MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The American University wrestling team closed out a three-dual road trip with a 1-1 showing at the Chippewa Challenge, defeating Cal State Bakersfield and falling to Central Michigan at McGuirk Arena. Freshmen Gavin Cohen and RJ Robinson recorded their first career dual wins on the day, while graduate senior Jack Maida secured a technical fall in his first dual match in over a year after returning from injury. 

Cal State Bakersfield (W, 27-9 - Dec. 21, 2025)

• 125 - JJ Peace (AU) dec. #30 Richard Castro-Sandoval (CSUB), 4-1 (AU 3-0)
• 133 - Maximilian Leete tech. fall RJ Jones, 18-3, 6:24 (AU 8-0)
• 141 - Santino Sanchez (CSUB) dec. Elijah White (AU), 4-2 (AU 8-3)
• 149 - Hayden Zinkin (CSUB) dec. Gage Owen (AU), 6-4 (AU 8-6)
• 157 - Gavin Cohen (AU) dec. Devyn Flores-Che (CUSB), 7-4 (AU 11-6)
• 165 - Evan Manzo (CSUB) dec. Austin Craft (AU), 7-2 (AU 11-9) 
• 174 - Guillermo Escobedo (CSUB) dec. Hunter Hohman, 5-1 (CSUB 12-11)
• 184 - RJ Robinson (AU) major dec. Chris Neal (CSUB), 15-4 (AU 15-12)
• 197 - Caleb Campos (AU) pin Angel Cervantes (CSUB), 0:51 (AU 21-12)
• 285 - Emmanuel Ulrich (AU) dec. Mason Cover (CSUB), 5-1 (AU 24-12)

Central Michigan (L, 24-15 - Dec. 21, 2025)

• 125 - JJ Peace (AU) Archer Anderson (MU), MFOR (AU 6-0)
• 133 - #16 Raymond Lopez (AU) major dec. Andrew Austin (CMU), 11-3 (AU 10-0)
• 141 - Jack Maida (AU technical fall Nick Blackburn (CMU), 18-0, 4:57 (AU 15-0)
• 149 - Jimmy Nugent (CMU) dec. Leo Maestas (AU), 6-5 (AU 15-3)
• 157 - #25 Mason Shrader (CMU) major dec. Cameron Milheim (AU), 14-2 (AU 15-7) 
• 165 - Chandler Amaker (CMU) dec. Austin Craft (AU), 4-2 (AU 15-10)
• 174 - Tyler Swiderski (CMU) dec. Hunter Hohman (AU), 7-2 (AU 15-13)
• 184 - Wyatt Ferguson (CMU) pin Caleb Campos (AU), 2:33 (CMU 18-15) *point deducted from CMU for throwing headgear*
• 197 - Luke Cochran (CMU) dec. Caleb Close (AU), 5-1 (CMU 21-15)
• 285 - #32 Bryan Caves dec. Emmanuel Ulrich (AU), 4-1 (CMU 24-15)

Notable

• JJ Peace earned a win over #30 Richard Castro-Sandoval in a tight battle, but the true sophomore led the whole way. He notched a first period takedown to take the lead, earned an escape in the second period, and did an excellent job fending off several shots from Castro Sandoval in the third. 
• Leete dominated his bout at 133, using four near fall points and three takedowns on his way to 16 points and a technical fall. 
• Gavin Cohen and RJ Robinson both picked up their first career dual wins, with both freshmen earning commanding decisions. Cohen broke away from Devyn Flores-Che with a third period takedown to make the score 7-2, and Robinson racked up four takedowns on the way to a 15-4 major decision. 
• The major from Robinson loomed large, putting the Eagles back in front 15-12 after they trailed by a point with just three bouts remaining. 
• Campos showed no problem wrestling up a weight class at 197, taking care of Angel Cervantes in just 51 seconds with a pin. 
• Ulrich won a composed match at heavyweight, using an escape, takedown, and riding time to win 5-1 over Mason Cover. 
• Raymond Lopez sparked the Eagles at 133 to start the dual against Central Michigan, turning a close bout into a major decision over Andrew Austin. 
• Ahead 4-2, Lopez pulled himself out of a near pin and got on top of Austin for a takedown. He added one more takedown with riding time to seal the major. 
• Maida made a resounding return to AU's lineup at 141, dominating his way to a technical fall of Nick Blackburn in 4:57. He totaled 11 near fall points and three takedowns in his first dual match since a season-ending injury on Nov. 2, 2024. 
• The Chippewas took control of the dual with victories at 149 through 285, earning major bonus points with a Wyatt Ferguson pin at 184. 

Up Next

• The Eagles will head to Chattanooga for the Southern Scuffle on Jan. 3-4, and begin their EIWA dual schedule on Jan. 11 against Lehigh. 

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