Air Force Academy

Nov. 17, 2011

Weekly Release #2

The Air Force wrestling team returns to action this weekend, Saturday, Nov. 19, at the inaugural UNK Holiday Inn Open, hosted by Nebraska-Kearney, as well as the Northern Colorado Old Chicago Open in Greeley, Colo.

LAST TIME OUT...
The Falcons finished with four placewinners to begin the season at the Hokie Open, hosted by Virginia Tech, on Nov. 6. Junior Cole VonOhlen led the way, capturing the individual title at 149 pounds. Meanwhile, Clayton Gable placed third at 174 pounds, Josh Mohr took fifth place at 197 pounds and Greg Rinker finished sixth at 125 pounds.

AT THE COWBOY OPEN...
Although Air Force was not officially in action last weekend, several Falcons headed up to Laramie, Wyo., for the annual Cowboy Open to compete unattached. Three Air Force wrestlers were placewinners in the Amateur Division, with freshmen Carter McElhany (141) and Garrett Wells (174) each finishing third in their respective weight classes, while Elijah Levee took fourth place at 157 pounds.

SCOUTING THE FALCONS...
Air Force is led by undefeated junior co-captain Cole VonOhlen, who recorded a perfect 5-0 mark in the opening week of competition. Meanwhile, freshman Carter McElhany, who wrestled unattached at last weekend's Cowboy Open, has a team-best six wins on the season.

Meanwhile, 12 different Falcons have registered falls, led by VonOhlen and classmate Josh Mohr with two falls each. Freshman Elijah Levee has the fastest fall of the early season, recording a fall in a time of 1:27.

WWC WRESTLER OF THE WEEK...
For the second-straight season, junior Cole VonOhlen was named the Western Wrestling Conference Wrestler of the Week in the opening week of competition. The award marked the sixth of VonOhlen's career.

For the third-straight year, VonOhlen opened the season by winning an individual title, this time taking first place at the Hokie Open, hosted by Virginia Tech. Competing at 149 pounds for the first time in his career, VonOhlen put together a 5-0 record in the largest bracket of the tournament. His five wins included a technical fall, a pair of falls and two decisions. In the championship bout, VonOhlen battled back from an injury, coming from behind for an 8-7 victory over North Carolina's Jon Burns.

IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS...
Junior co-captain Cole VonOhlen, a two-time NCAA qualifier at 141 pounds, is currently ranked in the top 10 nationally in several wrestling publications at 149 pounds. VonOhlen is rated sixth in the nation by Intermat and DI College Wrestling, seventh by Amateur Wrestling News and WrestlingReport.com and eighth by The Open Mat. Meanwhile, he was rated 10th by W.I.N. Magazine at 141 pounds in their preseason rankings.

UP NEXT...
The Falcons are back in action Dec. 2-3, when they head to the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.