FAIRFAX, Va. - George Mason won seven of the evening's 10 matches to score a 25-9 win over VMI in a non-conference dual Thursday evening at Mason's Recreation and Athletic Complex.
Sophomores David Yost and Andrew Szymborski each won decisions for the Keydets (1-3), before junior heavyweight Josh Wine pushed his unblemished mark to eight matches this season with 6-0 win over Hunter Manspile. But the Patriots (1-2) were too much on a night that saw them claim six of the first seven bouts en route to their fifth straight win in the series.
The night began at 125 lbs., where Brian Wright used a late takedown and near fall to turn a tied match into a 6-1 decision over John Pope. At 133 lbs., Keydet Luke Todd entered the third period trailing 2-1, but with two minutes of riding time. The sophomore could not escape during the third period and surrendered two back points to Zach Huxford, falling 4-1 to give Mason an early 6-0 lead.
"We needed to win those first two matches, and they were close, but we didn't do what we needed to in order to win," said VMI head coach John "Rocky" Trudgeon. "John (Pope) was tied late, but ended up getting taken down, and then Luke (Todd) couldn't get off the bottom. They won the close ones tonight, and that turned the match."
Yost put the Keydets on the scoreboard at 141 lbs. with his 5-2 decision, dominating the back-half of the bout against Jaaziah Bethea. The Patriots countered with a decision by Brandon Bucher at 149 lbs. to push the advantage to 9-3.
Bucher's 4-2 decision started a four-match win streak that saw the Patriots take control of the dual. Aaron Keeton won an 8-4 decision at 157 lbs. over Joe Munno before Frankie McLaughlin scored Mason's first extra-point win of the night, a 14-4 major decision at 165 lbs.
Bagna Tovuujav capped the run with an 11-4 win at 174 lbs. before Szymborski stopped the bleeding at 184 lbs. Wrestling up from 174 for the first time this season, Szymborski netted a 3-1 win on a first-period takedown of James Webb.
The lone pin of the match came at 197 lbs., as Mason's William Widener pinned Vinnie Gallo with just 26 seconds remaining in the third period. Wine's 6-0 win wrapped up the match, as
"We got dealt a blow before the match when Ronnie (Ellsworth) got disqualified," said Trudgeon. "That forced us to move the last three guys before Josh up, which certainly affected our lineup. We've just got to keep working hard and keep getting better. We've got a big match on Saturday to get ready for."
VMI returns to action on Saturday, traveling to Raleigh, N.C. to take on N.C. State at 1 p.m.
George Mason 25, VMI 9 (Jan. 7, 2010)
125- Brian Wright (Mason) dec. Johnathan Pope (VMI), 6-1
133- Zach Huxford (Mason) dec. Luke Todd (VMI), 4-1
141- David Yost (VMI) dec. Jaaziah Bethea (Mason), 5-2
149- Brandon Bucher (Mason) dec. Mike Long (VMI), 4-2
157- Aaron Keeton (Mason) dec. Joseph Munno (VMI), 8-4
165- Frankie McLaughlin (Mason) maj. dec. Matthew Brock (VMI), 14-4
174- Bagna Tovuujav (Mason) dec. Evan Dill (VMI), 11-4
184- Andrew Szymborski (VMI) dec. James Webb (Mason), 3-1
197- William Widener (Mason) fall Vincent Gallo (VMI), (6:34)
285- Josh Wine (VMI) dec. Hunter Manspile (Mason), 6-0
