Feb. 10, 2008

New Brunswick, N.J. - The American University wrestling team lost to Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association foe Rutgers Sunday afternoon, 28-13, at the College Ave. Gym in New Brunswick, N.J. AU logged four individual victories including a major decision by No. 7 Mike Cannon in the loss but was overcome by two forfeits.

AU began the match with a forfeit at 125 lbs. to Ryan Fikslin as Jasen Borshoff, AU's starting 125 pounder, was out of the lineup due to a minor injury. With the forfeit, Rutgers took an early 6-0 advantage in the team scores.

Matt Mariacher was the first Eagle to take the mat on Sunday against Dan Hilt in the 133 lbs. bout. Neither wrestler was able to score in the first period despite exchanging shots throughout the frame and the two went into the second period deadlocked, 0-0. Mariacher was first to get on the board in round two as he scored two points for a reversal from his down starting position. Mariacher maintained his advantage over Hilt for the remainder of the period and took a 2-0 lead into the third. Hilt chose to begin the third neutral and Mariacher took advantage, scoring a takedown near the 6:00 mark. Mariacher scored a second takedown with approximately 20 seconds remaining in the match to win by a final score of 7-1 with riding time.

Mariacher improves to 13-10 overall with the win and is 4-1 against EIWA opponents.

No. 20 Kyle Borshoff fell behind Steve Adamcsik early at 141 lbs. and found himself trailing, 4-1, two minutes into the match. With 30 seconds remaining in the first, K. Borshoff rolled out of Adamcsik's hold and scored a reversal to cut his deficit to one, 4-3. K. Borshoff chose to being the second period down and scored a second reversal to take his first lead in the match, 5-4, and rode Adamcsik out for the remainder of the period. The grapplers began the third period on their feet where K. Borshoff was able to gain control of Adamcsik's leg and used the leverage to score a takedown. With a bonus point for advantage time, K. Borshoff took the match, 8-4, and tied the team score at six apiece.

K. Borshoff improves to 19-6 overall with the win and has now won his last seven matches.

Jack Barrett defeated Chris Clarke at 149 lbs. by major decision, 10-2, to regain the lead in the team scores for the Scarlet Knights, 10-6.

In a match that came down to the wire, 157 pounder Christopher Stout sprinted out of the gate against Chris Norell and took a 9-0 lead over the Scarlet Knight just two minutes in. Stout scored a takedown very early on to take the initial lead and used three sets of back points to widen the gap. Stout deferred his choice in the second period and began the period down. Despite his dominance in round one, Stout had trouble in the second and allowed Norell to score several back points of his own. Stout began the third period on top leading 10-6 but the score was quickly tied at 12 when Norell hit a reversal and scored more back points. Stout regained the lead, 14-12, with 25 seconds remaining in the bout on a reversal and rode out the remaining time on the clock to earn the decision and bring AU to within one in the team scores, 10-9.

Stout's overall record now stands at 20-10 on the year with wins coming in each of his last four matches.

Cannon hit a takedown early in the first period of his 165 lbs. match to take a 2-0 lead over Matt Pletcher and then used a cradle to score three back points as time wound down in the period. Leading 5-0 at the beginning of round two, Cannon moved his advantage to 6-0 with an escape from his defensive starting position. Cannon combined his escape with a quick takedown on the edge of the mat for an 8-0 lead before the period's midway point. Cannon further extended his lead with a takedown at the 6:15 mark and with a bonus point for advantage time won the match by major decision, 11-1. AU took the lead in the team scores for the first time with the victory, 13-10.

Rutgers won the next two bouts with a tech-fall at 174 lbs. and major decision at 184 lbs. The two victories put AU behind in the team score, 19-13, and secured a team victory for the Scarlet Knights.

Andy Semple, wrestling for No. 1 Josh Glenn at 197 lbs., went into the second period of his match locked in a 2-2 tie with Lamar Brown. Brown went ahead for good in the second period though with an escape and takedown and won the bout by decision, 9-3.

AU did not wrestle at heavyweight, forfeiting instead to Karim Mahmoud. The forfeit moved the final team scores to 28-13 in favor of Rutgers.

The Eagles will take the mat again on Wednesday as they travel to College Park, Md., for a dual with Maryland scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Rutgers 28, AU 13

125 - Ryan Fikslin (RU) def. AU, Forfeit

133 - Matt Mariacher (AU) def. Dan Hilt (RU), Dec. 7-1

141 - No. 20 Kyle Borshoff (AU) def. Steve Adamcsik (RU), Dec. 8-4

149 - Jack Barrett (RU) def. Chris Clarke (AU), Major Dec. 10-2

157 - Christopher Stout (AU) def. Chris Norell (RU), Dec. 14-12

165 - No. 7 Mike Cannon (AU) def. Matt Pletcher (RU), Major Dec. 11-1

174 - Mike Whalen (RU) def. Jonathon Powell (AU), Tech-Fall 16-0 (5:07)

184 - Keith Dobish (RU) def. Brooks Keefer (AU), Major Dec. 15-4

197 - Lamar Brown (RU) def. Andy Semple (AU), Dec. 9-3

HWT - Karim Mahmoud (RU) def. AU, Forfeit