Air Force Academy

March 5, 2008

The Air Force wrestling team heads to the NCAA West Regional this weekend, March 8. The regional, hosted this year by North Dakota State, begins at 10:00 a.m. (CT), with finals slated to start at 4:00 p.m.

About the NCAA West Regional...
The NCAA West Regional serves as a qualifying tournament for the NCAA Championships, which will be held March 20-22. Twenty wrestlers (10 automatic and 10 at-large bids) will earn spots at the national meet. The field for this year's regional includes Air Force, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State and Wyoming.

Last Year at the NCAA West Regional...
Northern Iowa won its 22nd consecutive West Regional title in 2007, led by individual titles from Kyle Anson, Moza Fay and Nick Baima. Northern Colorado was second, followed by Wyoming, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Air Force and Eastern Illinois.

Last Time Out...
The Falcons celebrated Senior Day with a 21-12 win over Wyoming in its final dual of the season. After trading decisions for the first six bouts, Air Force won three of the last four matches, including a fall by Tyler French at 174 pounds.

Scouting the Falcons...
Air Force finished their dual slate with a 9-9 overall dual record and 3-2 mark in the WWC, finishing fourth in the conference regular season standings. Leading the Falcons with 24 total wins on the season are senior Anthony Stegeman and junior Stephen Crozier. Sophomore Tyler French has 23 wins on the season, while senior Jake Kriegbaum has recorded 21 wins on the year. Kriegbaum also has 12 dual victories to lead the team and is undefeated in the WWC at 5-0.

Meanwhile, senior captain Chris Szabolcs lead the team with seven falls this year, while sophomore Kurt Spranger owns a fastest fall of 46 seconds.

Adam Aho (157) leads the Bison with 23 wins on the season, while NDSU also returns Eric Hoffman, the 2007 West Regional champion at 125 pounds.

Scouting the Panthers...
Northern Iowa finished its dual season with a 7-5-1 overall record and 4-0 mark in the WWC to clinch the conference regular season title.

Among the leaders for the Panthers are Moza Fay, ranked 10th in the nation at 165 pounds, and C.J. Ettelson, ranked 20th in the nation at 141 pounds.

Scouting the Bears...
Northern Colorado finished the regular season with a 6-7 overall record and 4-2 mark in the WWC, tying for second in the league.

Among the leaders for the Bears are 125-pounder Tony Mustari and heavyweight Reece Hopkin, who both went 6-0 in WWC action this season.

Scouting the Jackrabbits...
South Dakota State ended the regular season with 2-9 overall record and 0-6 ledger in the WWC, finishing seventh in the conference. The Jacks return their lone national qualifier from 2007, 165-pounder Ryan Meyer, who has posted a team-best 20 wins on the season.

Scouting the Cowboys...
Wyoming wrapped up its dual slate with a 4-9 overall record and 3-3 mark in the WWC, finishing fifth in the conference.

Junior Eric Coxbill (165) leads the Cowboys with 24 wins on the season, while senior Carter Downing is ranked 19th in the nation at 141 pounds.

On a Hot Streak...
Senior Jake Kriegbaum has been on quite a streak for the Falcons, winning 11 of his last 12 matches and posting a 5-0 mark against WWC competition.

Meanwhile, sophomore Tyler French has put together a streak of his own, winning 10 of his last 11 bouts, and is 4-1 in WWC dual action.

Up Next...
Qualifiers from this week's NCAA West Regional will earn the chance to compete at the NCAA Championships, being held in St. Louis, Mo., March 20-22.

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