WASHINGTON - With a 4-2 showing and a fifth-place finish at the EIWA Championships, sophomore Jack Maida of American University wrestling earned a spot at the NCAA Championships and has now been named the Gregorio's Trattoria Student-Athlete of the Week for his efforts. 

The NCAA qualification is the first in two years for AU wrestling. It was the second-straight place-winning effort for Maida, who finished fourth a year ago when fewer spots were allocated at his weight class of 133 pounds. After a 2-1 record on day one, 12th-seeded Maida scored 15 points, his most as an Eagle, in a wild upset victory over #25 Kurtis Phipps of Bucknell, the No. 3 seed, to start day two. With 12 seconds left and a start in the down position, Maida rolled into a reversal for two points and immediately put Phipps on his back to close it out with four near fall points and a 15-9 victory.

In the consolation semis, Maida came up against #31 Brendan Ferretti of Navy, who pinned him in the first match of the weekend on Saturday. This result was far closer as Maida tied it up at 3-3 with 30 seconds left, but late heroics went the other way for him as it was Ferretti who earned a takedown in the closing seconds for a 5-3 win.

For fifth place and a spot at the NCAA Championships, Maida came up against Drexel's Kyle Waterman who defeated him 6-4 on February 19. Maida turned that around and defeated Waterman 6-3 when it counted the most, getting two takedowns, an escape and riding time. He never trailed in the bout and finished his weekend at the EIWA Championships with a record of 4-2.

Maida will compete at the NCAA Championships in Tulsa, Okla. on March 16-18.

Gregorio's Trattoria Student-Athlete of the Week