Air Force Academy

Jan. 8, 2009

The Air Force wrestling team heads to California this weekend, Jan. 10-11, for its next three dual meets. First, the Falcons will visit Riverside to face Cal Baptist in an 11:00 a.m. (PT) contest on Saturday. Then Air Force travels to Fullerton on Sunday to take on Cal State Fullerton at 3:00 p.m., followed by a 6:00 p.m. contest versus San Francisco State.

Last Time Out...
The Falcons dropped three dual meets at the Lone Star Duals last weekend, falling to Appalachian State, Brown and seventh-ranked Minnesota.

Leading Air Force with two individual victories each last weekend were senior Stephen Crozier and junior Tyler French. Crozier, wrestling at 165 pounds, and French, competing at 174 pounds each picked up a pair of decisions for the Falcons. Meanwhile, sophomore Andrew Zwirlein (125) also picked up an Air Force win at the Lone Star Duals.

Scouting the Falcons...
Air Force enters this weekend's meets with an 0-3 dual record. Leading the Falcons in total wins for the season are senior captain Stephen Crozier and sophomore Andrew Zwirlein, who each have 11 victories on the year. Meanwhile, Crozier and junior Tyler French lead the team in dual victories with two each.

Seventeen different Air Force wrestlers have recorded falls so far this season, led by junior Stephen Makuka, who has registered six pins on the year, just one short of the team leader for the 2007-08 season. Meanwhile, sophomore Wade Stowe holds the fastest fall of the year, getting the pin in a time of 0:57.

Three CBU wrestlers ranked in the latest NAIA ratings are expected to compete this weekend. Junior Chauncey Phillips (125) and freshman Andrew Collins (133), are both ranked fifth in their respective weight classes, while junior Lamar Reed is rated eighth at 157 pounds. Meanwhile, 149-pounder Jarell Price leads this weekend's lineup with a 5-4 record mark on the year.

Scouting the Titans...
Cal State Fullerton enters this weekend with a 5-3 dual record. The Titans were in action last weekend, defeating Columbia, 24-10, while dropping a 20-15 decision to Wyoming.

T.J. Dillashaw, the Titans' starter at 133 pounds, leads the team with a 19-3 overall record, including a 5-1 mark in dual action. Meanwhile, four other wrestlers in this weekend's lineup, led by 184-pounder Tim Hawkins with 13. Andre Gonzalez (125) has 12 wins on the season, while Steven DeLaFuente (157) and John Drake (197) have 10 wins each.

Scouting the Gators...
San Francisco State, ranked 20th in the latest NCAA Division II coaches poll, currently holds a 1-3 dual record. The Gators are coming off a fifth-place finish at the Menlo Open on Jan. 4.

The Gators are led by Curtis Schurkamp, the top-rated Division II wrestler at 125 pounds. Schurkamp currently holds a 10-6 record on the season, including three victories over Division I opponents. Meanwhile, heavyweight Steve Franklin has a team-high 12 wins on the season.

Up Next...
The Falcons open their home slate next weekend, Jan. 16-17, with a pair of dual meets. First, Air Force will host Stanford on Friday evening at 7:00. Then, the Falcons will welcome conference-foe Northern Iowa Saturday at 7:30 p.m. On Jan. 17, Air Force will also send a contingent to the Glen Brand Open, hosted by Nebraska-Omaha.

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