Jan. 15, 2005

HARRISONBURG, Va.- Mason was jump started by successive technical falls from freshman Jay Chichester (Falmouth, Va./Colonial Forge) and sophomore Robert Henry (Dumfries, Va./Potomac) and cruised on to a 31-9 Colonial Athletic Association wrestling victory against host James Madison Saturday afternoon in Godwin Hall.

It was the CAA opener for the Patriots, who pushed their overall record to 3-2. The Dukes slipped to 0-2 in the CAA and to 1-7 overall.

The 29th-meeting between the long-time rivals started at the 141-pound bout, where Chichester terminated his match-up, 17-1, with JMU junior Brian Kibler (Strasburg, Va./Strasburg) in the second period. It was Chichester's second tech fall of the year, moving his record to 6-5.

Henry needed the third period to finish off his 149-pound match with red- shirt sophomore Jeff Jacobs (Dumfries, Va./Forrest Park), 20-2. Henry improved to 7-6 with his second tech fall of the season while registering his 12th career victory.

The Patriots picked up additional bonus points as sophomore Harry Zander (National Park, N.J./Gateway Regional) and freshman Joe Coughlin (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) each posted falls. Zander's came just 40 seconds into his 197-pound bout, improving to 7-3 and tying for team-high honors with his third fall this season. Coughlin's first career fall came at the 2:06 mark of the opening period at 125 pounds. He upped his dual record to 4-0 and improved to 9-7 overall.

Other victories, all decisions, for the Patriots were recorded by freshman Randy Oates (Owings, Md./Northern) at 165, sophomore Matt Horton (Annandale, Va./Paul VI) at 184 and sophomore David Emison (Stafford, Va./North Stafford) at 133. Emison raised his record to a team-leading 17- 6.

JMU senior Brian Lambert (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch) picked up his team-best 11th win of the year, taking an 8-4 decision at 174 pounds. The Dukes other wins were turned in by redshirt junior heavyweight Chris Cvitan (Montville, N.J./Montville Township), 5-3, and senior 157-pounder Derick Schoenly (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown), 6-0.

Both teams return to action next weekend, Jan. 21-22, in the CAA duals hosted by George Mason.

George Mason 31, James Madison 9

141 - Jay Chichester (GMU) t.f. Brian Kibler, 3:12 (17-1)
149 - Robert Henry (GMU) t.f. Jeff Jacobs, 20-2 (time unavailable)
157 - Derick Schonely (JMU) d. Sean Grant, 6-0
165 - Randy Oates (GMU) d. Chris Gwaltney, 10-4
174 - Brian Lambert (JMU) d. Nick Webster, 8-4
184 - Matt Horton (GMU) d. Jason Chalfont, 5-2
197 - Harry Zander (GMU) wbf. Zach Winfrey, 0:40
HWT - Chris Cvitan (JMU) d. Ryan Kittrick, 5-3
125 - Joe Coughlin (GMU) wbf. Louis Sweet, 2:06
133 - Dave Emison (GMU) d. Shawn Horst, 6-2