Air Force hands Jacks third staight loss, 31-19

Saturday, January 31

Air Force Academy, Colo.

7:30 p.m. MT

South Dakota State University

Air Force

1/31/2009 1:00:00 AM | Wrestling

By: SDSU Sports Info

USAFA, Colo. ? Air Force handed the South Dakota State wrestling team its fifth loss in their last six duals, downing the Jackrabbits 31-19 in Western Wrestling Conference action Saturday night.

The Jacks were within three points at 12-9 after a Dustin Walraven pin and Nick Flynn decision, but couldn't complete the comeback as the Jacks dropped the next five matches. The Jackrabbits fall to 7-8-1 on the season and 0-3 in the WWC. Air Force improves to 4-9 overall and 1-3 in the conference.

The upper weights carried the Jacks once again as Tyler Sorenson and Jason Stripling each picked up extra-point wins on the night.

No. 16 Tyler Sorenson recorded a 19-5 major decision over James Ciccone. Sorenson remains perfect on the year, improving to 9-0 on the season.

After being down 3-1 in the second period, heavyweight Jason Stripling bounced back in the third to record the pin, improving him to 27-9 overall and 15-1 in duals. The senior is 23rd in wins at SDSU with a career record of 78-39.

The Jacks return to the friendly confines of Frost Arena to battle Utah Valley University Friday with the match starting at 7 p.m.

Air Force 31, South Dakota State 19
125    Andrew Zwirlein (AF) fall Alan Marvin, 4:55
133    Samuel Sheppard (AF) wins by forfeit
141 Dustin Walraven (SDSU) fall Derek Gillespie, 3:41
149    Nick Flynn (SDSU) dec. Alec Williams, 5-2
157    Joseph Stafford (AF) fall Marc Wermersen, 2:56
165    Stephen Crozier (AF) maj. dec. Weston Ginther, 12-0
174    Justin Shadrix (AF) dec. Justin Retallic, 7-3
184    Brett Boyce (AF) fall Zach Blindert, 2:29
197    #16 Tyler Sorenson (SDSU) maj. dec. James Ciccone, 19-5
HWT Jason Stripling (SDSU) fall Stephen Larson, 5:07