WRESTLING at Clarion

WHEN:  Friday, Jan. 20 | 7 p.m.                                         
WHERE:  Tippin Gymnasium | Clarion, Pa.
LIVE STATS:  Click Here FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason wrestling team will face a road test when it returns to the mat in Eastern Wrestling League conference action on Friday, Jan. 20 against Clarion at 7 p.m. at Tippin Gymnasium in Clarion, Pa.
 
Mason (5-7, 2-1 EWL) has won four straight duals and will look to continue that momentum against the Golden Eagles. 

"It's an important conference match for us," Mason head coach Joe Russell said.  "Clarion has an unbelievable wrestling history and so many legends have gone through there.  For our guys to be able to compete at Clarion is an honor."

The Patriots have an overall record of 4-2 on the road and have won three in a row away from home.  Mason defeated Davidson 30-6 on Jan. 6 in Davidson, N.C., then downed SIU Edwardsville 21-15 and earned a 26-18 win over VMI on Jan. 7 in Lexington, Va.

Junior Ibrahim Bunduka (11-0) is ranked No. 20 in the nation at 125-pounds by TheOpenMat.com and is No. 24 in the NCAA Division I Coaches rankings.  He remained perfect on the season after recording a 12-8 decision in his match against Cleveland State junior John Martin last Sunday at the Recreation and Athletic Complex.

"It's exciting to see the hard work that Ibrahim has put in is starting to show up on the mat," Russell said.  "He's a guy that works hard in his preparation and he's a blast to watch compete.  Now that he's nationally recognized, I think that will reinforce what he's doing.  His attitude is contagious and that really helps our team."

Bunduka is one of only four wrestlers in the nation ranked in the top-20 by TheOpenMat.com at 125-pounds who have yet to suffer a loss.  There are only 25 wrestlers combined in all weight classes who rank in the top-20 by TheOpenMat.com who are undefeated, including Bunduka.

Quick starts have been the norm for Mason in the New Year.  The Patriots have stormed out to match score leads of at least 18 points in each of their last four matches. 

In their last four duals, the Patriots have totaled 28 individual wins.

Mason won the first four bouts against Davidson to take an 18-0 lead, won the first five bouts against SIUE for an 18-0 advantage, earned victories in the first four matches at VMI to build a 20-0 lead and won the first six matches against Cleveland State for a comfortable 19-0 cushion.

"Confidence and getting guys to believe is huge," said Russell of the team's fast starts.  "When you get some wins, it helps.  We have a tough weekend with Clarion and Edinboro but I know our guys are confident and that's going to help us when we compete."

Senior Sahid Kargbo (20-1) registered six takedowns, two in each period, in his 14-5 major decision at 149-pounds last weekend against the Vikings.  He has helped the Patriots score bonus points with nine of his 20 victories this season by major decision. 

Kargbo is ranked No. 21 in the latest NCAA Division I Coaches poll.

"Since he stepped in the room as a freshman, Sahid keeps getting better every day," Russell said.  "He has 20 wins right now and as he progresses through the season he'll be tough to beat when nationals roll around."

Kargbo is the first Mason wrestler to reach the 20-win plateau this season.  He has a record of 3-0 against conference foes.

Freshman Lio Quezada (11-13), sophomore Tejon Anthony (14-7), freshman Matthew Raines (8-12), seniors Ryan Forrest (1-0) and Matt Meadows (3-9), along with sophomore Matthew Voss (12-9) also earned individual victories against Cleveland State.

"The thing that has been special to watch is how the team is wrestling for each other," Russell added.  "When you are wrestling for more than yourself, it gives you a little extra edge.  That's been a positive for us." 

The Patriots have a four-match winning streak for the first time since the 2007-'08 season, when Mason won four duals in a row twice during the year.

The matchup against the Golden Eagles is the fourth of six Eastern Wrestling League contests for the Patriots.  Mason is 2-1 against conference opponents this season, with a 24-18 win Dec. 3 at Bloomsburg, a 25-10 loss Dec. 4 at Lock Haven and a 27-8 victory over Cleveland State.

"It's an important conference dual against Clarion and they'll be ready to go," said Russell.  "For us to go into their place, we'll have to have our A-game.  If our guys go out and fight for each other like always and give their best effort, we have a chance."

