Jan. 17, 2003

LEXINGTON, VA ... Virginia Military Institute won the first six matches and cruised to a 35-6 victory over George Mason in a non-conference college wrestling dual meet at Cocke Hall Friday night.

VMI had a two-meet losing streak snapped as it improved to 2-2, while George Mason dropped its fourth straight meet as it fell to 1-4.

Beginning the meet at 157 pounds, the Keydets won the first six matches to take a commanding 23-0 lead. Patriot sophomore Aaron Suranofsky broke up the shutout with a 7-2 victory over Juan Sanchez at 125, but VMI clinched the team victory with wins by fall in the next two matches. George Mason junior Rob Becker, ranked 19th in the nation by InterMat, concluded the meet with an 8-5 victory over Jason Kontopedes at 149.

The Patriots remain in Lexington for the Virginia Intercollegiate Wrestling Championships, which will be held at Cocke Hall Sunday. Competition begins at 11 a.m.

VMI 35, George Mason 6

157 - Adam Britt (VMI) tf Richard Appau, 16-0 (6:52)
165 - Mike Parsons (VMI) dec J.C. Cuffee, 6-1
174 - Matt Erwin (VMI) dec P.J. Ross, 6-4
184 - Jason Cox (VMI) dec Nick Webster, 8-3
197 - David Walker (VMI) forfeit
HWT - Scott Buhman (VMI) dec Sandy Ailor, 8-2
125 - Aaron Suranofsky (GM) dec Juan Sanchez, 7-2
133 - Micah Amrozowicz (VMI) wbf Liam DeRenzis, 4:32
141 - Chris Seta (VMI) wbf Octavis Jones, 2:35
149 - Rob Becker (GM) dec Jason Kontopedes, 8-5