WASHINGTON - The final home match of the season has American University wrestling hosting Bucknell (7-4, 6-1) at noon on Sunday, Feb. 9. The Eagles (3-6, 3-4) will be celebrating Senior Day prior to the match as well as Mike Cannon Day at intermission.
SENIOR DAY
- AU's only senior this season is a one-year Eagle, Sal Profaci, who's making a huge impact.
- Profaci is a transfer from the University of Michigan where he earned his bachelor's degree in communications and was an NCAA qualifier.
- He was voted as a team captain at AU after just a short time with the program, and his leadership has been exceptional both on and off the mat.
- He went 12-1 to start the season, winning the AU Round Robin, placing second at the Patriot Open and taking third at Battle at The Citadel.
- Sal's current record is 23-6 after recording an outstanding 8-1 mark in dual meets.
- With 10 wins by major decision, he not only leads the Eagles but already ranks fourth all-time in program history for a single season.
- He's currently working toward his master's degree from the Kogod School of Business.
MIKE CANNON DAY
- Three-time All-American Mike Cannon (2005-10) finished a storied career with 122 wins, the second-most in program history.
- He earned three top-eight finishes at the NCAA Championships in three different weight classes, placing sixth as a sophomore, eighth as a junior and third as a senior.
- He was the 2008 Midlands Champion, a two-time EIWA Champion and qualified for the NCAA Championships in all four years of his career.
- Off the mat, Cannon was a three-time NWCA Academic All-American and was named the 2010 American University Male Senior Student-Athlete of the Year.
- He earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from the Kogod School of Business.
- Cannon will be inducted with the Class of 2020 into the Stafford H. "Pop" Cassell Hall of Fame on February 8.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
- The Eagles are coming off an exciting, 18-15 win vs. Binghamton that came down to the last bout on Feb. 1.
- AU earned wins in six of 10 weight classes against both Binghamton and Navy last weekend, but fell 24-21 to the Midshipmen.
- Four AU wrestlers are ranked in the NCAA Coaches Panel Top 25, led by redshirt junior Kizhan Clarke, currently at No. 7 in the 149-pound weight class.
- Redshirt junior Tanner Harvey is No. 23 (184), redshirt junior Gage Curry is No. 24 (125) and redshirt senior Sal Profaci is No. 26 (141).
- Clarke has a record of 32-3, the most wins of any wrestler in DI. He has four titles to his name this season, has posted an 8-1 mark in dual meets and took fifth place at the prestigious Midlands Championships at the end of December.
- With his 32 wins already this season, Clarke is tied for 11th all-time in a single season at AU. His 15 career major decision victories rank in a tie for 10th all-time in program history, and his six career technical falls are tied for 10th all-time.
- Profaci is 10-0 in major decisions to lead the team and rank fourth all-time in a single season in program history.
AU PROBABLE LINEUP
- 125 | #24 Gage Curry, R-Jr. (23-7, 7-2)
- 133 | Joshua Vega, Fr. (5-10, 0-2)
- 141 | #26 Sal Profaci, R-Sr. (23-6, 8-1)
- 149 | #7 Kizhan Clarke, R-Jr. (32-3, 8-1)
- 157 | Ethan Karsten, R-Jr. (12-11, 1-5) / Elijah Murphy, R-Jr. (1-5, 1-1)
- 165 | Tim Fitzpatrick, R-Fr. (10-12, 4-3) / Anthony Wokasch, R-Jr. (5-8, 0-2)
- 174 | Conner Allshouse, R-Jr. (6-10, 1-2) / Connor Bourne, Fr. (2-11, 0-1) / Ben Root, So. (9-13, 0-5)
- 184 | #23 Tanner Harvey, R-Jr. (18-6, 5-4)
- 197 | William Jarrell, Fr. (5-20, 0-9)
- 285 | Niko Camacho, R-So. (14-10, 4-5)
SCOUTING THE BISON
- Bucknell is 7-4 (6-1 EIWA) in 2019-20 dual action, most recently defeating Franklin & Marshall (36-3) and falling to No. 8 North Carolina (9-25) last week on the road.
- The Bison's victory over the Diplomats was their fifth in a row and fourth in which they won nine of 10 bouts against their opponent; in their past four EIWA duals, they have taken 36 of 40 dual bouts.
- Ranked No. 17 at 165 in the NCAA Coaches Panel, sophomore Zach Hartman has an overall record of 20-6 and a perfect 9-0 mark in dual meets.
- Also nationally ranked (#28 at 197) is senior Drew Phipps who leads the team with a record of 22-5 overall and 10-1 in duals.
- Bucknell leads the all-time series with American, 21-6-1, but the Eagles are currently riding a two-match win streak.
- American edged Bucknell 22-21 last season in a back-and-forth dual that came down to the final bout.
BUCKNELL PROBABLE LINEUP
- 125 | Geo Barzona (12-9) / Brandon Seidman (11-12)
- 133 | Darren Miller (16-10)
- 141 | David Campbell (8-11)
- 149 | Matthew Kolonia (14-5)
- 157 | Jaden Fisher (19-16)
- 165 | #17 Zach Hartman (20-6) / Vincent Andreano (12-13)
- 174 | Mitch Hartman (13-9)
- 184 | Kyle Inlander (9-11)
- 197 | #28 Drew Phipps (22-5)
- 285 | Brandon Stokes (6-6) / Eric Chakonis (3-8)
TICKETS
- For tickets to AU Wrestling, click HERE.
FOLLOW ALONG
