USAF ACADEMY – Air Force battled back to a 19-18 criteria loss against Big 12 rival Northern Colorado in the regular season finale. The Falcons (4-9, 1-8 Big 12) overcame an early 13-0 deficit but was unable to upend the Bears (6-6, 3-5 Big 12) when the dust settled.
 
Northern Colorado got off to strong start, building a 13-point lead via three decision victories and a major decision from No. 9 Andrew Alirez at 141.
 
The Falcon’s 157-pounder Giano Petrucelli (13-11) got Clune Arena to erupt as he battled to a third period pin (5:59) against Nathan Moore. UNC was deducted a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct by Moore.
 
Air Force kept the momentum rolling at 165 as senior Trey Brisker commanded a 9-2 decision over Brayden Engelking, lifting the Falcons to nine team points to the Bears’ 12. Brisker notched his 10^th win of the season in the effort.
 
The Falcons continued their roll at 174 as No. 31 Sam Wolf posted a decisive victory over Damen Pape, 9-2, equalizing the team score at 12. Wolf improved his record to 15-7 with the win.
 
Northern Colorado pulled off narrow victories in the ensuing two matches, winning a 3-2 sudden victory win at 184 and a 9-6 decision at 197, increasing the team score to 18-12 heading into the final bout.
 
Wyatt Hendrickson (20-0) took the mat knowing a pin was necessity. Hendrickson, who has 13 Division I pins this season, got the job done against a stubborn Jacob Seely at 4:59. With the final score equal at 18, the Bears were issued a match victory criteria point to break the tie and finalize the regular season. Hendrickson finalized his regular season with a 10-0 mark in dual action, eight of those victories coming with bonus points.
 
Next up, the Falcons send their top-10 to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to compete in the 2021-22 Big 12 Championships hosted in the BOK Center, March 5-6. Preliminary and quarterfinal matches are slated to begin at 11 a.m. CT.
 
Feb. 20 – Northern Colorado 19, Air Force 18
125: Jace Koelzer (UNC) Dec. Jared Van Vleet (AF), 6-3 | UNC 3, AF 0
133: Jace Koelzer (UNC) Dec. #33 Sidney Flores (AF), 7-5 | UNC 6, AF 0
141: #9 Andrew Alirez (UNC) MD Cody Phippen (AF), 10-2 | UNC 10, AF 0
149: Chris Sandoval (UNC) Dec. Dylan Martinez (AF), 5-2 | UNC 13, AF 0
157: Giano Petrucelli (AF) Fall Nathan Moore (UNC) (5:59) | UNC 12, AF 6*
165: Trey Brisker (AF) Dec. Brayden Engelking (UNC), 9-3 | UNC 12, AF 9
174: #31 Sam Wolf (AF) Dec. Damen Pape (UNC), 9-2 | UNC 12, AF 12
184: Xavier Vasquez (UNC) Dec. Noah Blake (AF), SV-1 3-2 | UNC 15, AF 12
197: #24 Alan Clothier (UNC) Dec. Kayne Hutchison (AF), 9-6 | UNC 18, AF 12
285: #6 Wyatt Hendrickson (AF) Fall Jacob Seely (UNC), (4:59) | UNC 19, AF 18**
#NCAA Coaches Rankings
 
*Team point deducted from UNC for unsportsmanlike conduct
**Team point awarded to UNC by tie-break criteria, six matches to four