FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason wrestling team dropped two home duals on Friday, with a 31-7 loss to North Dakota State in its first match and a 38-3 setback to Maryland in the second match of the night on Friday at the Recreation Athletic Complex.
Mason (1-6, 1-1 EWL) fell behind North Dakota State (4-2, 1-1 Big 12) after No. 5 Josh Rodriguez, a two-time NCAA qualifier, won by fall at 125-pounds, posting his ninth win of the season to put the Bison up 6-0. North Dakota State increased the match score advantage to 9-0 with a decision at 133-pounds.
Patriot's sophomore Tejon Anthony (8-4) won by major decision at 141-pounds, recording five takedowns in the 13-4 victory to cut the Bison match score lead to 9-4. Senior Sahid Kargbo (10-0) then registered a 5-3 decision at 149-pounds to stay unbeaten and cut the North Dakota State match score lead to 9-7. Kargbo improved to 6-0 in duals this season with the win.
North Dakota State, which entered the weekend with three wrestlers ranked in the top-20 nationally, won the final six bouts of the match to earn the 31-7 victory over Mason.
"I think we can learn a lesson from North Dakota State," Mason head coach Joe Russell said. "They wrestled with great attitude and when a team gives that kind of effort good things happen. It's about attitude and effort and performance matters. I expect more and I know they are a lot better than they showed tonight. They'll be back."
In the second match of the night, Maryland (2-3, 0-0 BIG TEN) won the first six bouts over Mason from 125-pounds to 165-pounds to build a 28-0 match score lead.
At 149-pounds, a much-anticipated clash between two unbeaten wrestlers didn't disappoint. Kargbo (10-1) suffered his first defeat of the season when Maryland sophomore Alfred Bannister picked up his fourth overtime win of the year, recording an escape point for a 2-1 decision in the tiebreaker. Bannister, who improved to 11-0, entered the weekend ranked 12th in the nation.
"For Sahid, in his last match, it came down to a ride out situation," Russell said. "We wanted to see him come out on top. He's a guy who gets better every day and he'll learn from it."
Mason senior Patrick Davis (7-7) posted the lone win of the match for the Patriots, recording a takedown against Terrapins freshman Sam Rowell in overtime for a 6-4 sudden victory. Four of the 10 matches against Maryland went to sudden victory.
The Patriots are back on the mat on Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. against Virginia in Richmond, Va.
North Dakota State 31, George Mason 7
125 | #5 Josh Rodriguez (NDSU) fall over Trevor Mello (Mason), 4:11 (6-0)
133 | Albert Landeros (NDSU) decision over Lio Quezada (Mason), 6-5 (9-0)
141 | Tejon Anthony (Mason) major decision over Taylor Nein (NDSU), 13-4 (9-4)
149 | Sahid Kargbo (Mason) decision over Mitch Friedman (NDSU), 5-3 (9-7)
157 | #9 Clay Ream (NDSU) fall over Mike Sicola (Mason), 6:50 (15-7)
165 | #19 Andrew Fogarty (NDSU) major decision over Garrett Tingen (Mason), 9-1 (19-7)
174 | Carter Nielsen (NDSU) decision over Patrick Davis (Mason), 4-0 (22-7)
184 | Tyler McNutt (NDSU) decision over Daniel Mika (Mason), 4-0 (25-7)
197 | Cordell Eaton (NDSU) decision over Matt Meadows (Mason), 9-3 (28-7)
285 | Ben Tynan (NDSU) decision over Matthew Voss (Mason), 5-1 (31-7)
Maryland 38, George Mason 3
125 | Alex Vargas (MD) fall over Quinton Tucker (Mason), 4:11 (6-0)
133 | Jhared Simmons (MD) decision over Logan Harvich (Mason), 7-4 (9-0)
141 | Billy Rappo (MD) fall over Tejon Anthony (Mason), 6:45 (15-0)
149 | #12 Alfred Bannister (MD) decision over Sahid Kargbo (Mason), 2-1 (TB-1) (18-0)
157 | Danny Boychuck (MD) fall over Mike Sicola (Mason), 6:50 (24-0)
165 | Patrick Gerish (MD) major decision over Garrett Tingen (Mason), 11-0 (28-0)
174 | Patrick Davis (Mason) decision over Sam Rowell (MD), 6-4 (SV-1) (28-3)
184 | Idris White (MD) decision over Daniel Mika (Mason), 3-1 (SV-1) (31-3)
197 | David-Brian Whisler (MD) major decision Matt Meadows (Mason), 19-7 (35-3)
285 | Youssif Hemida (MD) decision over Matthew Voss (Mason), 3-1 (SV-1), (38-3)
