Air Force offering free admission as it hopes to pack Clune Arena for home dual with No. 1 Minnesota
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by Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Wrestling fans in Colorado will receive a rare and unique opportunity to witness the top-ranked college wrestling team in the country.
And it won’t cost you a penny.
Admission will be free for the Nov. 15 dual meet between the Air Force Academy and the top-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers.
The dual is set for a 10 a.m. start that day at Air Force’s historic Clune Arena in Colorado Springs.
Minnesota is a perennial national power in wrestling and is led by legendary Coach J Robinson. The Gophers have won three NCAA team titles under Robinson since 2001 and finished a close second this past season at the national tournament.
Fans, athletes and coaches from the area are invited to check out the action as Air Force is looking to pack the house for this exciting event.
“We are excited to host the No. 1 ranked team in the nation,” Air Force coach Sam Barber said. “Colorado Springs is a great wrestling town, and we hope the local wrestling community will enjoy seeing some of the nation’s best wrestling in Clune Arena on November 15.”
Minnesota has a veteran team that is led by two-time NCAA runner-up Dylan Ness (157 pounds) along with fellow All-Americans Logan Storley (174), Scott Schiller (197), Chris Dardanes (133) and Nick Dardanes (141).
Ness and Storley are both ranked No. 1 nationally, Schiller is No. 2, Chris Dardanes No. 4 and Nick Dardanes No. 5.
Air Force is led by returning NCAA qualifier Josh Martinez at 125 pounds. Martinez was 33-5 last season and was ranked in the top 10 most of the season.
Barber takes over the Air Force program this season after previously serving as an assistant in the Falcon program.
“Hosting the University of Minnesota at the United States Air Force Academy has been a big motivator for our team,” Barber said. “Our spring, summer and fall training has been outstanding, and our guys understand who we will be wrestling and the level of intensity we can expect from a Big Ten team.
“Our focus has been and will continue to be on effort, attitude and execution, however kicking off our home dual season with the top-ranked team in the country raises the bar and I know our team has put in the work to answer the call.”
And it won’t cost you a penny.
Admission will be free for the Nov. 15 dual meet between the Air Force Academy and the top-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers.
The dual is set for a 10 a.m. start that day at Air Force’s historic Clune Arena in Colorado Springs.
Minnesota is a perennial national power in wrestling and is led by legendary Coach J Robinson. The Gophers have won three NCAA team titles under Robinson since 2001 and finished a close second this past season at the national tournament.
Fans, athletes and coaches from the area are invited to check out the action as Air Force is looking to pack the house for this exciting event.
“We are excited to host the No. 1 ranked team in the nation,” Air Force coach Sam Barber said. “Colorado Springs is a great wrestling town, and we hope the local wrestling community will enjoy seeing some of the nation’s best wrestling in Clune Arena on November 15.”
Minnesota has a veteran team that is led by two-time NCAA runner-up Dylan Ness (157 pounds) along with fellow All-Americans Logan Storley (174), Scott Schiller (197), Chris Dardanes (133) and Nick Dardanes (141).
Ness and Storley are both ranked No. 1 nationally, Schiller is No. 2, Chris Dardanes No. 4 and Nick Dardanes No. 5.
Air Force is led by returning NCAA qualifier Josh Martinez at 125 pounds. Martinez was 33-5 last season and was ranked in the top 10 most of the season.
Barber takes over the Air Force program this season after previously serving as an assistant in the Falcon program.
“Hosting the University of Minnesota at the United States Air Force Academy has been a big motivator for our team,” Barber said. “Our spring, summer and fall training has been outstanding, and our guys understand who we will be wrestling and the level of intensity we can expect from a Big Ten team.
“Our focus has been and will continue to be on effort, attitude and execution, however kicking off our home dual season with the top-ranked team in the country raises the bar and I know our team has put in the work to answer the call.”
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