Senior Muzaffar Aburakhmanov and sophomore Josh Glenn made AU history last weekend in Oklahoma City, earning All-American honors and finishing third and fourth, respectively, at the NCAA championships.
The duo capped off the greatest season in AU wrestling history. The fierce twosome became the second and third AU wrestlers to receive All-American honors after Daniel Waters accomplished the feat last year.
Aburakhmanov's third-place finish was the highest finish for an individual wrestler in AU history. The 17th-place showing the Eagles made at the championships was also the best finish for the overall team.
Both wrestlers lost by a single point in their semifinal match to be eliminated.
Aburakhmanov suffered his first lost of the season when he fell in the semifinals to Oklahoma State's Johnny Hendricks, who went on to win the championship. Aburakhmanov was hit with a controversial stalling point late in the third period, and it turned out to be the difference in the match.
"That was the worst call I've ever seen in my years in wrestling," AU coach Mark Cody said in a statement. "There's an official who sees all that orange of Oklahoma State and he wants to be the hero to make that call."
Cody added: "I got so many comments from people today that could not believe what had happened. If I had a dime for every coach that came up to me, I'd be able to pay for my flight home. There was not one person that agreed with that call."
Aburakhmanov recovered to win his first match in the consolation bracket in a 7-2 decision. He won third place after his opponent had to medically forfeit.
Aburakhmanov ended his career at AU as perhaps the greatest wrestler in AU history. In his two seasons for AU, Aburakhmanov never lost a dual match, despite sometimes having to go up against wrestlers in higher weight classes. His career record at AU is 55-4 and he has the highest winning percentage in AU wrestling history.
Other firsts Aburakhmanov achieved include becoming the first AU wrestler to win two Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Assocation titles and to win most outstanding wrestler at the event
"Muzaffar has done so much for this program," Cody said. "He's been a pioneer. In what he's done last year and this season, he's basically put us on the map. Everybody loves him and loves to watch him wrestle."
Glenn lost his semifinal match, 8-7, to Shane Webster of Oregon, who went on to win the championship. Their match was a back-and-forth battle. Glenn had a 6-5 lead with a little more than a minute left in his match, but an escape and a takedown by Webster led to an 8-6 deficit. Glenn was not able to score a takedown necessary for the win.
Glenn was the top seed in the 184-pound weight class. He won his first wrestleback in the consolation bracket by fall, but then suffered a 13-2 lost to Illinois' Pete Friedl in the third-place match to finish fourth.
Glenn finished the season with a 35-3 record and 21 falls which was the second most in the country. Cody said Glenn is "a year away from winning the national championship."
Heavyweight sophomore Adam LoPiccolo also competed, but was knocked out in the first round. He won his first match in wrestlebacks, but lost in the next round.
