Air Force Academy

USAFA, Colo. -
Six Falcon victories, including a pair of forfeit wins, helped the Air Force wrestling team to a 28-15 win over Adams State Saturday in Cadet East Gym. The victory moves the Falcons to 2-3 on the season, while the Grizzlies, ranked 11th in the nation at the Division II level, fall to 2-3.
The meet began with the 125-pound weight class, where Air Force freshman Matt McDiarmid (Strongsville, Ohio) lost a 9-4 decision to Rob McCabe to put the Grizzlies up 3-0. After an Adams State forfeit at 133 pounds gave the Falcons a 6-3 lead, 141-pounder Jake Kriegbaum (Abilene, Kan.) went up against Kortney Lake, currently ranked third among Division II wrestlers. Lake dominated the bout, recording a 17-2 tech fall with just 10 seconds left in the third period to put the Grizzlies back ahead, 8-6.
Senior Josh Peterson (Comstock, Wis.) was up next for the Falcons at 149 pounds, and he did not disappoint. The co-captain led 9-2 by the end of the second period and went on to rack up a 14-4 major decision over Richard Weimer. Adams State reciprocated with a major decision at 157 pounds, as the Grizzlies' Scott Cleve defeated Zach Lord (So., Missoula, Mont.), 14-3, to regain the team lead.
At 165 pounds, junior Beau Tresemer (Norman, Okla.) would give a clutch performance, putting the Falcons on top for good. After a scoreless opening period against Evan Copeland, Tresemer notched a pair of near falls in the second period. Copeland responded with a takedown and near fall in the final period, but Tresemer scored a reversal that led to a fall in a time of 5:49. His victory, which improves his dual record to 4-1, helped Air Force take a 16-12 lead.
Jacob Lillich (Jay, Okla.) was the next Falcon to notch a victory, as the senior co-captain recorded a 9-4 decision over James Reynolds at 174 pounds. In the 184-pound bout, junior Zane Hershey (Hugoton, Kan.) dropped a 5-2 decision to Don Ortega, as the Grizzlies trailed just 19-15.
The 197-pound match saw Air Force junior Brenden McLean (Grants Pass, Ore.) take on Josh Vialpando. In a low-scoring bout, McLean scrapped his way to a 4-2 decision as he won his eighth straight match and moved to 5-0 in dual action. Air Force sealed the 28-15 victory with a forfeit by Adams State at heavyweight.
The Falcons return to action next Thursday, Jan. 27, when they travel to Gunnison, Colo., to take on Western State at 7:00 p.m.
Air Force 28, Adams State 15125 Rob McCabe (ASC) dec. Matt McDiarmid, 9-4133 Matt Benza (AF) win by forfeit141 Kortney Lake (ASC) tech. fall Jake Kriegbaum, 6:50 (17-2)149 Josh Peterson (AF) maj. dec. Richard Weimer, 14-4157 Scott Cleve (ASC) maj. dec. Zach Lord, 12-3165 Beau Tresemer (AF) win by fall Evan Copeland, 5:49174 Jacob Lillich (AF) dec. James Reynolds, 9-4184 Don Ortega (ASC) dec. Zane Hershey, 5-2197 Brenden McLean (AF) dec. Josh Vialpando, 4-2HWT Trey McLean (AF) win by forfeit