Wrestling: Falcons drop pair of dual meets at home

  • Published
  • By Melissa McKeown
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFNEWS) --  Despite a pair of victories for heavyweight junior Anthony Stegeman, the U.S. Air Force Academy wrestling team fell to conference foe North Dakota State 24-15 and Adams State 23-15 Jan. 27 at Cadet East Gym.

Air Force falls to 2-10 on the season, 1-0 in the Western Wrestling Conference. North Dakota State improves to 5-3, 2-1 in the WWC, and Adams State moves to 5-1 overall.

Against North Dakota State, Air Force dropped three straight bouts before a 5-4 decision by senior Bridger Lord over Ryan Adams at 149 pounds. The Bison responded with decisions in the next three weight classes, but forfeited at 184 pounds to give Air Force six points on the scoreboard.

After a lost decision at 184 pounds, the Falcons wrapped up the match with a big win at heavyweight, as Stegeman pinned Justin LaGosh in a time of 4:34. However, it was not enough to give the Falcons the team victory, as NDSU took the 24-15 win.

In the second match of the day, Adams State and Air Force traded technical falls in the first two bouts while Falcons freshman Stephen Makuka earned a 17-1 tech fall over Kevin Schmitt. The Falcons took the lead after the match at 141 pounds as junior Jake Kriegbaum registered a 7-6 decision over Joey Deaguero.

While the Grizzlies tied it up with a decision at 149 pounds, senior Zach Lord put the Falcons back ahead with a 16-2 major decision over Jacob Sheridan at 157 pounds. However, Adams State won the next four bouts, jumping out to a 23-12 lead on the scoreboard. Though Stegeman notched his second win of the day, an 8-3 decision over Jeff Schossow in the heavyweight match, Air Force fell 23-15.

The Falcons are back in action Jan. 28, when they travel to Greeley, Colo., to face Portland State on a neutral mat.

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