Air Force Academy

Oct. 26, 2007

USAFA, Colo. - With the 2007-08 season ready to come to an official open, the Air Force wrestling team gave fans a preview of things to come with the Blue-Silver Intrasquad Match Friday evening. Wrestle-offs were held in all 10 weight classes to determine the top spot on the Falcons' depth chart, with the Silver team winning, 29-18.

The evening started with a battle at 125 pounds, where returning starter Zach Valdez (Sr., Parker, Colo.) took on rookie Andrew Zwirlein (Nashotah, Wis.). A first-period takedown gave Valdez the early lead, but a pair of escapes by Zwirlein evened the score in the second period. Valdez again took the lead in the third period with a reversal, but an escape and takedown gave Zwirlein a 5-4 advantage and the win.

At 133 pounds, sophomore Kurt Spranger (Tampa, Fla.) faced off against newcomer Derek Gillespie (Chesapeake, Va.). Gillespie dominated from the start, scoring six points in the opening period, including a pair of two-point near falls. With three total takedowns in the match, Gillespie cruised to a 12-1 major decision.

The 141-pound bout matched Stephen Makuka (So., Columbus, N.J.) against returning starter and two-time NCAA qualifier Jake Kriegbaum (Abilene, Kan.). Kriegbaum scored an early takedown against Makuka, pinning him in a time of 1:13, registering the fastest fall of the evening.

Another rookie participated in the 149-pound match, with freshman Matt Torrence (Tulsa, Okla.) taking on team captain Chris Szabolcs (Westlake, Ohio). A first-period takedown for Szabolcs also resulted in a pin, with the senior recording the fall in 2:27. With the Silver team winning the first four matches, the Blue team was ready to put some points on the board. Senior Tony Dorward (Seattle, Wash.) responded with his victory over Michael Erickson (So., Springfield, Va.), notched a fall in a time of 1:27.

The 174-pound match featured sophomore Tyler French (Malta, Mont.) against senior Duane Miller (Bellevue, Idaho). Scoring four reversals and a takedown in the bout, French captured the 11-5 decision over Miller, giving the Blue team its second win of the evening.

Blue team captain Jacob Devlin (Sr., Livingston, N.J.) was featured at 184 pounds, along with freshman Chris Thomas (El Cajon, Calif.). Devlin scored three takedowns in the match, while limiting Thomas to a single escape en route to the 8-1 decision.

At 197 pounds, returning starter Jordan Tribble (Jr., Midwest City, Okla.) took on classmate Casey Butikofer (Rigby, Idaho). With a quick takedown in the first period, Tribble was able to notch a fall in 1:28, to bring the Blue team within five points at 23-18.

In the final match of the evening, heavyweights Kazden Ikehara (Fr., Mililani, Hawaii) and Anthony Stegeman (Sr., Cincinnati, Ohio) faced off. Stegeman, last year's starter, got off to a solid beginning, scoring a first-period takedown before registering a fall in a time of 1:32.

The Falcons now await the official start to the 2007-08, slated for Nov. 10, when they travel to Laramie, Wyo., for the annual Cowboy Open.