WRESTLING vs. Bloomsburg / at Sacred Heart
WHEN:  Saturday, Dec. 2 | 12 p.m. / Sunday, Dec. 3 | 5 p.m.
WHERE:  Recreation Athletic Complex | Fairfax, Va. / William H. Pitt Center | Fairfield, Conn.
COVERAGE vs. Bloomsburg:  Live video ($) | Follow @GMUWrestling on Twitter

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FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason wrestling team hosts Bloomsburg (Pa.) in the Eastern Wrestling League opener on Saturday at 12 p.m. at the Recreation Athletic Complex in Fairfax, Va.  The Patriots will then take on Sacred Heart at 5 p.m. on Sunday at the William H. Pitt Center in Fairfield, Conn.

Mason (1-3, 0-0 EWL) fell to No. 22 Oregon State 32-9 on Nov. 16 in the first home dual of the season.  Redshirt senior Ibrahim Bunduka won by forfeit at 125 pounds, while freshman Creed Lumpp recorded a takedown in the final seconds of his match at 165 pounds to earn a 6-4 decision against the Beavers.

Last time out, the Patriots finished tied for 14^th with 32.5 points at the Navy Classic on Nov. 18 at the Wesley Brown Field House in Annapolis, Md.  Senior Matthew Voss notched two pins on the day and placed sixth at 285 pounds, while redshirt junior Tejon Anthony won four bouts in the consolation round, including a pin, to place sixth at 141 pounds.

"We took a break over Thanksgiving, which I think they needed," Mason head coach Frank Beasley said.  "They needed some time to reset and evaluate where they are in the season."

The contest against Bloomsburg will mark the second straight season that the Patriots have faced the Huskies to open EWL competition. 

The Patriots earned a 24-18 win over the Huskies at Nelson Field House on Dec. 3, 2016.  In the final match of the day, Matt Meadows won by fall in the first period at 197 pounds to break an 18-18 tie.

"You try not to look at one match more than any other match," Beasley said.  "You want to put the same focus and effort into every match.  Bloomsburg will be a good test for where our team is and I'm excited for the match."

The Patriots have won the last three meetings against the Huskies.  Bloomsburg is 7-3 all-time against Mason.

"For me personally, being that Bloomsburg is my alma mater, it gives me a little bit of extra motivation," Beasley said.  "Bloomsburg has competed well so far this year.  There's a lot of pride in that program and they have produced national champions.  Within the EWL there are a lot programs that have a great history and you always want to represent your conference well."

It will be a busy weekend for the Patriots.  After the match against Bloomsburg on Saturday, Mason will face Sacred Heart on Sunday in Fairfield, Conn.

"It can be challenging to wrestle at home and travel the next day for a match," said Beasley.  "We are going to approach it as a way to overcome adversity.  You always want to have the team wrestle with intensity and focus, especially in front of the home crowd."

MASON PROBABLE STARTERS

125 | RSr. Ibrahim Bunduka (Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams)
- or - RFr. Victor Echeverria (Centreville, Va./Centreville)
133 | So. Trevor Mello (Gainesville, Va./Battlefield)
- or - Fr. Jose Tapia (Sant Fe, NM/Capitol)
141 | RJr. Tejon Anthony (Baltimore, Md./Western Tech)
149 | RSo. Matthew Raines (Warrenton, Va./Fauquier)
157 | RFr. Creed Lumpp (Christiansburg, Va./Christiansburg)
- or - Bryce Reddington (Eagleville, Pa./Methacton)
165 | RJr. Brendan May (Springfield, Va./Paul VI Catholic)
174 | Fr. Levko Higgins (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area)
184 | RJr. Austin Harrison (Baltimore, Md./Western Tech)
- or - Philip Stolfi (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Area)
197 | RFr. Eli Spencer (Columbus, Ohio/Stuttgart)
285 | RJr. Matthew Voss (Edgewood, WA/Puyallup)

SCOUTING BLOOMSBURG

Bloomsburg finished the 2016-17 season with an overall dual record of 4-17, including a mark of 0-6 against Eastern Wrestling League opponents.  The Huskies went 2-8 at home, 1-6 on the road and 1-3 in duals held at a neutral site.

