COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -

Senior heavyweight Tanner Harms pin 57 seconds into the first period of the night's final match lifted Wyoming past Air Force 22-16 on Friday evening in Clune Arena in Colorado Springs, Colo. It was the Pokes' first win as members of the Big 12 Conference in their first dual of the season. The match also marked head coach Mark Branch's 75th win as a head coach. The victory was the eighth-straight win for the Pokes over the Falcons.

"It was pretty tough, but that is what I expected and bonus points were important tonight," Branch said. "We had a chance to draw or start at 125-pounds and I knew that I wanted Tanner (Harms) out there and he wrestled well."

After junior Brandon Tribble fell by decision to Air Force's Park Hines at 197 pounds to tie the dual at 16-16, Harms made quick work of Marcus Malecek winning via pin 57 seconds into the match. It was Harm's first pin of the season and fifth fastest pin by a Cowboy this season.

Sophomore Bryce Meredith continued his dominate season with a pin in the first period as well. He defeated David Walker 1:27 into the match. He had a takedown and nearfall before he finished the match with his pin. Meredith's win gave the Pokes a 9-3 lead.

Junior Ben Stroh helped picked up bonus points in his match winning by major decision over Michael Billingsley. After an early takedown by Billingsley, it was all Stroh from there. He rattled off nine-straight points and added over two minutes of riding time for an additional point. His win gave the Cowboys a 16-10 lead before Air Force tied the match with two-straight wins at 184 pounds and 197 pounds.

Junior Drew Templeman got the Pokes off to a fast start with an 8-1 decision over Drew Romero in the opening match. He flurried for six points late after leading the match 2-1 after two periods. Colgan added another win for the Pokes taking the win at 157 pounds over Zach Stepan. Colgan got off to a fast start scoring two takedowns in the first minute of the match. Stepan battled back, but Colgan won the match on riding time.

Wyoming returns to the mat next weekend traveling to Nebraska on Saturday with action slated to start at 6 p.m. MT.

Results

125: #NR/NR/20 Drew Templeman over Drew Romero (AF), Decision 8-1, 3-0 WYO

133: John Twomey (AF) over Gunnar Woodburn, Decision 6-2, 3-3

141: Bryce Meredith over David Walker (AF), Fall 1:27, 9-3 WYO

149: Jerry McGinity (AF) over Austin Breckenridge, Decision 6-4, 9-6 WYO

157: Archie Colgan over Zach Stepan (AF), Decision 6-5, 12-6 WYO

165: Alex Lopouchanski (AF) over Chaz Polson, Major Decision 11-1, 12-10 WYO

174: #13/15/15 Benjamin Stroh over Michael Billingsley (AF), Major Decision 12-3, 16-10 WYO

184: Anthony McLaughlin (AF) over Jace Jensen, Decision 7-4, 16-13 WYO

197: Parker Hines (AF) over Brandon Tribble, Decision 5-4, 16-16

285: #20/NR/NR Tanner Harms over Marcus Malecek (AF) , Fall 0:57, 22-16 WYO