March 8, 2008
Lancaster, Pa. - The American University wrestling team won five bouts on the first morning of the 104th Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Tournament on the campus of Franklin & Marshall. No. 6 Mike Cannon and Matt Mariacher earned first period falls to advance to lead AU into the second round.
125-pounder Jasen Borshoff was the first Eagle to wrestle and comfortably controlled his match against Rutgers' Mike Memarco from the get-go. Borshoff held a 2-0 advantage after the first period and continued to roll after that point, winning by decision, 5-1. Borshoff now faces Brandon Kinney from Columbia.
Mariacher opened his first EIWA Tournament at 133 lbs. in a memorable fashion, earning a first period fall against Dan Hilt from Rutgers. The two wrestlers began the match slow, feeling each other out with head fakes and hand fighting. With one minute remaining in the period Mariacher used a half-nelson to score a takedown of Hilt and turned him to earn the fall just before the buzzer at 2:59. Mariacher's next opponent will be top seeded Mike Grey from Cornell.
Kyle Borshoff made it three in a row for AU as he took a decision over Joey Breen from Navy at 141 lbs. K. Borshoff and Breen went into the third period tied at 3 and with the decision K. Borshoff chose to begin down. K. Borshoff escaped from underneath Breen midway through the period and with the riding time advantage he had built up in the first and second periods took the decision, 5-3. K. Borshoff will now face Bucknell's Luke Chohany.
157-pounder Christopher Stout earned a major decision over Brown's Thomas Fazio for American's fourth win of the morning session. Stout controlled the match from the beginning and held a 4-0 advantage heading into the third period. Stout began the third down and scored a reversal to go up by six and scored several takedowns in the remaining time to win by major decision with a 13-5 margin. Stout's next opponent is top seeded Jordan Leen from Cornell.
Cannon was the final Eagle to earn a victory Saturday morning, pinning Army's Christopher Grill in the first period. Cannon scored a takedown and nearfall midway through the period then used a cradle to turn Grill to his back for the pin at 2:30. Cannon will next face Mike Galante from Lehigh.
After a break in the action for lunch, the 104th EIWA Tournament will continue with Session II at 1:30 p.m.
