Air Force Falcons
Encyclopedia
The Air Force Falcons are the collegiate
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...

 athletic
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...

 teams that represent the United States Air Force Academy, near Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...

. The intercollegiate
College athletics
College athletics refers primarily to sports and athletic competition organized and funded by institutions of tertiary education . In the United States, college athletics is a two-tiered system. The first tier includes the sports that are sanctioned by one of the collegiate sport governing bodies...

 program has 17 men's and 10 women's NCAA-sanctioned teams. Men’s teams are football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey, cross-country, fencing, golf, gymnastics, indoor and outdoor track, lacrosse, rifle, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, water polo and wrestling. The Academy fields women's teams in basketball, cross-country, fencing, gymnastics, indoor and outdoor track, swimming and diving, soccer, tennis and volleyball. In addition, the Academy sponsors two non-NCAA programs: boxing and cheerleading.

The three major service academies
Military academy
A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps of the army, the navy, air force or coast guard, which normally provides education in a service environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned.Three...

 (Air Force
Air Force Falcons football
The Air Force Falcons are a college football team from the United States Air Force Academy, located just outside of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the NCAA Division I and the Mountain West Conference.-Style:...

, Army
Army Black Knights football
The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....

, and Navy
Navy Midshipmen football
The Navy Midshipmen football team represents the United States Naval Academy in NCAA Division I-A college football. They are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent school and coached by Ken Niumatalolo since December 2007...

) compete for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy
Commander in Chief's Trophy
The Commander-in-Chief's Trophy is awarded to each season's winner of the triangular college football series among the United States Military Academy , the United States Naval Academy , and United States Air Force Academy...

, which is awarded to the academy that defeats the others in football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...

 that year (or retained by the previous winner in the event of a three-way tie).

The current athletic director
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...

 is Hans J. Mueh
Hans J. Mueh
Hans J. Mueh is the director of athletics at the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado, serving in that position since 2004. Prior to becoming the Director of Athletics, Dr. Mueh served as permanent professor and head of the Department of Chemistry, and Vice Dean of Faculty...

.

Team name origin

The falcon mascot was selected by popular vote of the Academy's Class of 1959, the first class to graduate from the Academy. The team mascot is "The Bird".

Baseball

Air Force enjoyed some success on the baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...

 diamond in its early years, earning six berths to the NCAA Division I playoffs
NCAA Division I Baseball Championship
The NCAA Division I Baseball Championship tournament is held each year from May through June and features 64 college baseball teams in the United States, culminating in the College World Series....

 (1961, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1969). The Falcons, however, never advanced beyond the district/regional rounds. The closest they have come to earning a NCAA berth since 1969 was in 2000, when the Falcons lost to San Diego State in the MWC tournament
Mountain West Conference Baseball Tournament
The Mountain West Conference Baseball Tournament is the conference championship tournament in baseball for the Mountain West Conference. The winner of the tournament receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament....

 championship game (which would have earned an automatic berth).

The baseball program plays home games at Falcon Baseball Field
Falcon Baseball Field
Falcon Baseball Field is a baseball venue located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. It is home to the Air Force Falcons college baseball team of the Division I Mountain West Conference. Opened in 1957, the venue has a capacity of 1,000 spectators...

 on campus.

Men's Basketball

The men's basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....

 team has had strong showings in the last several years, qualifying for the NCAA tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...

 and, most recently, making the final four of the 2007 National Invitational Tournament. The best player in Air Force history (According to ESPN) is Bob Beckel, who scored 50 points in a game against Arizona in 1959 and scored over 45 points on 3 other occasions. The best Coach in Air Force history is Bob Spear, who coached for 15 years (1956–1971), had a Career record of 177-175, and led the Falcons to 2 NCAA Tournament Appearances.
  • NCAA Tournament appearances: 1960, 1962, 2004, 2006
  • NIT Tournament appearances: 2007 (semifinals)
  • Mountain West Conference champions
    Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
    The Mountain West Conference men's basketball tournament is held annually to determine the men's basketball champion from the Mountain West Conference. The winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament, although they did not in the 1999–2000...

    : 2004 Regular Season

Women's Basketball

The women's basketball team competed at the Division II level in both the AIAW and NCAA from 1976-1996. Since then, the team has competed at the Division I level.
  • NCAA Tournament
    NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship
    The NCAA Women's Division I Championship is an annual college basketball tournament for women. Held each April, the Women's Championship was inaugurated in the 1981–82 season...

     appearances: 1985, 1990
  • AIAW National Tournament appearances: 1979, 1980

Boxing

The Air Force boxing team has had astonishing success. Led for 31 years by Coach Ed Weichers
Ed Weichers
Eddie Weichers has been the head boxing coach at the United States Air Force Academy since 1976, and has led the Academy's boxing team to 18 national collegiate boxing championships....

