UNIVERSITY PARK - The American University wrestling team went into Happy Valley to face the number one team in the country on Friday night, falling to Penn State at Rec Hall after facing ranked wrestlers in nine of 10 bouts.
Raymond Lopez picked up the lone win for AU against the three-time defending national champions, making the final score 50-3.
Notable
- Lopez defeated Kyison Garcia in the most intense bout of the evening at 133 pounds, earning crucial points in the final seconds of both the second and third periods to pull off the dramatic win. After slipping through for an escape with 48 seconds left in the second period, Lopez came out on top of a scramble for a takedown with just two seconds remaining to take a 5-3 lead. He fell behind 7-6 in the third period, but battled for a takedown just 12 seconds before the final buzzer to take the 9-7 win.
- The victory marks Lopez's 18th of the season, tying him for third-most on the team behind Maximillian Leete (22 wins) and Will Jarrell (20 wins). The win also marked his 53rd dual point-earned for his team this year, which leads AU heading into the final dual of the season on Sunday.
- Redshirt freshmen Coen Bainey, Gage Owen, Kaden Milheim, and Emmanuel Ulrich gained experience against NCAA top-five wrestlers tonight.
- AU faced four wrestlers at the top of their weight class, and nine total wrestlers ranked in the NCAA top five.
Penn State (L, 50-3 - Feb. 21, 2025)
- 125 - #5 Luke Lilledahl (PSU) tech. fall Coen Bainey (AU), 20-3 (PSU 5-0)
- 133 - Raymond Lopez (AU) dec. Kyison Garcia (PSU), 9-7 (PSU 5-3)
- 141- #3 Beau Bartlett (PSU) tech. fall Elijah White (AU) 21-5, (PSU 10-3)
- 149 - #2 Shayne Van Ness (PSU) tech. fall Gage Owen (AU), 16-1 (PSU 15-3)
- 157 - #1 Tyler Kasak (PSU) pin Devon Capato (AU), 2:19 (PSU 21-3)
- 165 - #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) tech. fall Kaden Milheim (AU), 19-2 (PSU 26-3)
- 174 - #1 Levi Haines (PSU) pin Breon Phifer (AU), 3:43 (PSU 32-3)
- 184 - #1 Carter Starocci (PSU) pin Lucas White (AU), 2:22 (PSU 38-3)
- 197 - #2 Josh Barr (PSU) pin Liam Volk-Klos (AU), 1:09 (PSU 44-3)
- 285 - #2 Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) pin Emmanuel Ulrich (AU), 2:47 (PSU 50-3)
Next Up
- The Eagles will travel back to the DMV area for their final dual of the regular season on Sunday, Feb. 23, facing off against the Morgan State Bears in Baltimore, Md. First bout is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
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