Jan. 25, 2009

Photo Gallery

WASHINGTON - The American University wrestling team remained unbeaten in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association on Sunday with a 28-16 win over Columbia. A season-high 812 fans were in attendance at Bender Arena as part of AU's second annual Bender Takedown event. No. 3 Mike Cannon continued his dominance at 174 lbs. with a third period fall. No. 11 Kyle Borshoff earned a second period fall at 149 lbs.

The match began at 125 lbs. where freshman Thomas Williams took a 4-1 decision over Kyle Gilchrist. Williams went on top early in the match with a takedown and accrued two-plus minutes of riding time in the first period. Neither grappler was able to score in the second period after Gilchrist chose to begin neutral and Williams took a 2-0 lead into the third. Williams chose down in the third and scored quickly with an escape. Gilchrist scored one point on a stalling call against Williams but would not score again as Williams took the decision with riding time, 4-1.

Jasen Borshoff earned a 14-5 major decision against Andrew Grabfelder at 133 lbs. J. Borshoff scored a takedown 52 seconds into the match to take a 2-0 lead but Grabfelder was able to quickly reverse J. Borshoff to even the score at two. J. Borshoff scored an escape of his own and headed into the second with a slight advantage, 3-2. J. Borshoff began the second period down and escaped for a 4-2 lead. He then scored a takedown and three near fall points to go ahead 9-2. A second takedown by J. Borshoff in the period game him an 11-3 advantage heading into the third. After a Grabfelder escape to begin the period J. Borshoff hit a double-leg takedown to push his advantage to 13-4. With riding time, J. Borshoff took the bout by major decision, 14-5.

Matt Mariacher took to the mat next at 141 lbs. and was awarded the win by forfeit.

149-pounder K. Borshoff won his sixth-consecutive match with a second period fall over Matt Dunn. K. Borshoff hit a single-leg takedown 30 seconds into the match and rode Dunn for the remainder of the period. He then chose to being the second down and was awarded one stalling point to move the score to 3-0. K. Borshoff escaped Dunn after the stalling call and followed that up by finishing a shot and putting Dunn on his back for the fall at the 4:31 mark. With the win K. Borshoff improves to 18-3 on the year.

Columbia put their first points on the board at 157 lbs. when Derek Sickles took a 4-1 decision against Patrick Graham. Eren Civan followed that win up at 165 lbs. with a 15-6 major decision over Christopher Stout.

Cannon remained unbeaten on the year and improved his record to 20-0 with a third period fall over Mike Wolfer. The 174-pounder took a quick 5-0 lead on a single-leg takedown and three near fall points seconds into the match. Cannon then cut Wolfer off a restart and scored a second single leg and two more near fall points to go ahead 9-1. The wrestlers began the second period neutral and Cannon again scored quickly with a single leg and two near fall points. With a 13-1 lead, Cannon chose to begin the third period down and escaped for a 14-1 lead. A Wolfer double-leg takedown moved the score to 14-3 but Cannon quickly escaped for a 15-3 advantage. Cannon ended the match seconds later as he scored his fourth takedown of the match and rolled Wolfer to his back for the fall at 5:58.

Columbia earned its third win of the afternoon at 184 lbs. as Kenji Parker took a 6-1 decision over Andy Semple.

Andrew Silber earned a hard fought overtime decision against Lou Miller at 197 lbs. in the most dramatic match of the day. Neither wrestler scored in the first period and the two took a 0-0 tie into the second. Silber chose to begin the period down and escaped Miller for a 1-0 lead. Miller went on top shortly after with a single-leg takedown, 2-1, but Silber was able to escape before the period expired to retie the score at two. Miller chose bottom in the third and took his second lead of the match with an escape, 3-2. Silber attempted several shots to regain the lead but could not fully commit to any as Miller continuously backed away. Silber caught a break though with under 20 seconds remaining as Miller was hit with a stalling call which tied the match at three and sent it into overtime. Midway through the extra period Silber shot in on a single leg and was successful on the move to take the bout by a 5-3 decision.

The Lions won the final bout of the day at heavyweight as No. 14 Ryan Flores pinned Quinton Pruett at 3:34.

The win improves American to 8-3 overall on the year and 3-0 in the EIWA. The Eagles return to the mat this Saturday, Jan. 31, at Franklin & Marshall and will return home the following day, Sunday, Feb. 1, for a 1 p.m. dual against Binghamton. Olympic gold medalist Kevin Jackson will be on hand for the dual and will host a special youth clinic prior to the match. . Tickets to the Binghamton dual are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth under 17 and can be purchased online by clicking here.

American 28, Columbia 16
125 - Thomas Williams (AU) dec. Kyle Gilchrist (Col), 4-1, 3-0
133 - Jasen Borshoff (AU) maj. dec. Andrew Grabfelder (Col), 14-5, 7-0
141 - Matt Mariacher (AU) forfeit Columbia, forfeit, 13-0
149 - No. 11 Kyle Borshoff (AU) fall Matt Dunn (Col), 4:31, 19-0
157 - Derek Sickles (Col) dec. Patrick Graham (AU), 4-1, 19-3
165 - Eren Civan (Col) maj. dec. Christopher Stout (AU), 15-6, 19-7
174 - No. 3 Mike Cannon (AU) fall Mike Wolfer (Col), 5:58, 25-7
184 - Kenji Parker (Col) dec. Andy Semple (AU), 6-1, 25-10
197 - Andrew Silber (AU) dec. Lou Miller (Col), 5-3 OT, 28-10
HWT - No. 14 Ryan Flores (Col) fall Quinton Pruett (AU), 3:34, 28-16