Air Force Academy

Dec. 2, 2011

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - With Cole VonOhlen (Jr., Jackson, Minn.) and Josh Kreimier (So., Fort Collins, Colo.) leading the way, the Air Force wrestling team concluded the first day of competition at the 30th-annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.

VonOhlen, ranked fifth in the nation at 149 pounds, posted a 3-0 record on Friday and advances to the semifinals. Meanwhile, Kreimier registered a 2-1 mark and is still competing in the consolation bracket at 157 pounds.

VonOhlen, who entered the tournament as the second seed, earned a 13-4 major decision over West Virginia's George Scheffel in the opening round before posting a 10-6 win over Steve Hernandez of Boise State in the second round. In the quarterfinals, VonOhlen captured a 6-4 decision over seventh-seeded Cam Tessari of Ohio State to move into the semifinals against Utah Valley's Josh Wilson. With his 3-0 start to the tournament, VonOhlen is guaranteed at least a sixth-place showing, one spot ahead of his finish in 2010.

Meanwhile, Kreimier remains in action this weekend after winning his first two matches of the tournament. He began the day with a 4-2 decision over Arizona State's Victor DeJesus. He followed that win with a 6-1 victory over Mallie Shuster from Kent State. Kreimier's first loss of the weekend came in the quarterfinals, as he dropped a close 8-5 decision to seventh-seed James Green of Nebraska to move into the consolation bracket. On Saturday, Kreimier will face a conference foe, taking on Wyoming's Dakota Friesth, to vie for a spot as a placewinner.

Also competing for Air Force on Friday were Greg Rinker (So., Northampton, Pa.) at 125 pounds, Tyler Untrauer (Sr., Midwest City, Okla.) at 141 pounds, Clayton Gable (Jr., Dallastown, Pa.) at 174 pounds, Josh Mohr (Jr., Pewaukee, Wis.) at 197 pounds, and heavyweight Jared Erickson (Jr., Newton, Utah), with all five registering 1-2 records in the tournament.