AU Wrestling Crowns Two Champions, Places Third at Keystone Classic
2008 Keystone Classic Brackets
2008 Keystone Classic Team Results
Nov. 23, 2008
WASHINGTON - Mike Cannon and Matt Mariacher each won individual titles on Sunday as the American University wrestling team placed third at the 2008 Keystone Classic in Philadelphia, Pa. AU placed a total of seven wrestlers on the podium as it kicked off its 2008-09 season.
Cannon, AU's lone returning All-American and the two-time defending Keystone champion at 165 lbs., has moved up one weight class to 174 lbs. this season and entered Sunday's tournament as the No. 1 seed. In his first match of the day, Cannon easily dispatched Karl DeCiantis of Pittsburgh with a second-period fall at 4:10. Against Rider's Joe Ferber in the second round, Cannon earned a major decision with a 13 point victory, 18-5. The junior was matched up against fourth-seeded Ziad Kharbursh from Brown in the semifinals and earned his second fall of the day at 3:33 to advance to the finals.
In the finals, Cannon fell behind early against second-seeded Austin Trotman from Appalachian State as Trotman scored a takedown for the first points of the match. Cannon quickly escaped from Trotman to cut the deficit in half, 2-1, before scoring a takedown of his own with 1:00 remaining in the first to take the lead, 3-2. Trotman escaped from Cannon to tie the score at three but Cannon retook the lead, 5-3, before the period would end with another takedown. Cannon began the second on top and rode Trotman for the entire period, picking up one stalling point with 30 seconds remaining to move the score to 6-3. Cannon started the third period down and quickly scored an escape and takedown to move his advantage to six, 9-3, before Trotman escaped to make the score 9-4. Before time would expire Cannon scored another takedown to earn the decision, and 174 lbs. championship, by an 11-4 margin.
Like Cannon, Mariacher has also moved up one weight class this year to 141 lbs. As the sixth seed, Mariacher earned a bye in the first round before defeating Penn's Zack Kemmerer in the second round by a score of 6-3. Mariacher advanced to the semifinals with an 8-3 decision over No. 3 Stephen DeLorenzo from Brown and in the semi's defeated Rider's Aaron Nester in a close match, 4-2.
Mariacher scored first in his championship match against top-seeded Tyler Nauman of Pittsburgh with a double-leg takedown with 1:10 remaining in the first. Mariacher would remain in control of Nauman for the remainder of the period and took a 2-0 lead into the second. Mariacher chose to begin down in the second and scored an escape with 1:00 left to move the score to 3-0. On top to begin the third, Mariacher gave up an escape point early in the period but to no avail as the AU sophomore earned his first Keystone Classic Championship by a score of 6-3.
Freshman Thomas Williams, making his AU debut as the No. 2 seed at 125 lbs. on Sunday, did not disappoint in his collegiate debut as he wrestled his way to a second-place finish. After earning a bye in the first round, Williams notched his first-career victory with an 18-1 technical fall over Brown's Mike Piccirillo early in the second period at 3:24. Williams was again victorious in the semifinals as he defeated No. 6 Mark Rappo from Penn, 7-0. Facing top-seeded Rollie Peterkin from Penn in the finals, Williams fell behind early and was unnable to recover, as he lost the decision, 7-3, to place second.
Kyle Borshoff, wrestling this year at 149 lbs. after placing sixth in the EIWA at 141 lbs. last season, also made a successful move up one weight class on Sunday as he made the 149 lbs. final and placed second. As the No. 3 seed in his weight class, Borshoff earned a first-round bye before defeating VMI's Joel Hutchens by fall late in the third period at 6:52. Borshoff squared off with sixth-seeded Brett McCurdy from Penn in the semifinals and earned an 8-3 decision to advance to the finals. In the finals, Borshoff took a 1-1 tie against top-seeded Cesar Grajales from Penn into sudden victory overtime. After neither wrestler was able to score in the overtime period, the match went to tie breakers where Grajales was able to score an escape and takedown to take the decision, 4-1.
 Sophomore Matt Mariacher won his first Keystone Classic Championship on Sunday at 141 lbs.  |
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Jasen Borshoff, a 2008 Academic All-American and NCAA Qualifier at 125 lbs., followed suit of several teammates and moved up one weight class to 133 lbs. where he placed fourth. As the second seed, J. Borshoff earned a 5-2 decision over Rider's Tommy Lorenzo in the first round and a close 6-5 decision over Pitt's Zach Grove in the second round to advance to the semifinals. In the semi's, J. Borshoff was defeated by No. 3 Brad Gentzle of Pitt, forcing him into the wrestleback bracket. J. Borshoff scored a major decision over Mercyhurst's Michael Baxter, 16-6, in his first wrestleback before being defeated by No. 4 Bryan Ortenzio of Penn in sudden victory, 7-4, to place fourth.
Freshman Patrick Graham made his collegiate debut at 157 lbs. on Sunday and placed fourth in his first action. Graham, the sixth seed, drew a bye in the first round before losing his first match by a close decision against Penn's Gabe Burak, 2-0. In the wrestlebacks, Graham earned a 2-0 decision over Mike Cubillos for the first win of his career. Graham then defeated VMI's Matthew Brock, 9-3, and scored a major decision over Penn's Spangler Brian, 22-9, to advance to the place round. Graham fought through another tightly contested affair in the place round against No. 3 Andy Lamancusa of Mercyhurst, 3-1. In his final match of the tournament, Graham matched up again with Burak and again it was Burak who came out victorious, 9-0, giving Graham a fourth-place showing.
As a team, American placed third overall with 104.5 total points. Penn won the team title with 138.5 points and Pittsburgh took second with 135.0.
The AU wrestling team will be back in action next Saturday, Nov. 29, at the Northeast Duals in Albany, N.Y.
