Jan. 22, 2008

BUIES CREEK, N.C. - The American University wrestling team competed in two dual meets Tuesday evening in Buies Creek, N.C., splitting decisions with UNC Greensboro and Campbell University. AU first faced to the Spartans and dropped the decision, 23-17, after going into the final weight class tied. The Eagles rebounded quickly though and came back with an impressive 24-13 win over the Fighting Camels.

UNC Greensboro 23, AU 17

Jasen Borshoff earned a thrilling 10-8 decision over Mitchell Johnson to start Tuesday's action at 125 lbs. Trailing 4-3 to begin the second period, Borshoff took his first lead in the match with a takedown of Mitchell with only two seconds remaining in the period. Mitchell regained the lead in the third but with 40 seconds on the clock Borshoff escaped to even the score, 8-8. As time wound down, Borshoff made a last second shot in on Mitchell and gained control just as the buzzer sounded for the 10-8 victory.

Matt Mariacher began the third period of his 133 lbs. match with No. 19 Jeff Hedges tied, 2-2, but could not outlast the senior who earned a takedown and back points late in the period for an 8-2 win.

Kyle Borshoff began the second period against Ben Wilmore in the top position trailing 2-1 at 141 lbs. Unable to shake Wilmore's base, K. Borshoff rode his opponent for the entire period, stalemating the score at 2-1. Early in the third period, K. Borshoff tied the score with an escape and took his first lead of the match with the ensuing takedown, 4-2. Wilmore scored a reversal with 24 seconds left to tie the score at four but K. Borshoff quickly escaped and took Wilmore back down to earn the decision, 7-4.

UNC Greensboro evened the team scores up at six apiece with an 11-5 decision by Marcus Hannah over Chris Clarke at 149 lbs.

Christopher Stout earned the first bonus points of the night with a 10-2 major decision over Mark Ring at 157 lbs to put AU ahead by four, 10-6. Stout took control of the match in the first period by taking Ring down for an early 2-0 lead and accumulating 1:14 of riding time. Stout chose to begin the second period from the neutral position and proceeded to take Ring down twice while allowing him two escape points to increase his lead to 6-2. In the third, Stout quickly escaped from his down starting position and gained control of Ring after a brief scuffle on the edge of the mat. With more than enough advantage time accrued, Stout earned the major decision, 10-2.

No. 7 Mike Cannon extended the Eagles lead to 14-6 with AU's second-consecutive major decision, 10-2, over Byron Sigmon at 165 lbs. Cannon took a 2-1 advantage over Sigmon into the second period where he chose to begin in the down position. Cannon quickly scored a reversal and after riding Sigmon for several seconds used a cradle to score a three-point near fall and extend his lead to 7-2. In the third period, Cannon again started down and just like he did before scored a reversal to go ahead 9-2. Cannon remained in control of Sigmon for the remainder of the period and with his riding time advantage took the decision with bonus points, 10-2.

At 174 lbs., Mikal McKee earned a tech-fall over Jonathon Powell, 23-8, at the 6:02 mark to bring UNC Greensboro to within striking distance of AU in the team scores, 14-11. The Spartans then took the lead for the first time in the meet, 17-14, when Nick Clark pinned Andy Semple at 2:32 in the 184 lbs. match.

The night's most highly anticipated match between No. 1 Josh Glenn and No. 11 Daren Burns at 197 lbs. required all seven minutes of regulation time before it was decided, as Glenn scored a takedown and near fall with under 20 seconds remaining to seal the 100th victory of his career, 10-5. The two nationally ranked grapplers took a scoreless tie into the second period with Glenn starting on top. Burns earned the match's first lead with a reversal midway through the frame, 2-0, but after being brought back to the middle by the referee Glenn cut his deficit in half with an escape point. The score remained at 2-1 in favor of Burns heading into the third period where Glenn chose to begin down. The defending National Champion scored a reversal early in the period for his first lead of the evening, 3-2, but relinquished the lead when Burns scored his own reversal. Trailing 4-3, Glenn scored a second reversal to regain the lead before Burns evened the score at 5 with an escape. With 20 seconds remaining and both wrestlers in the neutral position, Glenn locked in a front bear hug on Burns and slammed him to the mat, scoring a takedown and three back points for the 10-5 win.

With the win, Glenn joins Marc Hoffer (125) and Chris Toth (105) as the only wrestlers in AU history to reach 100 career wins. Glenn's career record now stands at 100-12 overall and 52-8 in duals. Glenn is 9-0 this season and has won 33 straight matches dating back to December of 2006.

With the team scores tied, 17-17, Ryan Hsu pinned Brooks Keefer at the 3:54 mark of the heavyweight match to give UNC Greensboro six points and the victory, 23-17.

AU 24, Campbell 13

Borshoff again put AU on top after the first match with his second win of the night, 11-7, over C.J. Gittens at 125 lbs. Borshoff led for the entire bout after taking an early 2-0 lead over Gittens.

Mariacher rebounded from his loss earlier in the evening with an impressive 11-4 decision over Trevour Smith at 133 lbs. Mariacher took an early 4-1 lead in the match before Smith cut the deficit to just one with a reversal. Marciacher began the second period down and with an escape and ensuing takedown increased his advantage to 7-3. The freshman began the third period on top before rolling Smith to his back for a three-point nearfall and with riding time the match ended with Mariacher ahead, 11-4.

