Josh Glenn made history in 2007, becoming the first wrestler in the history of the wrestling program at American University to win a NCAA individual title. Top-seeded going into the NCAA Championships this year, Glenn and his coach Mark Cody feel that he is a better wrestler than last year.

"We are strong with the fundamentals," said Glenn, who opened the tournament with a 2-0 decision over Ben Hepburn of Lock Haven in the first round. "They will get you through the hard situations and close matches."

"I believe he is wrestling better than last year at this time," said Cody. "He is better on his feet, and much better on the top. He has a bunch of new tricks from the top this year."

Five past NCAA champions entered the 2008 NCAA Championships, and the one with the fewest matches this season was Glenn, who entered with a 15-0 record. Of the four undefeated wrestlers in the draw, Glenn also has the fewest bouts.

In fact, Glenn has only had five matches in the last two months, wrestling in two bouts in February and three matches at the EIWA Championships two weeks ago. At the conference meet, Glenn had a dominant effort, winning by fall and two major decisions, including a 10-1 win over Lamar Brown of Rutgers in the conference finals.

Cody said that Glenn had scar on his knee from his surgery during the season, which kept scraping off. He felt that Glenn had enough quality matches as the year went on, and he held Glenn out until the knee situation was completely healed. Glenn does not feel like it was that big a deal in his preparation for this tournament.

"I have been wrestling for 18 years," said Glenn. "If I miss a few matches in one season, it does not mean that much."

Glenn had a strong performance at the EIWA Championships, something which Cody feels makes him well prepared for the challenges this week.

"He was aggressive from start to finish. I like that his performance will take him strong into this tournament. The conference is very difficult. It was a good measure of where we are moving forward," said Cody.

Glenn was unable to score a takedown in the first match, getting an escape and earning riding time. He seemed unconcerned with that, saying that "it is the nature of the sport. You deal with adversity and you do what you have to do."

"It was close," said Cody of the first bout. "He only attempted one shot. He has to make more attempts. Every national tournament, he has a match like that. As a sophomore, he had two matches that went like that. He is like that. At the Midlands, he won 2-0 in the semifinals, then scored 16 points in the final."

Glenn has become the poster boy for American wrestling, a program which has developed into national prominence under Mark Cody, who took over the program in 2002. American has celebrated Glenn's success, having a special presentation of a banner for their gymnasium noting his national title. He is featured on the team media guide and is mentioned in all of their press materials.

"It is great for us," said Cody. "It was particularly good last year, as the only All-American on the team, he carried the flag for the program. We have to show people that we are in the hunt every year. It is great for recruiting. That helps us in all aspects of our program."

"It is great for the school and for the program," said Glenn of all the attention his success has brought to the American team.

Glenn is also an excellent student, a double major who gets good grades in his classes. Cody says he likes to read between his matches at the NCAA Championships and other major tournaments.

With the first match of his final NCAA Tournament in the record books, Glenn planned to lie down for awhile and get a good meal in during the session break. He will face Kyle Bressler of Oregon State in the next round on Thursday night.

Glenn knows what it will take to leave the arena Saturday night as a two-time champion.

"I need to stay aggressive in the entire match, from the first period to the final period," said Glenn.