 Muzaffar Abdurakhmanov |
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Years at American:
2nd Year
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Position:
Assistant Coach
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After a career in which he became the most accomplished wrestler in American University history, Muzaffar Abdurakhmanov returns to the Marilyn Meltzer Wrestling Room in his second season as an assistant coach with the Eagles.
Abdurakhmanov, one of the finest wrestlers to ever don the AU Red, White and Blue, made a lasting impression on the program in just two years. During the 2004-05 season, his first season at AU, Abdurakhmanov became the first EIWA Champion in school history with a 12-11 decision over Derek Zinck of Lehigh at 157 lbs. Combined with his championship and a 27-1 overall record, Abdurakhmanov entered the NCAA Championships as a fourth seed but his tournament run was cut short as he was slowed by a knee injury and was eliminated in the third round.
Coming back at 165 lbs. for his senior year, Abdurakhmanov again dominated the competition. He defeated then No. 13 Stephen Anceravage of Cornell, 9-3, in the EIWA Finals for his second-consecutive conference championship and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler. As a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Abdurakhmanov placed third with his only loss coming by way of a 4-3 decision to the returning National Champion, Johny Hendricks of Oklahoma State, who later went on to repeat. His third-place finish, the highest in AU wrestling history at the time, earned Abdurakhmanov All-America honors
Before becoming an Eagle, Abdurakhmanov spent two seasons at Colby Community College in Colby, Kansas. As a Trojan, Abdurakhmanov won two Junior College National Championships, was twice named a JUCO All-American and was also once named Outstanding Wrestler.
Abdurakhmanov is also a three-time Uzbekistan National Champion and a Junior World runner-up. In 2004 he placed second at the Sunkist International Tournament and in 2006 placed second in the New York Athletic Club International Tournament.
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