, the team has won 18 National Collegiate Boxing Association
National Collegiate Boxing Association
The National Collegiate Boxing Association was founded in 1976 as a non-profit, autonomous organization whose goal is to provide a safe, positive experience for student athletes pursuing the sport of boxing. The association falls under the auspices of USA Boxing...

 championships, and until 2009, had never finished lower than second in the nation. In 2009, the team finished third in the Nation.

Ice hockey

From 2007-2009, the men's hockey team won three straight Atlantic Hockey
Atlantic Hockey
The Atlantic Hockey Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey conference which operates primarily in the northeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey–only conference. Unlike several other college athletic conferences, Atlantic Hockey has no women's...

 conference tournaments, and made three straight appearances in the NCAA Division I hockey tournament. Their 2007 appearance in the NCAA tournament was the first ever by a service academy. In the East Regional of the 2009 NCAA Tournament, Air Force upset top seed Michigan
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...

 2-0, and just missed going to the Frozen Four in a 3-2 double overtime loss to Vermont.

Wrestling

The Falcon wrestling
Collegiate wrestling
Collegiate wrestling, sometimes known in the United States as Folkstyle wrestling, is a style of amateur wrestling practised at the collegiate and university level in the United States. Collegiate wrestling emerged from the folk wrestling styles practised in the early history of the United States...

 team began competition in 1957 and currently competes in the Western Wrestling Conference
Western Wrestling Conference
The Western Wrestling Conference is an NCAA Division I wrestling-only conference. It began competition in the 2006–07 season.-Members:* Air Force Falcons* North Dakota State Bison* Northern Colorado Bears* Northern Iowa Panthers...

 (since the Mountain West doesn't sponsor wrestling). Home wrestling events are held at either the Cadet East Gym or at Clune Arena. The team is currently coached
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...

 by Joel Sharratt, a former national champion for the University of Iowa and legendary coach Dan Gable.
  • WAC Team Championships: 1 (1991)
  • All-Academy Wrestling Championships: 4 (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002)
  • NCAA National Champions: 1
  • NCAA All-Americans: 11
  • WWC/West Regional Champions: 9
  • WAC Champions: 18
  • MIWA Champions: 18

Facilities

  • Cadet Fieldhouse
    Air Force Academy Cadet Fieldhouse
    The Air Force Academy Cadet Fieldhouse is an indoor sports complex at the United States Air Force Academy.-Components:The Cadet Fieldhouse contains:* The 6002-seat Clune Arena The Air Force Academy Cadet Fieldhouse is an indoor sports complex at the United States Air Force Academy.-Components:The...

  • Cadet Ice Arena
    Cadet Field House Ice Arena
    The Cadet Ice Arena is a 2,502-seat hockey rink on the grounds of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is home to the Academy's Falcon ice hockey team. It was built in 1968, and is part of the Cadet Field House, which also includes Clune Arena. The team now...

     (cap. 2,502) – part of the Cadet Fieldhouse
  • Clune Arena
    Clune Arena
    Clune Arena is a part of the Cadet Fieldhouse, a multi-purpose sports complex at the United States Air Force Academy. The fieldhouse complex houses track, hockey, and basketball. "Clune Arena" is the Men's and Women's Basketball arena. It was named after long-time USAFA Director of Athletics,...

     (cap. 5,939) – part of the Cadet Fieldhouse
  • Eisenhower Golf course
    Eisenhower Golf Club
    The Eisenhower Golf Club, named after U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower, is the golf course located on the grounds of the United States Air Force Academy, just north of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Being on a military installation, the course is generally only open to active duty, retired military,...

  • Falcon Baseball Field
    Falcon Baseball Field
    Falcon Baseball Field is a baseball venue located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. It is home to the Air Force Falcons college baseball team of the Division I Mountain West Conference. Opened in 1957, the venue has a capacity of 1,000 spectators...

     (cap. 1,000)
  • Falcon Stadium
    Falcon Stadium
    Falcon Stadium is an outdoor football stadium on the campus of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is the home field of the Air Force Falcons of the Mountain West Conference...

     (cap. 52,480)
  • Jacks Valley
  • Soccer stadium
    Air Force Soccer Stadium
    Air Force Soccer Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium in Colorado Springs, Colorado on the grounds of the United States Air Force Academy. It is the home field for Air Force college soccer....

  • Cadet Lacrosse Stadium

External links

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