Jan. 25, 2003
FAIRFAX, VA ... George Mason completed the first annual CAA Duals college wrestling event at the George Mason Fieldhouse with just one victory in five dual meets, but the Patriots showed several of their individuals will be forces to be reckoned with by the end of the season.
George Mason defeated Wagner, 41-12, to open the second and final day of the CAA Duals, but the Patriots fell to Rider, 43-10, and to Boston University, 42-12, to leave their overall record at 2-9, 2-5 in the Colonial Athletic Association.
Mason continued to struggle with injuries as junior Nick Webster (184 pounds) and sophomores Aaron Suranofsky (125) and J.C. Cuffee (165) each missed two matches with various ailments, causing the Patriots to forfeit four matches against Rider and five against Boston University. Already missing were freshman Octavis Jones (141), who suffered a broken collarbone before Wednesday's meet at Maryland, and sophomore P.J. Ross (174), who was ill.
Cuffee and Webster both won matches against Wagner before being unable to continue. Cuffee (neck stinger) took a 7-5 decision over P.J. Richard at 174, while Webster (separated shoulder) showed character with a 16-0 technical fall over Ryan Hayes at 184.
Meanwhile, junior Rob Becker continued to show he is one of the best in the CAA at 149. Becker won each of his three matches Saturday, by fall over Wagner's Rob Markuske (0:58) and BU's Justin Blumenthal (2:41) and by a 9-1 major decision over Rider's Joe Pollard, to improve to 24-5 this season. Becker is currently ranked 19th in the nation by InterMat.
Other winners for George Mason Saturday included freshman Franco Priolo, with a 14-12 decision over Wagner's Matt Hartigan at 157; junior Sean Early, with a win by fall over Wagner's Vinny Vazzana in 3:30 at 165; junior Sandy Ailor, with a win by fall over Wagner's John Cichon in 1:53 at heavyweight; and freshman Liam DeRenzis, with a win by fall over Rider's Jim DiCicco in 1:20 at 133.
The second and final day of the event was an exciting one with a big match among nationally ranked wrestlers and several close meets. Each of the 11 CAA teams were in competition Friday and Saturday.
Hofstra, the only CAA team ranked in the national polls (19th by InterMat, 22nd by Amateur Wrestling News), won both of its meets to go 3-0 on the weekend. The Pride defeated Binghamton, 38-6, and defeated James Madison, 34-8.
In one of the featured matches of the day and the only one between two of the 12 nationally ranked wrestlers from the CAA, Sacred Heart senior Anthony Reynolds (ranked fifth by AWN, 10th by IM) defeated Drexel junior Chris Jones (10th by AWN, 12th by IM), 6-0, at 197 pounds. Reynolds scored a takedown in the first period, an escape and a takedown in the second period and rode out Jones in the third to gain a point for riding time.
In the most exciting meet of the day, James Madison rallied from a 16-9 deficit with three matches remaining to defeat Binghamton, 19-16, as freshman heavyweight Matt Coffey won a 2-0 decision. Old Dominion also won a thriller as junior heavyweight Derrell Lorthridge won by fall in 1:16 to provide the winning margin as the Monarchs defeated Sacred Heart, 22-17.
MEET RESULTS
ROUND 3
George Mason 41, Wagner 12
Drexel 23, Sacred Heart 14
James Madison 19, Binghamton 16
Rider 30, Old Dominion 12
Boston University 42, Campbell 9
ROUND 4
Rider 43, George Mason 10
Old Dominion 22, Sacred Heart 17
Boston University 28, James Madison 12
Hofstra 38, Binghamton 6
Campbell 33, Wagner 10
ROUND 5
Boston University 42, George Mason 12
Sacred Heart 42, Campbell 3
Hofstra 34, James Madison 8
Drexel 47, Wagner 6
GEORGE MASON 41, WAGNER 12
125 - Aaron Suranofsky (GM) forfeit
133 - Liam DeRenzis (GM) forfeit
141 - Geno Ronkiewicz (W) forfeit
149 - Rob Becker (GM) wbf Rob Markuske, 0:58
157 - Franco Priolo (GM) dec. Matt Hartigan, 14-12
165 - Sean Early (GM) wbf Vinny Vazzana, 3:30
174 - J.C. Cuffee (GM) dec. P.J. Richard, 7-5
184 - Nick Webster (GM) tf Ryan Hayes, 16-0 (3:53)
197 - Rob Panfili (W) forfeit
HWT - Sandy Ailor (GM) wbf John Cichon, 1:53
RIDER 43, GEORGE MASON 10
125 - Bobby Stinson (R) dec. Aaron Suranofsky, 2-1
133 - Liam DeRenzis (GM) wbf Jim DiCicco, 1:20
141 - Jason Smith (R) forfeit
149 - Rob Becker (GM) major dec. Joe Pollard, 9-1
157 - Derek Jenkins (R) major dec. Sean Early, 14-2
165 - Nick Harrington (R) wbf Richard Appau, 2:17
174 - Bob Pizzuto (R) forfeit
184 - Mike Robinson (R) forfeit
197 - Greg Sawyer (R) forfeit
HWT - Carmelo Marrero (R) wbf Sandy Ailor, 4:13
BOSTON UNIVERSITY 42, GEORGE MASON 12
125 - Mike Galorenzo (BU) forfeit
133 - Liam DeRenzis (GM) forfeit
141 - Joey Rivera (BU) forfeit
149 - Rob Becker (GM) wbf Justin Blumenthal, 2:41
157 - Rayes Gonzales (BU) dec. Sean Early, 8-7
165 - Leighton Brady (BU) dec. Richard Appau, 4-1
174 - Ben Schliens (BU) forfeit
184 - Ed Strauss (BU) forfeit
197 - Chad Grant (BU) forfeit
HWT - Courtney Howard (BU) wbf Sandy Ailor, 2:32
