Air Force Academy

The Air Force wrestling team gets its 2005-06 dual season off to a start on Friday, Dec. 9, as it travels to Golden, Colo., to face in-state rival Colorado School of Mines in a 7:00 p.m. contest.


Last Time Out...
Senior co-captain Beau Tresemer knocked off a pair of seeded wrestlers on the first day of competition en route to an eighth-place showing at last week's Las Vegas Invitational. Tresemer, wrestling at 165 pounds, finished the tournament with a 4-3 record, with all three losses coming to ranked opponents.

Senior Matt Benza a 2-2 mark at 133 pounds for the weekend, while Adam Swift (174), Zane Hershey (184), Kurt Skarstedt (197) and Peter Bozynski (HWT) all registered a victory each.


Scouting the Orediggers...
Colorado School of Mines holds an 0-4 dual record after dropping a falling to RMAC opponent Chadron State 34-6 on Wednesday evening. Garrett Eller, wrestling at 133 pounds, was the lone Oredigger to pick up a victory in the match, pinning his opponent in a time of 5:56.


Last Year vs. CSM...
The Falcons picked up a 37-12 win over Colorado School of Mines last season, winning eight of nine contested bouts while forfeiting the 125-pound match. As a team, Air Force registered three falls, a tech fall, two major decisions and two decisions en route to the 25-point victory.


Our Leaders...
Pacing the Falcons with six falls each on the season are seniors Kurt Skarstedt and Adam Swift, who picked up three pins at the Oklahoma Open two weeks ago.

Sophomore Jake Kriegbaum, an NCAA qualifier in 2005-06, leads the team in total wins, having compiled a 14-5 mark in the first three weekends of competition. Also reaching the 10-win mark in the first month of the season are Swift (10-8) and senior Beau Tresemer (10-5).


In the National Rankings...
Seniors Brenden McLean and Matt Benza are currently rated in the top 20 of their respective weight classes in the latest NWCA/Intermat poll released Dec. 5. McLean, a 197-pounder who has yet to see action this season, is ranked 16th, while Benza, who currently holds a 6-2 record at 133 pounds, is rated 17th.

Two other seniors are ranked by different publications. Co-captain Beau Tresemer enters the rankings in the 165-pound weight class, as he is rated 18th in the latest poll by Amateur Wrestling News. Meanwhile, W.I.N. Magazine has co-captain Brandon Strong ranked 18th at 125 pounds.


Up Next...
The Falcons are idle until right after the holidays, when they travel to Evanston, Ill., for the annual Midlands Invitational, hosted by Northwestern.