Air Force Academy

Feb. 16, 2013

OREM, Utah - Winning just three individual decisions, the Air Force wrestling team fell to Western Wrestling Conference foe Utah Valley, 23-9, Saturday evening.

The Falcons, who dropped to 10-3 overall on the season and 1-2 in the WWC, came up short in several close matches, including three one-point decisions, two of which were decided by a riding time point.

After a 6-5 Air Force loss at 125 pounds, sophomore Dylan Hyder (Yelm, Wash.) put the Falcons on the board with a 7-3 decision over Chasen Tolbert. Hyder scored three takedowns and added a point for riding time advantage to take the victory.

The Wolverines responded with a decision and a major decision at 141 and 149 pounds, respectively, before junior Josh Kreimier (Fort Collins, Colo.) came up with a close win of his own, securing a 2-1 decision over Ethan Smith at 157 pounds. However, Utah Valley tacked on two more wins in the next two bouts to take a 16-6 advantage in the team scoring.

Junior Devin Hightower (Colorado Springs, Colo.) kept Air Force's hopes alive by earning a 4-1 decision at 184 pounds, but the Falcons were unable to post victories in either of the final two matches, giving up a decision and a major decision to end the evening.

Air Force is back in action this Thursday, Feb. 21, when it heads to Cheyenne, Wyo., to face Wyoming in a WWC dual.

Utah Valley 23, Air Force 9
125: Jade Rauser (UVU) dec. No. 8 Josh Martinez, 6-5
133: Dylan Hyder (AF) dec. Chasen Tolbert, 7-3
141: Avery Garner (UVU) dec. Carter McElhany, 6-5
149: Josh Wilson (UVU) maj. dec. Logan Burch, 14-6
157: Josh Kreimier (AF) dec. Ethan Smith, 2-1
165: Abner Cook (UVU) dec. Jesse Stafford, 3-0
174: Monte Schmalhaus (UVU) dec. Dan Barringer, 3-2
184: Devin Hightower (AF) dec. Derek Thomas, 4-1
197: David Prieto (UVU) dec. Josh Mohr, 5-3
285: Adam Fager (UVU) maj. dec. Bentley Alsup, 17-6