Feb. 15, 2009

WASHINGTON - The American University wrestling team lost its final dual meet of the season to Bucknell on Saturday, 19-17, in Bender Arena. The Eagles and Bison each won five weight classes but bonus point victories gave Bucknell the edge. No. 2 Mike Cannon improved to 26-0 on the year with a 6-0 decision at 174 lbs.

Bucknell staked itself to an early lead with wins at both the 125 lbs. and 133 lbs. weight class. Derek Reber took a 5-2 decision against Thomas Williams to open the dual meet and David Marble followed that up with a 14-5 major decision over Jasen Borshoff.

Trailing 7-0 in the team scores, Matt Mariacher pulled AU to within four with his 9-5 decision at 141 lbs. against Adam Healey. Mariacher went on top early with a first period leg sweet and built 1:38 of riding time before the period expired. Mariacher then pushed his lead to 5-0 with an escape and takedown in the second and led 7-2 heading into the third. Healey got to within two points of Mariacher, 7-5, as he was cut on the opening whistle and then scored a takedown. Mariacher was able to escape Healey though and with riding time advantage took the decision, 9-5.

Kevin LeValley upset No. 12 Kyle Borshoff at 149 lbs. by a score of 4-1, putting the Bison back on top by seven. 157-pounder Patrick Graham scored a 5-4 victory over Scott Sechler to pull American back to within four, 10-6. Graham fell behind in the first period 2-0 but scored a quick escape to open the second to cut his deficit to 2-1. Sechler scored a second take down in the second period but Graham evened the score up at four with an escape and take down of his own. Graham began the third period on top and was able to ride Sechler out, giving him the bonus point for riding time and the victory, 5-4.

At 165 lbs. No. 13 Andy Rendos defeated Christopher Stout by technical fall, 19-2, at the 6:19 mark to give Bucknell a 15-6 cushion.

Cannon, ranked second in every individual poll this past week at 174 lbs., kept the Eagles hopes alive with a 6-0 victory over Shane Riccio. With just under one minute remaining in the first period Cannon scored his first points of the match with a low single-leg take down. Riccio chose to begin the second period down but could not escape as Cannon built up 2:57 of riding time. Cannon then began the third period down and scored a reversal to move the score to 4-0. A late stalling call on Riccio and a bonus point for riding time put the final score at 6-0 in favor of Cannon.

An 8-0 major decision for David Thompson over Andy Semple at 184 lbs. put Bucknell ahead by nine heading into the final two bouts, 19-9.

Andrew Silber narrowed the Bison's advantage with a 16-3 major decision against Nathan Jones at 197 lbs. Silber scored the first points in the match with a take down off a scramble and kept Jones down for the remainder of the period to build 1:21 of riding time. The wrestlers began the second period neutral and Silber quickly scored on a single leg and turned Jones for three back points to take a 7-0 lead. Silber closed out the period on top and took 2:43 of riding time into the third. Silber scored a reversal from his down starting position in the final period and earned three more back points to push his advantage to 12-1. Jones closed his deficit slightly with a reversal but Silber got those points back with an escape and counter shot to go ahead 15-3. With riding time advantage, Silber took the bout by a score of 16-3.

Needing a fall to tie the team scores, Quinton Pruett did all he could to turn Rob Waltko but ran out of time and instead took an 11-2 major decision. Pruett scored very quickly in the first with a single leg shot off the opening whistle. Once in control, Pruett was given very little to work with from Waltko and took a 3-0 lead into the second after a stalling call. Pruett chose to begin the second neutral and scored again on a single leg. The senior would take Waltko down once more in the period and held a 7-1 advantage heading into the third. The wrestlers again started neutral in the third and Waltko was hit with another stalling call before Pruett could do anything. Pruett did take down Waltko once more before time expired for the 11-2 major decision but he could not get the fall needed to even the team scores.

American closes out its dual meet schedule with an 11-6 record and a 4-2 mark in the EIWA. The Eagles will now begin preparations for the EIWA Tournament which will be held March 7-8 at the famed Palestra on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania.

Bucknell 19, AU 17
125 - Derek Reber (BU) dec. Thomas Williams (AU), 5-2, 0-3
133 - David Marble (BU) maj. dec. Jasen Borshoff, 14-5, 0-7
141 - Matt Mariacher (AU) dec. Adam Healey (BU), 9-5, 3-7
149 - Kevin LeValley (BU) dec. No. 12 Kyle Borshoff (AU), 4-1, 3-10
157 - Patrick Graham (AU) dec. Scott Sechler (BU), 5-4, 6-10
165 - No. 13 Andy Rendos (BU) tech. fall Christopher Stout (AU), 19-2 (6:19), 6-15
174 - No. 2 Mike Cannon (AU) dec. Shane Riccio (BU), 6-0, 9-15
184 - David Thompson (BU) maj. dec. Andy Semple (AU), 8-0, 9-19
197 - Andrew Silber (AU) maj. dec. Nathan Jones (BU), 16-3, 13-19
HWT - Quinton Pruett (AU) maj. dec. Rob Waltko (BU), 11-2, 17-19