MO
High School: St. Pius X
Career Record: 170-19
State Tournament Placings:
- Freshman: 4th
- Sophomore: 3rd
- Junior: State Champion
- Senior: State Champion
- Greco Fargo All-American: 4th
- KC Stampede:
- Champion (2024)
- 3rd (2023)
Reese Spiro, 184 lbs.
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
High School: Northfield Mount Hermon
Career Record: 125-35
State Tournament Placings / State Credentials:
- 2× Massachusetts Prep State Champion
- 2× New England Finalist
- National Preps: 4th
- Bill Farrell: 5th
- Shorty Hitchcock Open: 5th
- Escape the Rock: Placewinner
Landon Thomas, 149 lbs.
Hometown: Saint Joseph, MI
High School: Saint Joseph High School, Valiant College Preparatory
Career Record: 140-17
State Tournament Placings:
- Freshman: 8th
- Sophomore: 5th
- Junior: 2nd
- Senior: Transfer
- Rocky Mountain Collegiate Open Champion (2025)
- NHSCA: 5th (2025)
- Fargo Junior Greco All-American (2024)
- Freakshow National Champion (2024)
Arment Waltenbaugh, 165 lbs.
Hometown: Souderton, PA
High School: The Hill School
Career Record: 121-25
State Tournament Placings:
- Freshman: PIAA 7th
- Sophomore: Transfer
- Junior: National Prep 3rd
- Senior: National Prep 4th
- Cadet Fargo: 5th
- Junior Fargo: 5th
- Freshman NHSCA: 4th
- Escape the Rock: 2nd (2026)
- Super 32: 5th (2025)
- Beast of the East: 3rd (2025)
Players Mentioned
125
/ Wrestling
184
/ Wrestling
165
/ Wrestling
149
/ Wrestling
133
/ Wrestling
157
/ Wrestling
149
/ Wrestling
125
/ Wrestling
157
/ Wrestling
184
/ Wrestling
141
/ Wrestling
197
/ Wrestling
184
/ Wrestling
149
/ Wrestling
165
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