Wrestling: Air Force picks up three wins at Borah Duals

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U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) --  Finishing six matches in two days, the U.S. Air Force Academy wrestling team went 3-1 at the Borah Duals hosted by Western State Jan. 26. 

After falling to the host Mountaineers, the Falcons, who switched their lineup throughout the day, rattled off victories over Grand Canyon, Mesa State and New Mexico Highlands. 

The Academy now holds a 7-7 overall record on the season.

In the first match of the day, Air Force dropped a 25-11 decision to Western State, winning just three of the seven bouts. Heavyweight Anthony Stegeman, a senior from Cincinnati led the way with a tech fall, while senior Jake Kriegbaum from Abilene, Kan., wrestling at 141 pounds and junior Stephen Crozier from Monona, Iowa, at 165 pounds picked up decisions for the Falcons.

Against Grand Canyon, the Falcons won five weight classes by forfeit, while freshman Andrew Zwirlein from Nashotah, Wis., and sophomore Tyler French from Malta, Mont., added falls at 125 and 174 pounds,respectively, to give Air Force the 42-12 victory. 

The Falcons then rolled to a 37-6 victory over Mesa State, getting eight total wins, including two forfeits. Senior Zach Valdez from Parker, Colo., wrestling at 125 pounds and French each recorded tech falls against Mesa State. Sophomore Stephen Makuka from Columbus, N.J., at 141 pounds, sophomore James Ciccone Mentor, Ohio, at 184 pounds, and Stegeman all added major decisions and senior Tony Dorward from Seattle captured an overtime victory at 157 pounds.

In its final match of the day, the Falcons again won eight bouts, including a forfeit at 125 pounds. Kriegbaum, Crozier and senior Jacob Devlin from Livingston, N.J., at 184 pounds all notched falls for Air Force against New Mexico Highlands. Meanwhile, Valdez, wrestling up at 133 pounds, Dorward, French and Stegeman added decisions for the Falcons in the 36-6 victory.

"We put our guys in a tough situation, weighing in two consecutive days, with two matches yesterday and four matches today," said Joel Sharratt, the Falcons head coach. "We had a lot of guys get some matches in and we're looking forward to getting ready for the All-Academy Tournament next weekend, so we can see what the other academies are doing and see our progress in that."

The Falcons head to the Feb. 2 All-Academy Championships, which is hosted by Army, ext weekend

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