Annapolis, Md.- George Mason University's wrestling team started slow yet finished strong, winning three out of the final four matches which gave the Navy Midshipmen a late scare Wednesday night. Navy was up at one point 23-4, yet the Patriots nearly came all the way back, eventually succumbing to the Midshipmen, 26-18.
Redshirt sophomore Ibrahim Bunduka(125), redshirt senior captain Greg Flournoy(157) and redshirt freshman Tejon Anthony(141) all won by major decision while redshirt freshman Matt Voss(HWT) earned a victory by fall, with 4:52 seconds remaining in the match.
The dual started at the 149 pound weight division and for the second straight dual, Mason had to climb out of an early deficit.
After losing their first match, Flournoy dominated his opponent, winning by major decision, 9-0. In the first period, Flournoy earned two points for a takedown and two points for a near fall. The captain would end up earning an additional two points for a reversal and then two more points for another near fall, before being awarded a point for an escape in the third period.
This victory gave Mason an early lead, 4-3.
After losing the next four matches in a row, Voss was able to pin his opponent and earn the Patriots six points. Bunduka then wrestled with extreme intensity, producing three first period takedowns. Bunduka would eventually gain points for three more takedowns throughout the course of the match, in addition to a point for accumulated riding time, giving the Patriot the victory by major decision, 13-4.
In the final match of the dual, Anthony set the tone from the first period on, getting four points from two takedowns. Anthony also earned four near fall points in the first period, and went on to win the match by major decision, 14-5.
“To win four matches against a very good Navy team I thought was a positive,” head coach Joe Russell said. “Going into [the match against] Bloomsburg I think we'll be fired up and excited to be home.”
Mason's overall record slips to 6-9 overall, and remains at 1-3 in the Eastern Wrestling League. The team will wrestle against EWL adversary Bloomsburg Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
Results:
Navy 26, Mason 18
125 Ibraham Bunduka (GMU) maj. dec. Brant Leadbeter-N 13-4
133 Zack Davis-N dec. Vincent Rodriguez-(GMU) 8-4
141 Tejon Anthony-(GMU) maj. dec. Jimmy Morris-N 14-5
149 Corey Wilding-N dec. Blake Roulo-(GMU) 11-4
157 Greg Flournoy-(GMU) maj. dec Chad Walsh-N 9-0
165 Michael Coleman-N dec. Patrick Davis-(GMU) 4-0
174 Jadaen Bernstein-N tech. fall Daniel Mika-(GMU) 25-9
184 Mathew Miller-N fall Austin Harrison-(GMU) 1:52
197 Michael Woulfe-N fall Cameron Houston-(GMU) 2:39
285 Matthew Voss-(GMU) fall Mauro Correnti-N 4:52
