Dec. 8, 2007

WASHINGTON - After honoring No. 1 Josh Glenn's 2007 National Championship with a pre-meet celebration at center mat, the AU wrestling team picked up its first win of the season against Delaware State Saturday, 36-10. Glenn was one of four American wrestlers to earn bonus points over his opponent.

The meet began at 157 lbs. where Christopher Stout jumped out to an early 10-4 lead over Kyle Robinson. In the second period, Stout allowed Robinson escape points as he successfully attempted to earn bonus points for his team. Stout won the match by tech-fall in the third, 23-8.

No. 11 Mike Cannon followed Stout with a victory by pin-fall over Brandon Gardner at 165 lbs. Cannon held a slight 5-3 advantage over Gardner after the first period and began the second looking to extend his lead. Using Gardner's own momentum against him, Cannon rolled his opponent to his back late in the round and at 4:49 the match was called.

Delaware State first got on the board with an 8-0 major decision by Kyle Skinner over Jonathon Powell in the 174 lbs. weight class.

Andy Semple returned AU to its winning ways at 184 lbs. Semple took a 5-0 lead over Derrick Loper into the match's final round and earned one escape point to take the victory, 6-0.

Glenn made a triumphant return to the mat at 197 lbs., earning a 17-4 major decision over Shawn Nowrey in his first competition of the year. Right from the start this match was all Glenn, as the senior earned his first two points for a takedown just 30 seconds in. Glenn allowed Nowrey to score just two escape points in the period and took a 6-2 lead into the second. The score only became more lopsided as the match wore on. Glenn used a near-fall to build a 14-3 lead after two, and after three Glenn had accumulated more than three minutes of riding time to earn an extra point.

Brooks Keefer nearly completed a third period comeback of Zeb Davis in the heavyweight class but in the end was outmatched, losing 6-3.

After a Delaware State forfeit at 125 lbs., Matt Mariacher pinned his opponent, Tad Broomall, at 133 lbs. Mariacher used two near-falls in the first period to build an 8-2 lead and was comfortably on top, 14-4, after two. With time beginning to wind down in the third and final round, Mariacher became offensive and shot in on Broomall, earned the advantage and eventually turned Broomall to his back to take the victory.

A second Delaware State forfeit followed Mariacher's match at 141 lbs. before the final weight class, 149 lbs., was decided. In the evening's final match, Matt Cathell fended off a third period barrage by No. 20 Kyle Borshoff to take the match, 12-6.

The Eagles will take the next few weeks off from action but return to the mat Dec. 28-29 at the Midlands Invitational in Evanston, Ill.

157 - Christopher Stout (AU) def. Kyle Robinson (DS), 23-8 Tech-Fall

165 - No. 11 Mike Cannon (AU) def. Brandon Gardner (DS), Fall 4:49

174 - Kyle Skinner (DS) def. Jonathon Powell (AU), 8-0 MD

184 - Andy Semple (AU) def. Derrick Loper, 6-0

197 - No. 1 Josh Glenn (AU) def. Shawn Nowrey, 17-4 MD

Hwt - Zeb Davis (DS) def. Brooks Keefer (AU), 6-3

125 - Jasen Borshoff (AU) def. Delaware State, Forfeit

133 - Matt Mariacher (AU) def. Tad Broomall, Fall 6:04

141 - Chris Clarke (AU) def. Delaware State, Forfeit

149 - Matt Cathell (DS) def. No. 20 Kyle Borshoff, 12-6