Replay of the AUeagles.com Live Blog from Ithaca
The No. 10 American University wrestling team competed in the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals in Ithaca. N.Y., Sunday afternoon where the Eagles split their two duals, which included the program's first-ever victory over Central Michigan.
No. 1 heavyweight Ryan Flores shined with two falls on the day, pinning Oklahoma's Kyle Colling at the 4:53 mark. He backed that up with a pin against No. 17 Peter Sturgeon of Central Michigan at 2:09. Flores is now 12-0 this year with nine pins.
No. 3 Ganbayar Sanjaa also recorded two victories in as many bouts, including a fall against No. 15 Matt Lester of Oklahoma at the 3:38 mark. Sanjaa is 17-2 this year with three pins, three major decisions, and a technical fall.
In the first round matchup for American (7-7), No. 21 Oklahoma (14-3) won eight of 10 bouts to earn the 35-12 victory. The Sooners, led by former AU Head Coach Mark Cody, earned six bonus point victories. Flores and Sanjaa recorded the only wins for AU against the Sooners, which are ranked No. 12 in the NWCA/USA Today dual meet poll.
But the Eagles bounced back with an impressive performance against Central Michigan (13-7), earning a 25-16 victory over the No. 25-ranked dual meet squad according to the NWCA/USA Today. AU won six of the 10 bouts, led by Flores' pin and No. 14 Matt Mariacher's major decision at 141 lbs. With the dual tied at 16, No. 19 Daniel Mitchell provided a key decision and that was followed by Flores' fall to set the final score in AU's favor. This triumph marks the first-ever dual meet win for American over Central Michigan.
Click here for the replay of AUeagles.com's first-ever live wrestling blog, which takes you through the full day's action as it unfolded from Ithaca. Over 200 readers joined the blog during its four-hour run, which featured nearly 100 reader comments from AU wrestling fans.
American levels its dual meet record at 7-7 on the season with one dual match remaining, which will take place next Sunday, Febuary 19 at 2 p.m. against No. 18 Virginia Tech. A live video broadcast will be available on Eagles Vision TV and prior to the match, AU's senior student-athletes will be honored.
No. 21 Oklahoma, 35, No. 10 American 12
125 – No. 9 Jarrod Patterson (Oklahoma) pins
Chris Brienza (American), 2:34; Oklahoma leads 6-0
133 – No. 10 Jordan Keller (Oklahoma) tech. fall
Corey Borshoff (American), 23-8 (4:19), Oklahoma leads 11-0
141 – No. 3 Kendric Maple dec. No. 14
Matt Mariacher (American), 9-2; Oklahoma leads 14-0
149 – No. 13 Nick Lester (Oklahoma) dec.
Kevin Tao (American), 7-2; Oklahoma leads 17-0
157 – No. 3
Ganbayar Sanjaa (American) pins No. 15 Matt Lester (Oklahoma), 3:38; Oklahoma leads 17-6
165 – No. 20
Patrick Graham (Oklahoma) tech. fall
Mark Cirello (American), 26-11 (6:59); Oklahoma leads 21-6
174 – Kyle Detmer (Oklahoma) pins
Phillip Barreiro (American), 2:33; Oklahoma leads 27-6
184 – Erich Schmidtke (Oklahoma) major dec.
Thomas Barreiro (American), 17-7; Oklahoma leads 31-6
197 – Keldrick Hall (Oklahoma) major dec. No. 19
Daniel Mitchell (American), 14-5; Oklahoma leads 35-6
285 – No. 1
Ryan Flores (American) pins Kyle Colling (Oklahoma), 4:53; Oklahoma wins 35-12
No. 10 American 25, Central Michigan 16
125 – Chris Brienza (American) wins by default; American leads 6-0
133 – Tyler Keselring (Central Michigan) tech. fall
Corey Borshoff (American), 16-1 (6:00); American leads 6-5
141 – No. 14
Matt Mariacher (American) major dec. Scott Mattingly (Central Michigan), 17-6; American leads 10-5
149 – Kevin Tao (American) dec. Joey Kielbasa (Central Michigan), 4-0; American leads 13-5
157 – No. 3
Ganbayar Sanjaa (American) dec. Donnie Corby (Central Michigan), 3-2; American leads 16-5
165 – Mike Ottinger (Central Michigan) major dec.
Mark Cirello (American), 10-1; American leads 16-9
174 – Anthony Bill (Central Michigan) dec.
Phillip Barreiro (American), 7-3; American leads 16-12
184 – No. 4 Ben Bennett (Central Michigan) major dec.
Thomas Barreiro (American), 16-5; Tied 16-16
197 – No. 19
Daniel Mitchell (American) dec. Craig Kelliher (Central Michigan), 7-2; American leads 19-16
285 – No. 1
Ryan Flores (American) pins No. 17 Peter Sturgeon (Central Michigan), 2:09; American wins 25-16
