Feb. 20, 2005

NORFOLK, Va. - George Mason University's wrestling team finished off its dual season Sunday evening with a 28-10 loss at Colonial Athletic Association opponent Old Dominion. The loss drops the Patriots to 8-7 overall and 4-4 in the league, marking Mason's first winning dual match season since 2000-01. The Monarchs improve to 12-5 (7-2 CAA), winning their fifth straight contest.

ODU started off strong with major decision victories at 165 and 174 and a technical fall at 184 for a commanding 13-0 advantage.

George Mason answered back with a major decision and a decision to bring the score to 13-7. Sophomore Harry Zander (National Park, N.J./Gateway Regional) recorded an 11-1 victory at 197, while junior Joel Caruso (Collingswood, N.J./Collingswood) tallied a 12-5 Heavyweight win.

Sixteenth-ranked Christian Staylor defeated Mason freshman Joe Coughlin (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) by a 9-4 decision at 125, and B.J. Compton accepted a George Mason forfeit at 133 to extend the Monarch lead to 22-7.

Shanon Slack topped 141-pound freshman Jay Chichester (Falmouth, Va./Colonial Forge) 5-0 for ODU's third straight win and a 25-10 margin. Sophomore Robert Henry (Dumfries, Va./Potomac) picked up George Mason's final three points with an 8-6 victory at 149.

The Patriots will next compete in the CAA Championship, March 3-4 at Boston University.

OLD DOMINION 28,  GEORGE MASON 10
165:  Robby Gosnell (ODU) d. Randy Oates, MD 17-6       4-0
174:  John Adams (ODU) d. Nick Webster, MD 13-4         8-0
184:  Adam Wright (ODU) d. Jim Martin, TF 23-7 (4:32)   13-0
197:  Harry Zander (Mason) d. Shea Smith, MD 11-1       13-4
Hwt:  Joel Caruso (Mason) d. John Dolida, D 12-5        13-7
125:  Christian Staylor (ODU) d. Joe Coughlin, D 9-4    16-7
133:  B.J. Compton (ODU) wins by forfeit                22-7
141:  Shanon Slack (ODU) d. Jay Chichester, D 5-0       25-7
149:  Robert Henry (Maosn) d. Hunter Davenport, D 8-6   25-10
157:  Nick Pullano (ODU) d. Mitch Webster, D 6-3        28-10