WASHINGTON - Against the toughest opponent of the season, American University wrestling put up a fight against #8 Virginia Tech but fell 35-9 against the Hokies in Bender Arena on Sunday evening. Freshman Caleb Campos pinned his opponent at 165 pounds, and redshirt senior Patrick Ryan also posted a victory for AU at 149 pounds.

Notable

• In the final seconds of the first period and trailing 2-1, Ryan scored a takedown of Kylan Montgomery and went on to hold the lead the rest of the way.
• Ryan kept Montgomery scoreless in the next two periods while posting four near fall points in the second and going on to win by 7-2 decision.
• Campos gave up an early takedown against Ty Finn, but came alive later in the first. With 38 seconds remaining in the opening period, Campos took control and used a chin whip for his sixth win in a row and his third pin of the season.
• Sophomore Maximilian Leete put up a tough fight in the opening bout at 125 pounds, getting a third-period escape but falling 3-1 to Cooper Flynn.
• By the same score, redshirt junior Connor Bourne lost a hard-fought match to #21 Andy Smith. Bourne tied it at 1-1 early in the third, but a takedown for Smith was the difference in the 3-1 final score.

Results vs. #8 Virginia Tech

• 125 - Cooper Flynn (VT) dec. Maximilian Leete (AU), 3-1 (VT 3-0)
• 133 - Brandon Wittenberg (VT) major dec. Shamil Kalmatov (AU), 12-2 (VT 7-0)
• 141 - #14 Tom Crook (VT) tech. fall Ethan Szerencsits (AU), 20-5 (VT 12-0)
• 149 - Patrick Ryan (AU) dec. Kylan Montgomery (VT), 7-2 (VT 12-3)
• 157 - Clayton Ulrey (VT) dec. Jack Nies (AU), 10-4 (VT 15-3)
• 165 - Caleb Campos (AU) pinned Ty Finn (VT), 2:22 (VT 15-9)
• 174 - Kolton Clark (VT) pinned Lucas White (AU), 1:53 (VT 21-9)
• 184 - Sam Fisher (VT) tech. fall Colin Shannon (AU), 25-9 (VT 26-9)
• 197 - #21 Andy Smith (VT) dec. Connor Bourne (AU), 3-1 (VT 29-9)
• HWT - #23 Hunter Catka (VT) def. Isaac Righter (AU), DQ (VT 35-9)

Next Up

• The Eagles will host two more home duals in a row, facing EIWA opponents Columbia at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 13 and Bucknell at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 15.

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