Mason defeated Clarion 22-18 last season at the Recreation and Athletic Complex in Fairfax.  Each team won five matches in the dual, with the Patriots earning the win because of bonus points.  Greg Flournoy, Forrest and Voss were among the Mason wrestlers who notched victories against the Golden Eagles in last season's meeting.

The Patriots also defeated the Golden Eagles 29-9 in the 2014-15 season and lead the all-time series 2-1.

Mason Probable Starters:

125: R-Jr. Ibrahim Bunduka (Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams) 11-0
133: Fr. Lio Quezada (Winchester, Va./John Handley) 11-13
141: R-So. Tejon Anthony (Baltimore, Md./Western Tech) 14-7
- or -  Fr. Logan Harvich (Chesapeake, Va./Cape Henry Collegiate) 4-6
149: R-Sr. Sahid Kargbo (Alexandria, Va./Hayfield) 20-1
157: R-Fr. Matthew Raines (Warrenton, Va./Fauquier) 8-12
165: Jr. Ryan Forrest (Reston, Va./South Lakes) 1-0
- or - Daniel Mika (Fairfax, Va./Robinson) 4-9
174  R-Sr. Patrick Davis (Bridgeville, Del./N.C. State) 9-8
184: R-So. Austin Harrison (Baltimore, Md./Western Tech) 2-7
- or - Sr. Andrew Thomas (Haymarket, Va./Battlefield) 0-6
197: R-Sr. Matt Meadows (Medina, Ohio/Cuyohoga Valley Christian Academy) 3-9
HWT: R-So. Matthew Voss (Edgewood, WA/Puyallup) 12-9

Scouting Clarion:

The Golden Eagles (3-6, 0-2 EWL) dropped their first four dual matches of the season, falling to Campbell 28-12 and American 27-11 on Nov. 13, Eastern Michigan 18-16 on Nov. 18 and at Edinboro 31-6 on Dec 19.

Clarion swept a doubleheader last Sunday in convincing fashion, losing just three bouts in two dual matches, including two in sudden victory.  The Golden Eagles won eight individual matches in a 28-5 win over Hofstra and claimed nine individual bouts in a 39-3 win over West Liberty University at Tippin Gymnasium in Clarion, Pa.

The Golden Eagles have won three straight at home by a combined score of 108-14.  Clarion downed Davidson 41-6 on Jan.8 to go along with wins over Hofstra and West Liberty University.

Sophomore Brock Zacherl is currently ranked No. 13 in the nation at 141-pounds by TheOpenMat.com.  He enters the weekend with a 15-6 overall record and has won his last six matches.

Mat Facts: 

Clarion alum and Golden Eagles Hall of Famer Kurt Angle will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2017. 

Angle, a Pittsburgh native, was a two-time All-American, won NCAA titles in 1990 and 1992 and went on to become world champion in 1995.  He finished his collegiate career with a 116-10-2 record and his 116 wins are the 12th-most in Golden Eagles program history.

Angle cemented his amateur wrestling legacy when he won the gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.  He won five matches, four in overtime, to capture the gold while wrestling with a broken neck.

In 1998, Angle made the jump to professional wrestling, where he became a four-time WWE Champion, along with winning Intercontinental, United States and Tag Team Championships.  He inspired fans and antagonized opponents with his "three I's" – intensity, integrity and intelligence.

Clarion Probable Starters:

125:  R-So. Jake Gromacki (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep)
133:  So. Roshaun Cooley (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport)
141:  No. 13 So. Brock Zacherl (Brookville, Pa./Brookville)
149:  R-Sr. Jake Keller (Curwensville, Pa./Curwensville)
157:  R-Fr. Taylor Cahill (Berlin, Pa./Berlin Brothersvalley)
165:  Jr. Evan DeLong (Kane, Pa./Kane)
174:  R-Jr. Dom Rigous (Warrington, Pa./C.B. South)
184:  R-Sr. Scott Marmoll (Marietta, Ga./Lassiter)
197:  R-Sr. Dustin Conti (Jefferson, Pa./Jefferson-Morgan)
HWT: Sr. Evan Daley (Erie, Pa./Fort LeBoeuf)