Feb. 4, 2003
FAIRFAX, VA ... American scored a decision in the final match of the night at 157 pounds to tie George Mason, 24-24, and the Eagles were awarded the victory on criteria in a non-conference college wrestling dual meet Tuesday at the John Linn Memorial Gymnasium.
With a forfeit victory, a win by fall and a win by default, American managed three six-point victories to two for George Mason, which had a win by forfeit and a win by fall.
American won its second straight meet to improve to 2-12, while George Mason dropped its fourth straight meet to fall to 2-11.
Things looked promising for George Mason out of the gate as it took a 15-3 lead through the first four matches. American's Aaron Baker scored an 8-6 decision as the meet opened at 165 pounds, but Patriot junior Sean Early would take a 17-1 technical fall (in 3:24) at 174, sophomore P.J. Ross won a 12-3 major decision at 184 and junior Nick Webster received a forfeit at 197 for the 12-point advantage.
The Eagles got back into the meet as Jared Hyman won by fall in 2:14 at heavyweight, but a 10-4 victory at 125 by sophomore Aaron Suranofsky gave the Patriots an 18-9 edge. American scored six points when Dan Lobsenz won by default at 133 and the Eagles took a 21-18 lead as Eric Levine received a forfeit at 141.
Mason junior Rob Becker (ranked 18th in the nation by InterMat) won by fall in 1:24 at 149 to put the Patriots back on top at 24-21, but American's Tom Kniezewski scored a 7-2 decision at 157 to tie the meet and give the Eagles the victory on criteria.
George Mason travels to James Madison on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 7:30 p.m.
AMERICAN 24, GEORGE MASON 24 (AU wins on criteria)
165* - Aaron Baker (A) dec. Richard Appau, 8-6
174 - Sean Early (GM) tf Adam Montgomery, 17-1 (3:24)
184 - P.J. Ross (GM) major dec. Kyle Mason, 12-3
197 - Nick Webster (GM) forfeit
HWT - Jared Hyman (A) wbf Sandy Ailor, 2:14
125 - Aaron Suranofsky (GM) dec. Matt Pelligrino, 10-4
133 - Dan Lobsenz (A) default over Dan Smith, 2:29
141 - Eric Levine (A) forfeit
149 - Rob Becker (GM) wbf Aviv Bercovicz, 1:24
157 - Tom Kniezewski (A) dec. Franco Priolo, 7-2
* - Meet began at this weight due to random draw
Referee: Dick Schmertzler
