Air Force Academy

Dec. 28, 2010

The Air Force wrestling team returns to action this week, Dec. 29-30, as it heads to Greensboro, N.C., for the annual Southern Scuffle. The two-day event, which begins at 10:00 a.m. (ET) on Wednesday, will take place at the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center.

Watching On the Web...

This year’s tournament will be streamed online on Spartan All Access. For more details about the broadcast, visit UNCGSpartans.com.

About the Southern Scuffle...

More than 500 wrestlers from 32 teams are expected to compete in this year’s Southern Scuffle. This year’s field includes 63 wrestlers who are ranked in the latest InterMat rankings, including four of the 10 wrestlers ranked No. 1 in the nation at their respective weight classes.

The team title will also be a fierce battle as the 32-team field includes six teams who are ranked in the top 25 of the latest NWCA Coaches Poll. Leading the way is top-ranked Cornell, followed by No. 3 Minnesota, No. 4 Penn State, No. 13 Oregon State, No. 15 Michigan and No. 23 Kent State. Other notable competitors include service academy rivals Army, Navy, The Citadel and VMI, as well as WWC opponent Utah Valley.

Last Year at the Southern Scuffle...

Air Force had a solid performance in its debut at the Southern Scuffle in 2009, finishing 17th in the team standings. Rookie Cole VonOhlen led the way individually, taking fifth place at 141 pounds, posting a 6-2 record for the tournament.

Last Time Out...

The Falcons dropped a home dual versus 14th-ranked Oregon State on Dec. 17, falling 42-3.

Junior Alec Williams scored the lone win of the match for the Falcons, posting a 4-3 decision over Alex Elder at 157 pounds.

Scouting the Falcons...

Air Force, which holds a 2-1 dual record, heads to its fifth tournament of the season with its trip to the Southern Scuffle.

Sophomore Cole VonOhlen (141) and junior Alec Williams (157) lead the team in overall wins with 16 each. Meanwhile, freshman Jesse Stafford (157) has notched 15 wins on the year.

Twenty-three Air Force wrestlers have recorded falls so far this season, led by Williams with a career-best seven pins. Meanwhile, freshman Greg Rinker (125) has posted the team’s fastest fall of the season, recording a pin in a time of 0:31.

The Lineup...

Sixteen Air Force wrestlers are tentatively scheduled to compete at this year’s Southern Scuffle. Expected to represent the Falcons at the event are Greg Rinker (125), Andrew Zwirlein (125), Derek Gillespie (133), Tyler Untrauer (133), No. 10 Cole VonOhlen (141), Josh Kreimier (149), Jesse Stafford (157), Alec Williams (157), Carter Adams (165), Clayton Gable (165), Joseph Stafford (174), Kazden Ikehara (184), Josh Mohr (184), Cody Davis (197), Neil Delaney (197) and Jared Erickson (HWT).

In the National Rankings...

Sophomore Cole VonOhlen, the Falcons’ lone returning NCAA qualifier, is currently ranked 10th in the nation at 141 pounds in the latest Intermat poll. In addition, VonOhlen is rated 12th by Amateur Wrestling News and WrestlingReport.com, 13th by D1 College Wrestling, 16th by The Open Mat and 17th by WIN Magazine.

Williams steps up...

With his victory against Oregon State’s Alex Elder on Dec. 17, junior Alec Williams reached 16 wins on the season, matching his total number of victories in his first two seasons of competition.

As a freshman, Williams posted an 8-24 overall record, while earning an 8-18 mark as a sophomore. In his junior season, Williams has already moved to a 16-6 ledger on the year.

Up Next...

The Falcons open the spring semester with a pair of competitions on Jan. 15, 2011. Air Force’s top group of wrestlers will compete at the annual Lone Star Duals in Grand Prairie, Texas, as the Falcons face No. 22 American, No. 24 Arizona State, Brown and Wayland Baptist. Meanwhile, another group of Falcons will head to the Borah Duals, hosted by Western State in Gunnison, Colo.

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