Air Force Academy

Oct. 31, 2008

USAFA, Colo. -

The Air Force wrestling team will get its 2008-09 season off to a start this weekend, Nov. 2, when it hosts the annual Blue-Silver Intrasquad Match at 5:00 p.m. in Clune Arena. Bouts will be contested at nine of 10 weight classes to determine the Falcons' starting lineup heading into the season. Meanwhile, the JV team will see some action as well on Sunday, as it takes on the Academy Prep School at 3:00 p.m.

Amongst the competitors are a pair of starters from last year's squad that finished the season with a 9-9 overall record and second-place finish at the NCAA West Regional. Leading the way is 2008 NCAA qualifier Stephen Crozier (Sr., Monona, Iowa), this year's team captain, wrestling at 165 pounds, along with sophomore Derek Gillespie (Chesapeake, Va.), the returner at 133 pounds.

Meanwhile, two more Air Force starters return from last year--Tyler French (Jr., Malta, Mont.), an NCAA qualifier at 174 pounds, and Sterling Tribble (Sr., Midwest City, Okla.)--but are not slated to compete this weekend.

The complete lineup for the Blue-Silver Intrasquad Match is listed below:

Wt. Blue Team Silver Team
125 Andrew Zwirlein (So., Nashotah, Wis.) vs. John Lovvorn (Fr., Washington, Ga.)
133 Tanner Weltzin (Fr., Alexandria, Minn.) vs. Derek Gillespie (So., Chesapeake, Va.)
141 Stephen Makuka (Jr., Columbus, N.J.) vs. Carlos Sandoval (So., Colorado Springs, Colo.)
149 Alec Williams (Fr., Birmingham, Ala.) vs. Matt Torrence (So., Tulsa, Okla.)
157 Joseph Stafford (So., Loomis, Calif.) vs. Wade Stowe (So., The Colony, Texas)
165 Alex Flori (So., Eagle River, Alaska) vs. Stephen Crozier (Sr., Monona, Iowa)
184 Karl Oeser (Fr., Wichita, Kan.) vs. Akira Nervik (Jr., Bellflower, Calif.)
197 James Ciccone (So., Mentor, Ohio) vs. Chris Thomas (So., El Cajon, Calif.)
HWT Kazden Ikehara (So., Mililani, Hawaii) vs. Josh Larson (So., Windsor, Colo.)