American University Announces the 2007-08 Wrestling Schedule

Nov. 5, 2007

WASHINGTON - The American University wrestling team will host five dual meets during the 2007-08 season and compete in three tournaments as it prepares to improve upon the program's best-ever finish at the NCAA Tournament. The schedule, released Monday, consists of 16 dates for the Eagles including the raising of the program's first NCAA Championship banner and a special homecoming for Head Coach Mark Cody and defending 197 lbs. National Champion Josh Glenn.

Visiting Bender Arena this season will be EIWA opponents Lehigh (Dec. 2), Franklin & Marshall (Jan. 9) and Navy (Jan. 12), as well as non-conference opponents Delaware State (Dec. 8) and Old Dominion (Feb. 3). Before the Eagles' dual with Delaware State, Glenn will be honored as AU wrestling's first National Champion and a banner commemorating his achievement will be raised to the rafters of Bender. A capacity crowd promises to be on hand for the meet as it has been tabbed the "Bender Takedown" for students and campus faculty members and will also be host to an AU wrestling alumni event.

AU's schedule opens up Sunday, Nov. 18 as the Eagles travel north for their first tournament of the year, the Keystone Classic, in Philadelphia, Pa. The following weekend, Saturday, Nov. 24, AU will be in Albany, N.Y., for the Northeast Duals. American's tournament schedule will conclude over winter break, Dec. 28-29, at the Midlands Tournament in Evanston, Ill. All three tournaments are regional and national favorites of college wrestling programs and some of the best teams and individuals in the country will be on hand.

Rounding out the Eagles' regular season schedule are eight road dual-meets. Three of the roadies will take AU to the homes of EIWA opponents including Rutgers (Jan. 10), Columbia (Jan. 11) and Bucknell (Feb. 17). The team's Feb. 21 trip to Binghamton in New York's southern tier will have special meaning to two Eagles. Coach Cody is a native of Binghamton, N.Y. and Glenn is a 2003 graduate of Johnson City High School just outside of Binghamton.

The EIWA Championships will be held March 7-8 in Lancaster, Pa., on the campus of Franklin & Marshall. Glenn will look to three-peat as an EIWA Champion, having won the 2006 title at 184 lbs. and the 2007 title at 197 lbs. Four other Eagles finished on the podium at last year's tournament helping AU to sixth-place finish. Other podium finishers returning this season are Mike Cannon who took second at 165 lbs., Kyle Borshoff who finished fourth at 141 lbs. and Jasen Borshoff who placed sixth at 125 lbs.

The NCAA Wrestling Championships will be held March 20-22 in St. Louis, Mo. Four Eagles qualified for the tournament in 2007 including three returning starters, Glenn, Cannon and K. Borshoff. At last years championships Glenn became AU wrestling's first-ever National Champion when he scored a takedown of Iowa State's Kurt Backes in overtime to earn a 6-4 win. As a team, AU finished in 17th place, tying the program's best finish to a season set the year before.

To view the complete schedule, click here.