March 16, 2007
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - For the second straight year the American University wrestling team will have two quarterfinalists in the NCAA Championship Tournament. Sophomore Rudy Rueda had the biggest win of his career in upsetting the No. 4 seed and No. 2 seed Josh Glenn took care of business in his match.
Before the tournament Rueda said he'd like to face a high-seed early so he could knock them out of the championship round. Friday night he got his chance and took advantage, scoring a takedown in the final 15 seconds to defeat No. 4 seed James Yonushonis of Penn State 3-1 and advance to the quarterfinals. The win was by far the biggest of the young Eagles' career as Yonushonis was a returning All-American.
"I think Rueda wrestled to his ability," head coach Mark Cody said. "Rudy has the same strategy of [Yonushonis] and w tried to take advantage of it. This is one of the first times he's really turned it on outside of a few dual meets. We told him all year long he can be an All-American."
Fellow quarterfinalist Glenn shut down Patrick Bond's offense and used tough riding and a reversal to the 3-0 win. The pair went scoreless through the first period. Glenn started the second on top and stayed there, riding out Bond the entire two minutes. In the third Glenn chose down and slipped from under Bond's grasp and scored a reversal for the 2-0 lead with riding time, which he built up to more than three minutes. "Josh did a good job with Bond because he's a really solid wrestler and a great athlete," Cody said. "It's good preparation for tomorrow."
At 165, Mike Cannon saw his championship round run end due to the tough riding by Deonte Penn of Edinboro as he fell by major decision, 12-2. Cannon scored a takedown in the second period, but was already down more than five points with riding time in favor of his opponent.
True freshman Kyle Borshoff's tournament ended in a 8-7 loss in overtime to No. 10 seed Kyle Ruschell of Wisconsin in the first round of consolations. Borshoff and Ruschell went back and forth throughout the match and it came down to the first tiebreaker where the Badger was able to hold Borshoff down for the entire 30 seconds. Borshoff could not keep Ruschell on the mat and was forced to try and score a takedown in short time. He could not and had to settle with the 8-7 loss.
"He had two very highly touted guys," Cody said, "and he was right with them. He has the character and ability to get on the podium next year. He's solid, he's a right side up wrestler and he's in there with everyone. He's capable of doing big things next year."
The road gets tougher here for AU's grapplers. Glenn will face No. 7 Charles Brester from Nebraska and Rueda will face No. 5 Eric Luedke as both hope to reach the semifinals. Mike Cannon is set to wrestle Bryan Tice of Cal-State Fullerton in wrestlebacks. He'll need to win three straight matches, including two Friday morning to make the All-American round.
American, currently in 27th-place, returns to the mat for session three tomorrow morning at 11 a.m.
