USAF ACADEMY, Colo.  Western Colorado's NCAA Division II wrestling program stepped up a division Saturday evening, and though host and D-I Air Force won the match, 29-18, the Mountaineers earned victories in four weight classes.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: U.S. Air Force Academy def. Western Colorado, 29-18
Records: Western 0-1, Air Force 1-0
Location: Clune Arena, USAF Academy, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Western got off to a quick start as Patrick Allis, ranked No. 9 in D-II, earned a 9-3 decision at 125. After a scoreless opening period Allis built a 5-2 advantage in the second, scoring a pair of takedowns and an escape for the lead over the Falcons' Quin Melofchik. Allis added to his lead in the third with four more points for the 9-3 decision.
• Air Force picked up four points each from major decisions at both 133 and 141, but Jason Hanenberg -- also ranked ninth nationally -- put Western back up on top with a first-period fall at 149. Trailing 2-0 to Josh Miller, Hanenberg registered a takedown in the closing seconds that quickly turned into a pin.
• Not to be outdone, the Mountaineers' Walker Heckendorf also earned a fall, pinning Garrett Bowers in the second period at the 4:21 mark of the match. The result elevated Western's match lead to 15-8.
• Air Force won the next three bouts, however, rallying to take the lead with a major, a technical fall, and then a fall at 184 to move in front 23-15.
• The Falcons' run was grounded at 197 with Porter Fox's 4-0 decision over Calvin Sund. And escape and a takedown in the second pushed Fox in front 3-0, and a stalling point on Sund in the third provided the final point of the bout.

LOOKING AHEAD
Rookies and redshirts will take to the mat Sunday at the Colorado School of Mines Rookie Open, and then the Mountaineers will travel to Kearney, Nebraska, for the Nov. 19 University of Nebraska Kearney Holiday Inn Open.