Air Force Academy

Jan. 20, 2007

Pittsburgh, Pa. - Picking up decisions in three of its bouts, the Air Force wrestling team dropped a 28-9 contest to Pittsburgh Saturday afternoon at Fitzgerald Field House. The Falcons fall to 2-5 on the season, while the Panthers improve to 5-3 overall.

The match started at 125 pounds, where Air Force junior Zach Valdez (Parker, Colo.) battled to a 2-2 tie with Brad Gentzle at the end of regulation. However, Gentzle scored an early takedown in overtime to grab the 4-2 decision.

After freshman Stephen Makuka (Columbus, N.J.) lost by technical fall to 13th-ranked Drew Headlee at 133 pounds, junior Jake Kriegbaum (Abilene, Kan.) put Air Force on the board with a 5-2 decision over Joe Ciampoli. Ciampoli scored first in the bout, but a pair of reversals and an extra point for riding time gave Kriegbaum the victory.

The Falcons picked up another victory at 149 pounds, as Bridger Lord (Sr., Missoula, Mont.) registered a 6-0 decision over Mark Generalovich. Lord scored a pair of takedowns, an escape and a point for riding time in the win.

Air Force dropped a pair of major decisions at 157 and 165 pounds and a tech fall at 174 pounds before junior Jacob Devlin (Livingston, N.J.) put the Falcons back on the board with a 3-1 decision over Mike Heist at 184 pounds. Devlin scored an escape in the second period, and used a takedown in the third period to take the victory.

Unfortunately, the Falcons were unable to score another win, losing a major decision at 197 pounds and a decision at heavyweight, to finish with the 28-9 dual loss.

Air Force is back in action tomorrow, Jan. 21, when it heads to the Wendy's Duals, hosted by Ashland University.

Pittsburgh 28, Air Force 9 125 Brad Gentzle (Pitt) dec. Zach Valdez, 4-2 (SV) 133 #13 Drew Headlee (Pitt) tech. fall Stephen Makuka, 15-0 (3:30) 141 Jake Kriegbaum (AF) dec. Joe Ciampoli, 5-2 149 Bridger Lord (AF) dec. Mark Generalovich, 6-0 157 #8 Matt Kocher (Pitt) maj. dec. Zach Lord, 12-3 165 Sean Richmond (Pitt) maj. dec. Duane Miller, 19-8 174 #3 Keith Gavin (Pitt) tech. fall Stephen Crozier, 17-2 (4:01) 184 Jacob Devlin (AF) dec. Mike Heist, 3-1 197 Eric Cassidy (Pitt) maj. dec. Jordan Tribble, 12-0 HWT Zach Sheaffer (Piit) dec. Anthony Stegeman, 6-2