Jan. 16, 2004
FAIRFAX, Va. -- George Mason won the final three matches over Virginia Military Institute, but it wasn't enough as the Keydets edged the Patriots, 20-19, in a non-conference dual wrestling match at the John Linn Gymnasium Friday evening. Mason opens its dual match season with a loss, dropping to 0-1, while VMI earns its first victory in five tries, moving to 1-4 on the year.
The meet began at 157 and VMI took an early 3-0 lead. The Patriots regained control with back-to-back victories behind senior Sean Early (Virginia Beach, VA/Kempsville) and junior Nick Webster (Towanda, PA/Towanda) at 165 and 174, respectively. Early pinned P.J. Neumann at the 3:44 mark and Webster posted an 11-0 major decision over the Keydets' Aaron Kerkhof, giving Mason a 10-3 lead.
VMI won the next four matches, including a Patriot forfeit at 125, to forge ahead, 20-10. Mason posted a valiant comeback in the final three matches, but couldn't gain enough points for the win. Freshman David Emison (Stafford, VA/North Stafford) won a 10-3 decision at 133, senior Rob Becker (Mickleton, NJ/Clearview Regional), who is ranked ninth in the nation by Amateur Wrestling News at 141, registered a 7-2 decision and senior Adrian Austin (Colonial Heights, VA/Matoaca), ranked 18th by InterMat, tallied an 8-3 decision at 149. The final nine points just wasn't for the Patriots, who fall to 89-14-1 at the Linn Gym.
Becker's win moved him one step closer to his 100th career victory. He owns a 99-32 record in four years at George Mason.
The Patriots return to action Sunday at Old Dominion as the team competes at the Virginia Intercollegiate State Wrestling Championships in Norfolk, VA
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE 20, GEORGE MASON 19
H-V
157 -- Chris Hardy dec. Mitch Webster (GM), 10-4 0-3
165 -- Sean Early (GM) pin P.J. Neumann, (3:44) 6-3
174 -- Nick Webster (GM) maj. dec. Aaron Kerkhof, 11-0 10-3
184 -- Corry Murray maj. dec. Jim Martin (GM), 17-4 10-7
197 -- Jason Cox maj. dec. Harry Zander (GM), 4-12 10-11
HWT -- Scott Buhman dec. Ryan Kittrick (GM), 3-1 10-14
125 -- Juan Sanchez wins forfeit 10-20
133 -- David Emison (GM) dec. Micah Amrozowicz, 10-3 13-20
141 -- Rob Becker (GM) dec. David Metzler, 7-2 16-20
149 -- Adrian Austin (GM) dec. Sam Alvarenga, 8-3 19-20
