Air Force Academy

Feb. 3, 2011

LARAMIE, Wyo. - Winning just two matches, the Air Force wrestling team dropped a 32-12 decision to 25th-ranked Wyoming Thursday evening at the UniWyo Sports Complex. The Falcons fall to 10-3 overall on the year and 2-1 in the Western Wrestling Conference, while the Cowboys improve to 10-4 overall, 4-0 in the conference.

The match opened with the heavyweight bout, as Air Force took the early lead in the dual, getting six points from sophomore Jared Erickson (Newton, Utah). After one period, Erickson trailed against Matthew McLaughlin, but after a second-period takedown, Erickson recorded a fall in a time of 4:50.

The Cowboys got on the board in the next bout, as 16th-ranked Michael Martinez earned a decision at 125 pounds, and a Wyoming technical fall at 133 pounds put the Cowboys ahead in the team scoring.

A quick win from 11th-ranked Cole VonOhlen (So., Jackson, Minn.) at 141 pounds gave Air Force the team lead once more, as VonOhlen pinned Chase Smith in just 51 seconds. The fall was the fifth-consecutive pin for VonOhlen, who earned his 32nd win on the season.

Unfortunately, VonOhlen's victory was the last of the evening for the Falcons, as Wyoming captured wins in the next seven weight classes. Three more ranked wrestlers took the mat for Wyoming, including fourth-ranked Shane Onufer, who posted a fall at 165 pounds to remain undefeated.

The Falcons return to action on Sunday, Feb. 6, as they head to Charleston, S.C., for the annual All-Academy Championships, hosted this year by The Citadel.

Wyoming 32, Air Force 12
285 - Jared Erickson (AF) fall Matthew McLaughlin, 4:50
125 - No. 16 Michael Martinez (UW) dec. Tyler Spangler, 8-3
133 - Tyler Cox (UW) tech fall Derek Gillespie, 24-9 (7:00)
141 - No. 10 Cole VonOhlen (AF) fall Chase Smith, 0:51
149 - No. 17 Cole Dallaserra (UW) dec. Josh Kreimier, 9-3
157 - Jimmy Belleville (UW) maj. dec. Alec Williams, 10-2
165 - No. 4 Shane Onufer (UW) fall Clayton Gable, 4:13
174 - Patrick Martinez (UW) dec. Joseph Stafford, 8-2
184 - No. 5 Joe LeBlanc (UW) tech fall Kazden Ikehara, 22-3 (3:25)
197 - L.J. Helbig (UW) dec. Neil Delaney, 4-0