K. Borshoff made quick work of his 141 lbs. match with Ethan Carmody, scoring six team points for a fall and moving AU's advantage on the scoreboard to 12-0. K. Borshoff quickly jumped out to a 4-2 lead by scoring two takedowns and cutting Carmody loose. With his third shot K. Borshoff put Carmody on his back where he was defenseless and ended the match just 1:25 into the first.

Bob Matthews scored Campbell's first victory of the night with an 8-2 decision over Clarke at 149 lbs.

Stout won a close battle at 157 lbs. with Jake Fose, 6-4, in a match which came down to the wire. Stout scored two takedowns in the first period for a 4-2 lead heading into the second. Beginning in the down position, Stout earned an escape point but had his lead cut to just one, 5-4, when Fose hit a shot and scored a takedown. Stout again escaped to move the score to 6-4 where it would stay. The two wrestlers began the third period in the neutral position and traded blows but neither could gain control of the other. Fose made a last second effort to tie the score and landed his shot, but Stout maintained his hold on Fose's torso and finished out the bout with a 6-4 advantage.

Cannon moved American's lead in the team scores to 21-3 with a first period pin of Chris Mazzatta at 165 lbs. Cannon scored quickly with a takedown and maintained control over Mazzatta for over a minute. Using a cradle move for the second-consecutive match, Cannon managed to turn Mazzatta to his back where he worked him until pinning both of his shoulders to the mat at the 2:15 mark.

In another close battle, Matthew Hawksworth defeated Powell, 9-7, in sudden victory overtime at 174 lbs. Powell led for much of the match and took a 6-2 advantage into the third period, but the sophomore could not outlast Hawksworth who evened the score at the end of regulation and hit his first shot in overtime for the win.

Kyle Higgins defeated Semple by major decision, 21-10, at 184 lbs., closing the gap in the team scores to 21-10.

197 pounder Glenn secured the team victory for AU with an 8-4 decision over Parker Burns that moved the score to 24-10. For the second match in a row, Glenn went into the second period locked in a scoreless tie. Glenn quickly took advantage of the match in round two with two quick takedowns from the neutral position. Glenn again scored twice in the third and withstood a last minute barrage of shots by Burns to earn the decision, 8-4.

Glenn's victory over Burns was the 101st of his career and moves him one closer to Toth's career total of 105 which ranks second on AU's all-time wins list. Glenn is now 10-0 on the year and has won 34-consecutive matches dating back to December of 2006.

Keefer tied Rob Yoder, 1-1, with an escape in the third period of the heavyweight match, but could not outlast the senior who took home a 5-3 decision to end the meet with the final team scores at 24-13 in favor of AU.

The Eagles will be back in action on Feb. 3 as they play host to Old Dominion in their final home dual meet of the year. Tickets to the dual are still available but going fast. To purchase your tickets, call 202-885-TIXX, or click here.

UNC Greensboro 23, AU 17

125 - Jasen Borshoff (AU) def. Mitchell Johnson (UNCG), Dec. 10-8

133 - No. 19 Jeff Hedges (UNCG) def. Matt Mariacher, Dec. 8-2

141 - Kyle Borshoff (AU) def. Ben Wilmore (UNCG), Dec. 7-4

149 - Marcus Hannah (UNCG) def. Chris Clarke (AU), Dec. 11-5

157 - Christopher Stout (AU) def. Mark Ring (UNCG), Major Dec. 10-2

165 - No. 7 Mike Cannon (AU) def. Byron Sigmon (UNCG), Major Dec. 10-2

174 - Mikal McKee (UNCG) def. Jonathon Powell (AU), Tech-Fall 23-8 (6:02)

184 - Nick Clark (UNCG) def. Andy Semple (AU), Fall (2:32)

197 - No. 1 Josh Glenn (AU) def. No. 11 Daren Burns (UNCG), Dec. 10-5

HWT - Ryan Hsu (UNCG) def. Brooks Keefer (AU), Fall (3:54)

AU 24, Campbell 13

125 - Jasen Borshoff (AU) def. C.J. Gittens (CU), Dec. 11-7

133 - Matt Mariacher (AU) def. Trevour Smith (CU), Dec. 11-4

141 - Kyle Borshoff (AU) def. Ethan Carmody (CU), Fall (1:25)

149 - Bob Matthews (CU) def. Chris Clarke (AU), Dec. 8-2

157 - Christopher Stout (AU) def. Jake Fose (CU), Dec. 6-4

165 - No. 7 Mike Cannon (AU) def. Chris Mazzatta (CU), Fall (2:15)

174 - Matthew Hawksworth (CU) def. Jonathon Powell (AU), 9-7 SV

184 - Kyle Higgins (CU) def. Andy Semple (AU), Major Dec. 21-10

197 - No. 1 Josh Glenn (AU) def. Parker Burns (CU), Dec. 8-4

HWT - Rob Yoder (CU) def. Brooks Keefer (AU), Dec. 5-3