WASHINGTON - After nearly a month without a competition, American University wrestling will return in a big way wtih three duals scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 17 at the Chippewa Challenge hosted by Central Michigan University. The Eagles will face CSU Bakersfield at 11 a.m., host CMU at 1 p.m. and Campbell at 3 p.m. American's dual with Central Michigan at 1 p.m. will be broadcast on ESPN+.

A Family Affair

• The Chippewa Challenge is bringing together both family and past teammates for a reunion in Mount Pleasant.
• First-year AU head coach Jason Borrelli is the son of CMU head coach Tom Borrelli, a 13-time MAC Coach of the Year. Jason wrestled for his dad and is a 2005 graduate of Central Michigan.
• Jason was a MAC champion for CMU at 133 pounds as a junior. 
• Campbell head coach Scotti Sentes is a 2013 graduate of Central Michigan, and CSU Bakersfield head coach Luke Smith is a 2008 CMU graduate.
• Both Sentes and Smith were two-time MAC champions at CMU. Sentes was also a two-time All-American.
• Assistant coaches for both Campbell and Central Michigan are also graduates of Tom Borrelli's CMU teams.

Series Histories

• AU has faced Central Michigan six times, the last in 2011, but came up short in all six meetings.
• The Chippewas were ranked in the first three matchups, as high as #9 in 2007.
• The Eagles are 6-0 all-time vs. Campbell (2006 to 2017) and won their only meeting vs. CSU Bakersfield in 2012.

American Notes

• The Eagles are halfway through their schedule and earned their first win of the season on Dec. 5, beating Duke 22-18.
• The Eagles are under new leadership with head coach Jason Borrelli in his first season after 13 years at Stanford. Borrelli is the son of CMU coach Tom Borrelli, and is also a 2005 graduate of CMU and was the MAC champion at 133 pounds as a junior.
• American was slated to face #7 Ohio State on January 3, but the match was canceled due to a snowstorm in DC. The Eagles' scheduled appearance at the F&M Open on Jan. 7 was canceled due to COVID health & safety protocols.
• Five wrestlers earned placewinner finishes at the Bearcat Open on Nov. 14, led by Isaac Righter (285) who took second. Four Eagles were placewinners at the Navy Classic on Nov. 20, all taking fifth (Andy Fallon at 125, Patrick Ryan at 149, Tim Fitzpatrick at 165 and Colin Shannon at 174).
• American had just one placewinner at its most recent event, with freshman Max Leete taking sixth place by default at 125 pounds after reaching the NCAA daily limit of six matches.

American Probable Starters

• 125 - Max Leete (Fr.) 13-4
• 133 - Andy Fallon (So.) 11-7 or Jack Maida (Fr.) 7-6
• 141 - Ethan Szerencsits (So.) 8-11
• 149 - Patrick Ryan (RSo.) 14-9 or Ryan Zimmerman (So.) 3-6
• 157 - Elijah White (So.) 0-4 or Antonio Segura (Fr.) 9-10
• 165 - Breon Phifer (Fr.) 4-7
• 174 - Tim Fitzpatrick (RJr.) 10-9 or Ben Root (RJr.) 3-7
• 184 - Colin Shannon (RSr.) 4-8
• 197 - Carsten Rawls (Fr.) 4-9 or Connor Bourne (Jr.) 4-5
• HWT - Isaac Righter (So.) 9-8

CSU Bakersfield Probable Starters

• 125 - Eddie Flores
• 133 - #16 Chance Rich
• 141 - #27 Angelo Martinoni or Louie Ramos
• 149 - Josh Brown
• 157 - Brock Rogers
• 165 - Augustine Garcia
• 174 - Albert Urias
• 184 - Jacob Hansen
• 197 - Josh Loomer or Mateo Morales
• HWT - Jacob Sieder or Jake Andrews

Central Michigan Probable Starters

• 125 - Brock Bergelin or Sean Spidle
• 133 - Ja'Kerion Merritt or Vince Perez
• 141 - #13 Dresden Simon or Drew Marten
• 149 - #27 Corbyn Munson or Mason Breece
• 157 - #18 Johnny Lovett
• 165 - Tracey Hubbard or Alex Jacobs
• 174 - Bret Fedewa
• 184 - Ben Cushman
• 197 - Aaron Bolo or Cade Dallwitz
• HWT - #9 Matt Stencel

Campbell Probable Starters

• 125 - Korbin Meink, Zurich Storm or Anthony Molton
• 133 - Domenic Zaccone
• 141 - Shannon Hanna or Chris Rivera
• 149 - #9 Josh Heil
• 157 - Matthew Dallara or Jake Chisholm
• 165 - Troy Nation
• 174 - #18 Austin Murphy
• 184 - #25 Caleb Hopkins or Cameron Andrews
• 197 - Chris Kober or Levi Hopkins
• HWT - #25 Taye Ghadiali

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