WRESTLING vs. SIU Edwardsville and VMI
WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 7 | 12 p.m.
WHERE: Cormack Hall | Lexington, Va.
LIVE STATS vs. SIU Edwardsville: Click Here
LIVE STATS vs. VMI: Click Here
FAIRFAX, Va. – The Patriots are back on the mat in Tri-Meet action on Saturday, Jan. 7, facing SIU Edwardsville at 12 p.m. and VMI at 2 p.m. at Cormack Hall in Lexington, Va.
Mason (2-7, 1-1 EWL) won eight of 10 bouts in its 30-6 win at Davidson on Friday.
"I think we are wrestling well as a team and we just have to keep moving forward and building confidence," Mason assistant coach
Mark Weader said. "This is the exciting time of the year as we build to our conference matches in the next few weeks. It's important to keep the momentum going."
Sophomore
Austin Harrison (1-5) began the match against Davidson with a decision at 184-pounds to earn his first win of the season. Senior
Matt Meadows (2-7) followed with a major decision at 197-pounds.
Sophomore
Matthew Voss (11-8) recorded his first major decision of the season, with a 12-4 win at heavyweight and junior
Ibrahim Bunduka (7-0) stayed unbeaten on the season when he picked up a technical fall against the Wildcats at 125-pounds.
"Coach Russell always talks about mindset," Voss said. "To be able to go into the next match with a solid win will be good for us."
Mason freshman
Logan Harvich (5-6) claimed his second major decision of the season at 141-pounds, senior
Sahid Kargbo (17-1) picked up his eighth major decision of the year at 149-pounds, while junior
Daniel Mika (5-6) claimed a decision at 165-pouunds and senior
Patrick Davis won by decision at 174-pounds.
Against Davidson, the Patriots won four bouts by major decision, one by technical fall and three by decision.
Mason has won four straight duals against VMI.
"VMI is a rivalry match for us and for years we have had tough matches with the Keydets," Weader said. "It's always a fun place to wrestle. They have one of the best home-mat advantages in the country and they always have a great crowd."
While the Patriots and Keydets have faced each other over the last four years, Mason isn't as familiar with SIU Edwardsville.
"It will be a challenge to face Southern Illinois," said Weader of the matchup against an unfamiliar foe. "They have some talented individuals and have wrestled some tough teams so far this season. It's going to be a tough match for us, but we are looking forward to it and it will be a great experience."
Mason Probable Starters:
125: R-Jr.
Ibrahim Bunduka (Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams) 7-0
133: Fr.
Lio Quezada (Winchester, Va./John Handley) 9-12
141: R-So.
Tejon Anthony (Baltimore, Md./Western Tech) 11-7
- or - Fr.
Logan Harvich (Chesapeake, Va./Cape Henry Collegiate) 4-6
149: R-Sr.
Sahid Kargbo (Alexandria, Va./Hayfield) 17-1
157: R-Fr.
Matthew Raines (Warrenton, Va./Fauquier) 6-11
165 Jr.
Daniel Mika (Fairfax, Va./Robinson) 4-6
174 R-Sr.
Patrick Davis (Bridgeville, Del./N.C. State) 9-7
184: R-So.
Austin Harrison (Baltimore, Md./Western Tech) 1-5
- or - Sr.
Andrew Thomas (Haymarket, Va./Battlefield) 0-6
197: R-Sr.
Matt Meadows (Medina, Ohio/Cuyohoga Valley Christian Academy) 2-7
HWT: R-So.
Matthew Voss (Edgewood, WA/Puyallup) 10-8
Scouting SIU Edwardsville:
The Cougars will be searching for their first win of the season after dropping their first six dual matches of the year. SIUE kept its first two matches close, but began the season with a 25-13 loss to North Dakota State and then suffered a 21-16 setback against Indiana on Dec. 4.
SIUE wrestlers won four bouts against the Bison and five against the Hoosiers, with John Muldoon, Jake Residori and Jake Tindle earning a win in each dual.
In their last two dual matches, the Cougars fell to No. 21 Appalachian State 39-4 on Dec. 18 and lost to Purdue 35-9 on Dec. 19.
SIU Edwardsville Probable Starters:
125: Sr. Freddie Rodriguez (10-4)
133: R-So. John Muldoon (5-6)
141: R-Jr. Trevor Feagans (11-10)
149: R-Fr. Tyshaw Williams (11-11) -or- Sr. John Fahy (6-7)
157: R-Jr. Karsten Van Velsor (6-13)
165: Sr. Clayton Bass (9-8)
174: R-Sr. Jake Residori (8-9)
184: So. Jake Godinez (3-16)
197: R-Sr. Jake Tindle (11-6)
HWT: R-So. Jake McKiernan (15-6)
Scouting VMI:
The Patriots have won their last four duals against VMI, including a 16-15 victory last season.
The Keydets are wrestling at home for the first time this season. VMI is 0-4 this season in dual meets. Two of the Keydets losses have been against teams ranked in the top-25. VMI fell to then-No. 6 Virginia Tech 39-6 on Nov. 5 in Blacksburg, Va. and suffered a 41-5 loss to then-No. 23 Chattanooga on Nov. 10.
In their last two duals, the Keydets dropped a 30-19 decision at Franklin & Marshall on Dec. 2 in Lancaster, Pa. and were defeated 29-13 by Gardner-Webb on Dec. 9 in Boiling Springs, N.C.
VMI has competed in four tournaments this season, and finished seventh in the Lock Haven Classic on Dec. 29 in Lock Haven, Pa. Sophomore Neal Richards won four matches to claim his first career individual title at 157-pounds. He has won his last seven bouts.
Senior Dalton Henderson finished third at 125-pounds and classmate Shabaka Johns placed fourth at 174-pounds at the Lock Haven Classic.
VMI Probable Starters:
125: Sr. Dalton Henderson (15-6)
133: Jr. Michael Hulcher (8-2) -or- Fr. Kevin Keaveney (0-7)
141: So. John Reed (0-9)
149: So. Stevan Smith (4-8) -or- Jr. Alex Rinehart (6-6)
157: So. Neal Richards (14-2)
165: Fr. Cade Kiely (2-8)
174: Sr. Shabaka Johns (8-9)
184: Fr. Chris Beck (3-10) -or- Sr. Jake Koch (0-6)
197: Jr. Taylor Thomas (2-9)
HWT: Fr. Thomas Shea-Roop (0-4)
