Feb. 3, 2008

FAIRFAX, Va. - The Patriot wrestling team hosted No. 22 Old Dominion in a Colonial Athletic Association dual on Sunday morning at the Fieldhouse. Despite losing 32-12 to the Monarchs, Mason did have some individual highlights in the meet, including wins by a pair of freshmen and a pin at the heavyweight class.

After four consecutive losses to begin the meet, freshman Frankie McLaughlin gave Mason its first win of the day at 157 pounds. Wrestling after an extended absence due to an injury to his hand, McLaughlin won his 17th match of the season, beating Dan Rivera by a final score of 7-4.

After Old Dominion won the next three matches, freshman Cayle Byers, ranked 16th in the nation by InterMat and 20th by Amateur Wrestling News, was in danger of losing the 197-pound bout to David Mendoza. Trailing 4-1 heading into the third period, Byers took control of the match, dominating the final two minutes to earn his 29th win of the season. The Chugiak, Alaska native scored four takedowns in the final period to send the Mason wrestling fans into a frenzy and take a 9-8 come-from-behind victory.

In the final match of the day, senior Harry Zander had no trouble with Old Dominion heavyweight Andy Totusek. Zander pinned Totusek 1:54 into the match to earn his team-leading seventh fall of the season.

George Mason wrestles again on Tuesday, Feb. 5, traveling to Lynchburg, Va. to face Liberty at 6 p.m. and UNC Greensboro at 8 p.m. The Patriots record now stands at 9-4 overall and 5-3 in CAA duals.

No. 22 Old Dominion 32 George Mason 12
125: James Nicholson (ODU) tech. fall Brian Wright (Mason), 20-5, 5-0 ODU
133: Kyle Hutter (ODU) dec. Joe Coughlin (Mason), 9-3, 8-0 ODU
141: Ryan Williams (ODU) maj. dec. Will Powars (Mason), 11-2, 12-0 ODU
149: Kaylen Baxter (ODU) tech. fall Brandon Bucher (Mason), 17-2 (6:12), 17-0 ODU
157: Frankie McLaughlin (Mason) dec. Dan Rivera (ODU), 7-4, 17-3 ODU
165: Chris Brown (ODU) fall Greg Scott (Mason), 1:43, 23-3 ODU
174: Nick Pullano (ODU) dec. Randy Oates (Mason), 8-4, 26-3 ODU
184: Jesse Strawn (ODU) fall Bill Widener (Mason), 4:34, 32-3 ODU
197: Cayle Byers (Mason) dec. David Mendoza (ODU), 9-8, 32-6 ODU
285: Harry Zander (Mason) fall Andy Totusek (ODU), 1:54, 32-12 ODU