@UNCBearsWrestle Face Air Force in Final Dual of Season

Thursday, February 16

USAF Academy, CO

7:00 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

Air Force Academy

2/15/2017 11:42:00 AM | Wrestling

By: Nick Alspaugh, UNCBears.com

GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado will take on Big 12 foe Air Force in the last dual of the season, at 7:00 p.m. (MT) Thursday, Feb. 16.

The Bears are coming off a 22-14 victory over Utah Valley, which marked the first conference win this season for UNC.

Since taking over in 2014, Head Coach Troy Nickerson is 1-1 against Air Force in his career at Northern Colorado. The lone loss came last season, as the Bears fell 19-12 to the Falcons.

The dual against Air Force will feature one-ranked matchup:
[165] No. 20 Keilan Torres vs. No. 32 Alexandre Lopouchanski (Air Force)

Northern Colorado Preview: (2-9, 1-5)
The Bears arguably looked the best they have all season in their 22-14 victory over Utah Valley last week. Northern Colorado jumped out to a 16-0 lead to start the dual, winning the first four matches of the dual. The 16-0 lead marked the biggest lead the Bears have held over opponent this season.

Once again, Northern Colorado had the same four wrestlers ranked in the latest NCAA Coaches' Panel that came out last week:

Trackwrestling.com:
[165] Keilan Torres No. 20
NCAA Coaches' Panel:
[184] Dylan Gabel No. 20, [141] Timmy Box No. 24, Keilan Torres No. 25, [125] Trey Andrews No. 28

Probable Lineup: Northern Colorado (2-9, 1-5)
125 – No. 28 Trey Andrews, RSr. (21-15, 6-3)
133 – Rico Montoya, So. (15-10, 5-6) OR Sean Cannon RFr. (2-5, 0-1)
141 – No. 25 Timmy Box, RSr. (23-10, 7-3)
149 – Ben Polkowske, RJr. (14-13, 4-7)
157 – Jimmy Fate, Fr. (6-10, 1-5)
165 – No. 20 Keilan Torres, RJr. (22-12, 7-4)
174 – Dalton Robertson, Fr. (8-11, 0-4) OR Tanner Davis, RJr. (4-12, 1-5)
184 – No. 20 Dylan Gabel, RSo. (21-8, 8-2)
197 – Jamarcus Grant, Fr. (6-12, 1-9)
HWT – Jack Kuck, RSr. (8-17, 1-10)

Air Force Preview: (5-6, 0-4)
Despite not having a conference win, Air Force has beaten Cal Poly this season, who upended Northern Colorado last month in San Luis Obispo. The Falcons have also lost to Utah Valley, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, and Wyoming, who all beat the Bears as well.

The Falcons most recently lost to No. 25 North Dakota State 23-10, last Friday at Air Force.

The Falcons boast a lineup with two ranked wrestlers in the latest Coaches' Panel:

NCAA Coaches' Panel:
[165] Alexandre Lopouchanski No. 32, [197] Anthony McLaughlin No. 30

Probable Lineup:
125: Drew Romero, 14-12, 4-6
133: Dylan Hyder, 17-12, 5-4
141: John Twomey, 17-16, 5-4
149: Jerry McGinty, 17-9, 3-4
157: Alex Mossing, 10-9, 1-2 or Dane Robbins, 14-10, 3-4
165: No. 32 Tyler Wiederholt, 22-12, 2-3
174: Michael Billingsley, 13-14, 4-5
184: Zen Ikehara, 6-11, 2-9
197: No. 30 Anthony McLaughlin, 17-7, 5-0
285: Kerry Powers, 13-10, 5-4

For live updates and results, follow @UNCBearsWrestle on Twitter.