WRESTLING: VonOhlen, Baker make homecoming with Air Force

JACKSON — Cole VonOhlen and William Baker are coming home today.

Both Jackson natives and Air Force wrestlers are returning to Jackson County Central High School for the Battle for the Planes, a four-team triangular featuring the NCAA Division I Falcons squaring off against Augustana (S.D.), Dakota Wesleyan and Northwestern (Iowa).

The JCC wrestling program also has a full weekend of plans.

Today, VonOhlen and Baker will be instructors along with their Air Force teammates during a youth wrestling clinic from 6 to 7:15 p.m. in the Huskies’ wrestling room.

At 3:30 p.m. Friday, Air Force meets Dakota Wesleyan on Mat 1 and Augusta faces Northwestern on Mat 2. At 5 p.m., Dakota Wesleyan takes on Augustana on Mat 1 and Northwestern battles Air Force on Mat 2. At 6:30 p.m., Dakota Wesleyan faces Northwestern on Mat 1 before Air Force wrestles Augustana at 8 p.m. on Mat 1.

JCC will also be in action at 6:30 and 8 p.m. Friday on Mat 2. The Huskies meet Fargo, N.D. North before competing against Fargo, N.D., Davies.

At 9:30 a.m. Saturday, wrestling squads from Adrian, Fulda/Murray County Central, Luverne, Wabasso/Red Rock Central, Windom Area and Worthington are among the teams entered in the Pizza Ranch Invitational at JCC.

On Sunday, the Huskies are hosting a youth wrestling tournament.

VonOhlen, ranked eighth in the nation at 149 pounds according to Intermat, won his first 10 matches this season before losing a 7-3 decision to Boise State’s Jason Chamberlain in the finals Saturday at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.

A senior, VonOhlen has had a distinquished collegiate career. He entered this season with 112 NCAA victories and a .862 winning percentage.

During the 2011-12 campaign, VonOhlen was 37-4, including a 13-0 dual record and a 2-2 mark at the NCAA National Championships. It was his third consectutive berth in the national tournament, where he fell one win short of All-America status. He advanced to the national level by winning his second straight NCAA West Regional title.

When VonOhlen surpassed 100 career victories as a junior last season, he became only the second Air Force wrestler to do so in his third year.

In 2010-11, VonOhlen went 44-9 at 141, leading the nation in wins and ranking among the top 10. Those 44 victories tied for third-most in a season at Air Force. He won his first NCAA West Regional title and gained an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships, going 2-2 there.

As a freshman in 2009-10, VonOhlen was 31-9 at 141 and won his first of three team MVP honors. He was selected as the Western Wrestling Conference’s Freshman of the Year and was the runner-up at the NCAA West Regional Championships.

While at JCC, VonOhlen was a two-time state champion and a three-time state finalist.

Baker, in his freshman season at Air Force, is 12-5 overall while competing at either 165 or 174. He dropped a pair of 165-pound matches Saturday during the Bob Smith Open at Fort Hays State University in Fort Hays, Kan.

Augustana (S.D.) head coach Jason Reitmeier, a Worthington native, will be guiding the Vikings on Friday.

Under Reitmeier, Augustana is 95-46 overall in dual meets entering this season. The Vikings finished as runners-up at the NCAA Division II National Championships in 2005 and 2010.

Reitmeier has coached four national champion wrestlers and 42 All-Americans.

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