WASHINGTON - Sixteen of 25 American University wrestlers got to see action in the Eagles' season-opening dual meets against Sacred Heart and Virginia on Saturday night. For nine of them, it was the first collegiate action of their career. AU lost both duals in the final scoring, including a 17-16 defeat by Sacred Heart, but there were plenty of highlights in first-year head coach Jason Borrelli's first meet.

Sacred Heart Dual Highlights

• AU and Sacred Heart split the bouts evenly, 5-5, but one extra major decision for the Pioneers was the difference in the final score of 17-16.
• Freshman Max Leete got things started off well with a win in his first career bout, beating Sean Faraon 5-0 at 125 pounds after an early reversal and then a late takedown with a point for riding time. 
• Sophomore Jack Nies (149) won his first career bout against Shaun Williams, 7-2 with two takedowns.
• The Eagles got one major decision victory from 2021 NCAA qualifier Tim Fitzpatrick who cruised to a 16-2 win over Cole McGill at 165 pounds.
• Junior Connor Bourne (184) held tough for a 2-1 decision over Joe Accousti to keep AU within a point.
• Down 17-13 heading into the final bout, AU sophomore heavyweight Isaac Righter did his best and got the victory, 6-4, but the Eagles came up just one point short in the team scoring.

Virginia Dual Highlights

• American came away with a pair of wins against the Cavaliers, who were ranked 20th in the final poll of the 2020-21 season and beat the Eagles by an overall score of 33-6.
• Five of Virginia's wrestlers were ranked in the preseason by Intermat, including 125-pounder Patrick McCormick (No. 33). Sophomore Andy Fallon held strong against McCormick and got a final escape point in the third period that eventually sent the two wrestlers to overtime tied 4-4.
• Thirty-five seconds into sudden victory time, Fallon scored a takedown and got the AU crowd to its feet with a 6-4 win.
• The Eagles had a couple close bouts that went Virginia's way, including a 5-2 loss for redshirt senior Colin Shannon at 174 pounds.
• Junior Will Jarrell provided the final highlight of the night for AU with a 5-3 win over Ethan Weatherspoon. Jarrell trailed 3-1 after two periods, but an escape followed by a takedown and riding time got him a 5-3 victory in the end.

Results vs. Sacred Heart

• 125 - Max Leete (AU) dec. Sean Faraon (SHU), 5-0 (AU 3-0)
• 133 - Anthony Petrillo (SHU) dec. Josh Bauman (AU), 3-2 (Tied 3-3)
• 141 - Jordan Carlucci (SHU) dec. Ethan Szerencsits (AU), 10-4  (SHU leads 6-3)
• 149 - Jack Nies (AU) dec. Shaun Williams (SHU), 7-2 (Tied 6-6)
• 157 - Jordan Palumbo (SHU) major dec. Elijah White (AU), 10-2 (SHU leads 10-6)
• 165 - Tim Fitzpatrick (AU) major dec. Cole McGill (SHU), 16-2 (Tied 10-10)
• 174 - Scotty Jarosz (SHU) major dec. Ben Root (AU), 10-1 (SHU leads 14-10)
• 184 - Connor Bourne (AU) dec. Joe Accousti (SHU), 2-1 (SHU leads 14-13)
• 197 - Dante DuBonis (SHU) dec. Carsten Rawls (AU), 5-2 (SHU leads 17-13)
• 285 - Isaac Righter (AU) dec. Mark Blokh (SHU), 6-4 (SHU wins 17-16)

Results vs. Virginia

• 125 - Andy Fallon (AU) dec. #33 Patrick McCormick (UVA), 6-4 SV (AU leads 3-0)
• 133 - #19 Brian Courtney (UVA) dec. Jack Maida (AU), 8-3 (Tied 3-3)
• 141 - Dylan Cedeno (UVA) pins Ethan Szerencsits (AU), 1:24 (UVA leads 9-3)
• 149 - #31 Jarod Verkleeren (UVA) dec. Patrick Ryan (AU), 6-1 (UVA leads 12-3)
• 157 - Jon Errico (UVA) tech fall Cole Painter (AU), 17-2 (UVA leads 17-3)
• 165 - #20 Justin McCoy (UVA) major dec. Tim Fitzpatrick (AU), 12-4 (UVA leads 21-3)
• 174 - Justin Phillips (UVA) dec. Colin Shannon (AU), 5-2 (UVA leads 24-3)
• 184 - Michael Battista (UVA) dec. Connor Bourne (AU), 6-1 (UVA leads 27-3)
• 197 - Will Jarrell (AU) dec. Ethan Weatherspoon (UVA), 5-3 (UVA leads 27-6)
• 285 - #21 Quinn Miller (UVA) pins Isaac Righter (AU), 2:11 (UVA wins 33-6)

Next Up

• American will head to Binghamton's Bearcat Open on Sunday, Nov. 14 before returning home to host George Mason at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 18. 

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