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Nov 2, 2010
Wrestling Receives Preseason Recognition
The American University wrestling team and five individual wrestlers have been recognized in two preseason polls for the upcoming season, which begins this Saturday, Nov. 6 at the Pentagon Duals.
On a national level, American was ranked 20th by InterMat in its preseason NCAA Division I tournament strength rankings. The Eagles were also picked to finished fifth in the EIWA Preseason Rankings. American is coming off its best finish at the NCAA Tournament after placing 14th last year and earning three All-America honors.
Steve Fittery leads the Eagles in the preseason polls, ranking second in the InterMat poll and first in the EIWA at 157 lbs. Fittery earned his first All-America honor after placing fifth at the 2010 NCAA Championships, in addition to being crowned the Champion of Champions at the 2009 Midlands Championships. He finished the season with an overall record of 34-4 and a dual meet record of 12-1.
Ryan Flores joins the Eagles ranked eighth in the InterMat preseason rankings and third in the EIWA at 285 lbs. Flores is entering his junior year after transferring from Columbia. He captured the heavyweight title at the 2009 EIWA Championships as a sophomore and finished that season with a 31-5 overall record.
Daniel Mitchell will begin his sophomore campaign ranked 20th in the InterMat rankings and third in the EIWA at 197 lbs. An NCAA Championships qualifier last season, Mitchell placed fourth at the EIWA Championships and finished with a 6-7 overall record.
Also ranked for the Eagles in the EIWA preseason poll are Matt Mariacher and Ganbayar Sanjaa. Mariacher is ranked third at 141 lbs. after posting a 19-5 record in open competition last season. Sanjaa ranks fifth at 149 lbs. in his first season with the Eagles. Sanjaa, a 2009 NJCAA National Champion and 2010 National Finalist, is entering his junior season after transferring from Colby Community College.
American will open its 2010-11 season on Saturday, Nov. 6, at the Pentagon Duals where they will face Army and Franklin and Marshall. The Eagles remain on the road at the Brockport Gold Tournament on Nov. 13, the Keystone Classic on Nov. 21 and the Northeast Duals on Nov. 27. The Eagles' first match in Bender Arena will take place on Dec. 19 against Old Dominion at 1:00 p.m.
