WASHINGTON - After a strong start to the season so far, the excitement continues for American University wrestling as the Eagles get set to host Michigan State in their home opener at 6 p.m. on Friday, November 18. It's the first of eight home dates for AU this season, and season tickets are available at AUEagles.com/Tickets.

Enhanced Concessions in Bender Arena

• AU Athletics has partnered with Gregorio's Trattoria to provide an enhanced concessions menu for all home wrestling matches this season in Bender Arena.
• Fans can enjoy Gregorio's favorites including menu selections of pizza, Italian sausage and peppers, hot and cold sub sandwiches and wraps, chicken fingers, hot dogs, chips, desserts and more, as well as a full selection of refreshing Pepsi products.
• Credit cards are accepted.
• NO outside food or beverages are permitted into Bender Arena. 

Pride Night

• AU Wrestling is celebrating Pride Night at its home opener against Michigan State.
• During a break in the match, a video featuring the message of "what does allyship mean to me?" will play on the video board.
• Messages in the video are from the Founder & Executive Director of Athlete Ally, Hudson Taylor, as well as Director of Athletics Dr. Billy Walker, head coach Jason Borrelli, and Associate AD/Diversity, Equity & Inclusion/SWA Natalie Walker.
• The AU Pride Student Group will have a presence at the match, as will AU's Center for Diversity and Inclusion.

Inside the Series

• This will be the first-ever dual between American and Michigan State.

What to Know about American

• AU is 2-1 in duals after a strong day at the Maryland Quad Meet on Nov. 5. The Eagles defeated Duke for a second year in a row, and also topped Bloomsburg before falling to the host Terps.
• Out of 11 placewinners for AU at The Citadel Open on Nov. 13, the Eagles had two champions. Freshman Raymond Lopez went 4-0 in winning at 125 pounds, and sophomore Jack Maida was 4-0 on his way to victory at 133 pounds.
• Overall at The Citadel Open, American went 41-20 and was 8-3 in placing matches, including at heavyweight where two Eagles battled for third.
• The Eagles have a roster of 25 this season, with 18 of those student-athletes seeing solid time on the competition mat last season. That's a big change from last year when only seven had previous collegiate experience.
• American's captains for the 2022-23 season are redshirt junior Connor Bourne, redshirt senior Patrick Ryan, and junior Will Jarrell.
• Five teams from Power 5 conferences are on the slate for the Eagles this year, including three that are repeat opponents from last season (Duke, Maryland and Virginia).
• Four opponents on the 2022-23 schedule were ranked in the NWCA Coaches Poll Top 25 at the end of the 2021-22 season — Michigan State (15th), Virginia Tech (7th), Penn (18th) and Central Michigan (21st).
• The Eagles will face a total of eight EIWA opponents in dual meets prior to the EIWA Championships on March 4-5 in Philadelphia, hosted by Penn AU returns nine of 10 wrestlers who competed in the EIWA Championships in 2021-22, including Jack Maida who placed fourth at 133 pounds as a freshman.
• American head coach Jason Borrelli is in his second season at AU after 13 years at Stanford.

Probable Starters for American

• 125 - Max Leete (So., 4-1) or Raymond Lopez (Fr., 6-1)
• 133 - Jack Maida (So., 6-1)
• 141 - Ethan Szerencsits (R-So., 3-3) or Elijah White (R-So., 0-1)
• 149 - Patrick Ryan (R-Jr., 1-1)
• 157 - Jack Nies (R-So., 5-2) or Antonio Segura (So., 1-3)
• 165 - Ryan Zimmerman (R-So., 2-3) or Caleb Campos (Fr., 4-2)
• 174 - Lucas White (R-Fr., 3-3)
• 184 - Colin Shannon (Gr., 5-1) or Carsten Rawls (So., 1-3)
• 197 - Connor Bourne (R-Jr., 4-2) or Liam Volk-Klos (Fr., 3-2)
• HWT - Isaac Righter (R-So., 2-3) or Will Jarrell (R-Jr., 4-2)

What to Know About Michigan State

• Michigan State enters the match receiving votes in this week's NWCA Coaches Poll. The Spartans spent multiple weeks ranked in last season's NWCA Top-25, coming in at No. 16 in the last week of the dual season and rising up to the No. 15 position in the final rankings of the year.
• Last weekend, the Spartans rolled to a 46-3 victory over Presbyterian to improve to 2-0 in duals after also defeating Davidson, 52-0, on Nov. 11.
• In the Presbyterian victory, graduate wrestler Cameron Caffey earned his 100th career win and now boasts a 101-37 overall record in his four years.
• Five wrestlers listed as probable starters for MSU are currently ranked by Intermat, led by graduate student Raynon Foley at No. 9 in the 133-pound weight class. Caffey is No. 16 at 197, and junior Chase Saldate is No. 17 at 157.
• Highlighted by freshman Ceasar Garza's undefeated effort at 174 pounds in the freshman/sophomore division, a total of 10 different MSU wrestlers garnered podium finishes at the 2022 MSU Open inside Jenison Field House on Saturday, Nov. 5.

Probable Starters for Michigan State

• 125 - Tristan Lujan (Jr., 2-0) or Benny Gomez (Gr., 2-2)
• 133 - #9 Rayvon Foley (Gr., 2-0)
• 141 - Jordan Hamdan (R-Jr., 6-2) or Blake Noonan (Jr., 4-2)
• 149 - Peyton Omania (R-Jr., 2-0)
• 157 - #17 Chase Saldate (Jr., 2-0)
• 165 - #33 Caleb Fish (Jr., 5-1) or Miles Hoey (R-Jr., 3-2)
• 174 - Lucas Daly (So., 2-2) or Ceasar Garza (Fr., 4-0)
• 184 - #20 Layne Malczewski (R-Sr., 2-0)
• 197 - #16 Cameron Caffey (Gr., 2-0)
• HWT - Ryan Vasbinder (Gr., 4-1) or Nick West (So., 2-2)

*Rankings from Intermat

Season Ticket Pass To All Regular Season Home Duals

• Save over 40% off the walk up price!  Get behind the team as one of our biggest and best supporters and cheer loud and proud for the AU Wrestling team in Bender Arena with friends, family, and colleagues by purchasing your season ticket pass to all 8 home duals!  Click here to purchase your season tickets.
• Adult - $40
• Youth (17 and below) / Senior (65+) - $20

Coach Borrelli's Season Ticket Give-Back Program – DONATE SEASON TICKETS

• Not in the DMV, but still want to support AU Wrestling?  Purchase a season ticket to support the wrestling program and return any unwanted tickets back to the ticket office and we will donate your ticket(s) to a local youth wrestling club or organization.
• This program will allow the youth wrestlers of the DMV to experience high-quality Division-I wrestling in person.
• For questions on this community give-back program please email clawed@american.edu.  Click here to purchase your donated season tickets.

Stay Connected

• For more information on AU Wrestling, follow the team on Twitter @AU_Wrestling, Instagram @au_wrestling and Facebook @AU.Wrestling.
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