Updated Brackets

Team Standings

Session II Recap

March 21, 2008

St. Louis, Mo. - Defending 197 lbs. NCAA National Champion Josh Glenn secured his third-consecutive All-America honor with a 10-5 decision early Friday and with the win advanced to the semifinals of the 2008 NCAA Wrestling Championships in St. Louis, Mo. Glenn can now finish no lower than sixth place at this year's championships while 165 lbs. 10th seed Mike Cannon, who lost his first match of the tournament Friday morning, will have to win his first wrestleback match this evening to secure at least an eighth-place finish and his first All-America honor.

Glenn continued his title defense and secured his third-consecutive All-America honor with a 10-5 decision over eighth seed Craig Brester from Nebraska. Glenn and Brester finished the first period in a scoreless tie but Glenn quickly got on the board in the second. Beginning on top, Glenn rode Brester for the entire period and scored three sets of back points to take a 6-0 lead into the third. Glenn again began on top in the third but this time gave up two points to Brester on a reversal. With a 6-2 lead, Glenn escaped from Brester and quickly turned to score a takedown, moving his lead to 9-2. Brester then went on to score three points but with riding time advantage, Glenn took the decision, 10-5.

Glenn's victory advances him to the championship semifinals which will take place during session IV this evening beginning at 6 p.m. central time. Glenn's semifinal opponent is fourth seed Wynn Michalak from Central Michigan who defeated fifth seed Max Askren from Missouri in the quarterfinals, 5-4. Glenn and Michalak have not met this year as Glenn was out of the AU lineup when the two teams met at the Northeast Duals in November. A win over Michalak will earn Glenn a second-consecutive berth into the NCAA Championships finals.

Glenn's appearance in the championship semifinals guarantees that he will finish no lower than sixth at this year's championships and secures him his third-consecutive All-America honor. Glenn is American's only winner of multiple All-American awards after placing fourth as a sophomore at 184 lbs. and winning the NCAA National Championship last year as a junior at 197 lbs.

Cannon's championship bid ended during Friday's morning session as he was pinned by second seed Mark Perry from Iowa at 0:47. Cannon came out of the chute quickly, getting in on Perry's leg and nearly locking in a cradle but Perry rolled through it and put Cannon in a cradle of his own. After fighting for several seconds, Cannon's shoulders finally hit the mat and the match was called at 0:47.

Cannon is still alive in the tournament despite the loss and can still place as high as third in the wrestlebacks. Cannon will be back in action this evening against unseeded Luke Manuel from Purdue in the fourth consolation round. Manuel advanced into Friday's evening session with a 4-0 decision over West Virginia's Donald Jones and a 4-3 tie break victory over twelfth seed Jarrod King from Edinboro. If Cannon defeats Manuel he will wrestle a second consolation match during the evening session and will assure himself no worse than an eighth-place finish and his first All-America honor.

After session III, AU is in 26th place in the team standings with 14 points. Iowa sits at the top of the standings with 67 points and holds a comfortable lead over Nebraska and Oklahoma who are tied for second with 47.5 points a piece.

Eagles fans, please remember that this evening's session IV can be seen live on ESPNU and ESPN360.com beginning at 6 p.m. central time. ESPNU and ESPN360.com will bring all the action of both session IV and the championships medal round beginning Saturday morning at 10 a.m. central time into your home before ESPN broadcasts the finals round live beginning at 7:30 central time tomorrow night.