Feb. 3, 2008

WASHINGTON - The American University wrestling team dropped its final home dual meet of the year Sunday afternoon, 31-12, to No. 22 Old Dominion. Senior No. 1 Josh Glenn ended his career inside of Bender Arena with a 4-2 decision for the 102nd win of his career.

Due to an injury, AU was unable to wrestle at the starting weight of 125 lbs. and began the dual with a forfeit to No. 12 James Nicholson.

Freshman Matt Mariacher then took the mat at 133 lbs. against No. 18 Kyle Hatter, marking the fifth time this season that Mariacher has wrestled a ranked opponent. Mariacher was unable to score any offensive points against Hatter and lost an 8-2 decision.

AU scored its first "W" of the day at 141 lbs. as Kyle Borshoff upset No. 18 Ryan Williams. Borshoff took his first lead in the first period with a takedown of Williams and broke a 2-2 tie in the second with a counter move off a Williams shot. Borshoff began the third frame down with a 4-2 lead and escaped from Williams to move the score to 5-2 where it would stay.

The win was Borshoff's 18th of the year and his first against a ranked opponent.

Chris Clarke was unable to build on the momentum created by Borshoff and lost by tech-fall, 28-10, to Kaylen Baxter at 149 lbs.

Christopher Stout won a back and forth battle with Dan Rivera at 157 lbs. as AU attempted to keep the team scores within reach. Stout scored a takedown at 2:02 for a 2-0 lead but had his advantage cut in half when a dangerous maneuver penalty was called against him. A second dangerous maneuver penalty called against Stout early in the second tied the score at 2. Rivera took his first lead in the match, 3-2, with a last second escaped as he slipped from Stout's hold as he attempted to score back points. Stout began the third down but was cut by Rivera because of his riding time advantage to retie the score, 3-3. Stout fended off Rivera's attack throughout the period and with under 30 seconds remaining, Stout caught Rivera and scored a takedown. With riding time advantage, Stout took the decision, 6-3.

Stout improved to 15-9 overall with the win and has now won his last three matches.

No. 7 Mike Cannon gave AU a two-bout win streak with a 5-3 decision over No. 18 Chris Brown at 165 lbs. Cannon jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a takedown just 22 seconds into the first but Brown escaped before the one-minute mark and the two grapplers took a 2-1 score into round two. Cannon began the second on top and rode Brown for the entire period, racking up 2:34 of riding time heading into the third. Brown cut Cannon to begin the third which moved the score to 3-1 and after an exciting period in which both wrestlers refused to give an inch to the other Cannon came away on top with a 5-3 decision.

Cannon is now 18-3 on the season and 2-1 against ranked opponents.

The Eagles winning streak was short lived as Jonathon Powell lost by tech-fall, 15-0, to Nick Pullano and Andy Semple was pinned by Jesse Strawn in the second period.

After celebrating his historic four-year career with a pre-meet senior day celebration, Glenn returned the mat in Bender Arena for the final time against David Mendoza. Glenn and Mendoza used much of the first period to feel each other out and went into the second locked in a scoreless tie. The tie was finally broken early in the second when Glenn connected on a shot at 3:13. The defending National Champion remained in control of Mendoza for the duration of the period and took a 2-0 advantage into the third and final frame. Starting in the down position, Glenn quickly escaped Mendoza's hold to up his advantage to 3-0. With under one minute remaining in the match, Glenn was caught by a Mendoza shot which brought the score to within one, 3-2, but after Mendoza was forced to cut Glenn the senior held off his opponent for the 4-2 decision.

The win improves Glenn to 11-0 overall this year and 7-0 in dual meets. Glenn has now won 34 consecutive matches dating back to December of 2006 and is the third winningest wrestler in AU history with 102 for his career.

The dual wrapped up at heavyweight where Andy Totusek pinned Brooks Keefer late in the first period.

The Eagles will be back in action next Sunday, Feb. 10, against Rutgers in New Brunswick, N.J.

ODU 31, AU 12

125 - No. 12 James Nicholson (ODU) def. AU, Forfeit

133 - No. 18 Kyle Hatter (ODU) def. Matt Mariacher (AU) , Dec. 8-2

141 - Kyle Borshoff (AU) def. No. 18 Ryan Williams (ODU), Dec. 5-2

149 - Kaylen Baxter (ODU) def. Chris Clarke (AU), Tech-fall 28-10 (6:30)

157 - Christopher Stout (AU) def. Dan Rivera (ODU), Dec. 6-3

165 - No. 7 Mike Cannon (AU) def. No. No. 18 Chris Brown (ODU), Dec. 5-3

174 - Nick Pallano (ODU) def. Jonathon Powell (AU), Tech-fall 15-0 (2:14)

184 - Jesse Strawn (ODU) def. Andy Semple (AU), Fall (3:48)

197 - No. 1 Josh Glenn (AU) def. David Mendoza (ODU), Dec. 4-2

HWT - Andy Totusek (ODU) def. Brooks Keefer (AU), Fall (2:52)