FAIRFAX, Va. – Seven different Patriots won their match on Sunday evening as the George Mason wrestling team (5-10) defeated the Virginia Military Institute (2-10) 22-12 in Mason's Recreation and Athletic Complex.

Leading 10-9 at halftime, Mason fell behind 12-10 one match after the break but the deficit was short-lived, as the final four matches of the evening were taken by the Patriots to give Mason its first home dual win of the season.

Redshirt sophomore Vincent Rodriguez gave the Patriots their first win of the evening, using five takedowns on the way to a 15-4 major decision victory over VMI's Michael Flora. The victory is Rodriguez's 11th of the season at 133lbs. as he recorded his team-leading fifth major decision that brought the dual to a score of 6-4 in favor of VMI after the first two matches.

Sahid Kargbo and Greg Flournoy each won their team-high fifteenth match of the season at 141lbs. and 157lbs., respectively to put Mason up at the break. Kargbo used an escape with 28 seconds remaining in the third period to propel him to his 4-2 victory over Emmitt Kelly and Flournoy prevented a late escape attempt by VMI's Ted Gottwald to secure his 2-0 decision win.

With Mason trailing 12-10 heading into the 174lb. match, freshman Zach Martinez shifted momentum in favor of the Patriots by coming away with a hard-fought 8-4 victory to put them permanently ahead for the remainder of the dual. Ryan Hembury, Matt Meadows and Jake Kettler would each win their match to give Mason the 22-12 victory.

The Patriots remain at home for the next weekend's dual against Franklin & Marshall. The action is scheduled to start at noon on January 25 in the RAC. The undefeated 1974 George Mason wrestling team will be honored at halftime.

VMI vs. Mason