STATE COLLEGE, Pa - Wrestling began the weekend on Saturday by winning two out of their three dual matches.  They started the day by beating East Stroudsburg University by a score of 23-20.  After losing to Bloomsburg University 26-15 in the second match, Mason closed the day strong with a 33-15 victory over Sacred Heart.

"We ended a long losing streak and it was really good to see the looks on everyone's faces," said Assistant Coach Tommy Owen.  "They had a sense of relief, happiness and enthusiasm.  They really thought they were going to win and that is something we haven't seen so far.  Hopefully this will get on us on the right track to start a new streak."

Mason came away with five victories in the dual against East Stroudsburg, including WBF's by redshirt senior co-captain Frankie McLaughlin IV at 174 pounds and preseason All-CAA Freshman Team selection Ryan Hembury at 184 pounds.  Other victories in the dual came from freshmen Zachary Isenhour at 133, Mike Bakuckas at 149 and Adam Barnette in the heavyweight division, who were all winners by major decision.

Isenhour, redshirt senior co-captain Denny Herndon III, McLaughlin (overtime) and Hembury (pin) also came away with victories in the loss against Bloomsburg University.

In Saturday's final dual of the day, Mason took home victories from Herndon at 141 pounds, Bakackus at 149 (forfeit), senior Menbagana Tovuujav at 197 (WBF), with Bakuckus, junior Jaaziah Bethea (157) and Barnette all winning by forfeit.

After a strenuous day of competition on Saturday, Mason took part in the Penn State University Open on Sunday.  Follow the link for the complete list of results from Sunday.

Mason will compete again on Saturday, December 10th in their first home match of the season against 7th ranked American University.  

"The things we have been working on and preaching are the things we need to take in to the dual," reflected Owen.  "We're really excited to battle such a great team in our first home competition of the season.  Joe Russell is one of the great head coaches in this sport and I think it will be really exciting for the wrestling community to watch the George Mason program grow.  Next Saturday will be a huge step for our program."

George Mason 23 East Stroudsburg 20

125       Zach Jones (ESU) WFB Chris Rodriguez (GMU), 6:41     ESU leads 6-0

133       Zachary Isenhour (GMU) maj dec Chris Davis (ESU), 11-3 ESU leads 6-4

141       Adam Hluschak (ESU) maj dec Daniel Pak (GMU), 11-3    ESU leads 10-4

149       Mike Bakuckas (GMU) dec. Andrew Ritchie (ESU), 6-2  ESU leads 10-7

157       Braden Turner (ESU) dec. Jaaziah Bethea (GMU), 4-0     ESU leads 13-7

165       Thad Frick (ESU) maj dec Ty Knepp (GMU), 18-9          ESU leads 17-7

174       Frankie McLaughlin IV (GMU) WBF Brenden McKeown, 2:24 ESU leads 17-13

184       Ryan Hembury (GMU) WBF James Gonzalez, 2:26          GMU leads 19-17

197       Ed Ebewo (ESU) dec Mendbagana Tovuujav 11-6               ESU leads 20-19

285       Adam Barnette (GMU) maj dec Joe Blaes (ESU), 8-0      GMU Wins 23-20  

Bloomsburg 26 George Mason 15                                                                                    
125   Dereck Enders (Newville/Big Spring) (Bloomsburg) won by pin over Chris Rodriguez (George Mason) 1:06.        
133   Zachary Isenhour (George Mason) won by decision over Craig Barker (Lecanto, FL/Citrus) (Bloomsburg) 9-7.                 
141   Denny Herndon III (George Mason) won by decision over Matthew Hicks (Bloomsburg) 5-3.         
149   Bryce Busler (Mechanicsburg/Cumberland Valley) (Bloomsburg) won by pin over Mike Bakuckas (George Mason) 3:36.      
157   Frank Hickman (Castle Hayne, NC/E.A. Laney) (Bloomsburg) won by tech fall over Shohei Takagi (George Mason) 6:30, 20-2.   
165   Kevin Hartnett (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) (Bloomsburg) won by decision over Ty Knepp (George Mason) 4-0.           
174   Frankie McLaughlin IV (George Mason) won in overtime over Mike Dessino (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) (Bloomsburg) 8-7.          
184   Ryan Hembury (George Mason) won by pin over Christopher Smith (Bloomsburg) 4:40.                  
197   Richard Perry (Meriden, CT/Middletown) (Bloomsburg) won by decision over Mendbagana Tovuujav (George Mason) 3-1.                 
285   Zachary Walsh (Bloomsburg) won by decision over Adam Barnette (George Mason) 2-0.

George Mason 33 Sacred Heart 15

125            Joe Harris (SHU) dec Chris Rodriguez (GMU), 10-7  SHU leads 3-0

133            Andrew Polidore (SHU) dec. Richard Lavorato (GMU), 9-6  SHU leads 6-0

141            Denny Herndon III (GMU) dec. Justin Belanger (SHU), 9-6  SHU leads 6-3

149            Mike Bakuckas (GMU) won by forfeit  GMU leads 9-6

157            Jaaziah Bethea (GMU) won by forfeit  GMU leads 15-6

165            Ty Knepp (GMU) won by forfeit  GMU leads 21-6

174            Jonathan Rizzitello (SHU) dec. Steve Swayze, 3-2  GMU leads 21-9

184            Zachary Moran (SHU) WBF Corey Smith (GMU), 4:22  GMU leads 21-15

197            Mendbagana Tovuujav (GMU) WBF Sam Morrison, 6:13  GMU leads 27-15

285            Adam Barnette (GMU) wins by forfeit  GMU wins 33-15