The Huskies (1-2, 0-0 EWL) placed third at the Mat Town Open on Nov. 26 in Lock Haven, Pa., with four wrestlers placing in the top four in their weight class.

Redshirt sophomore Trevor Allard placed second at 184 pounds, classmate Bruce Graeber placed second at 285 pounds, freshman Logan Womelsdorf took third at 197 pounds and freshman Anthony Vetrano notched a fourth place finish at 165 pounds.

Bloomsburg defeated Davidson 43-0 and fell 28-7 to Appalachian State on Nov. 11 at the Mountaineer Duals in Boone, N.C. 

Last time out, the Huskies dropped a 19-18 decision to Indiana when the Hoosiers picked up a 7-5 decision in overtime at 285 pounds in the final bout of the match.

BLOOMSBURG PROBABLE STARTERS

125 | Drew Massetti (Kennett Square, Pa./Kennett)
133 | Andy Schutz (Exeter, Pa./Wyoming Area)
141 | Braden Stahlnecker (Hughesville, Pa./Hughesville)
149 | Ryan Stocku (Media, Pa./Penncrest)
- or - Evan Campbell (Berwick, Pa./Central)
157 | Kevin Laubach (Berwick, Pa./Berwick)
165 | Anthony Vetrano (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North)
- or - Nate Newberry (Biglerville, Pa. Biglerville)
174 | Kyle Murphy (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan)
184 | Trevor Allard (Mexico, N.Y./Mexico)
197 | Logan Womelsdorf (Benton, Pa./Northwest Area)
285 | Bruce Graeber (Feasterville, Pa./Neshaminy)

SCOUTING SACRED HEART

Sacred Heart finished the 2016-17 season with an overall dual record of 2-12.  The Pioneers went 0-5 at home, 1-6 on the road and 1-1 in duals held at a neutral site.

The Pioneers have dropped their first three duals of the season.  Sacred Heart fell 53-0 to Oklahoma University, 32-10 to The Citadel and dropped a 24-19 decision to Castleton University on Nov. 11 at the Journeyman Classic in Albany, N.Y. 

Sacred Heart (0-3) finished 12th at the Keystone Classic held on Sunday, Nov. 19, in Philadelphia, Pa.

Head coach John Clark begins his first year at the helm of the Pioneers.  A graduate of Ohio State University, Clark ranks fourth in Buckeyes history with 134 wins, was a four-time NCAA qualifier, two-time All-America selection and two-time Big Ten wrestling finalist.

The Patriots closed out the 2016-17 season with a 26-17 victory over the Pioneers on Feb. 19, 2017 at the Recreation Athletic Complex.

SACRED HEART PROBABLE STARTERS

125 | Ryan Burns (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence)
133 | Timmy Johnson (Greenlawn, N.Y./Harborfields)
- or - Shaun Williams (Danbury, Conn./Danbury)
141 | Chris Cornell (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac)
- or - Hunter Adams (Palmer, Mass./Williston Northhampton)
149 | Alex Harnsberger (Hissboro, Ore./Jesuit)
- or - Jay Oakes (Middle Grove, N.Y./Peru)
157 | Paul Klee (Santa Rose, Ca./Cardinal Newman)
165 | Joe Eiden (Farmingville, N.Y./Sachem East)
- or - Pat O'Donnell (Toms River, N.J./Toms River)
174 | Dom Celli (Katonah, N.Y./Somers)
184 | Thomas Grosso (Roselle Park, N.J./Seton Hall Prep)
197 | Mark Boyle (Rawley, Mass./Triton Regional)
285 | John Hartnett (Tappan, N.Y./Tappan Zee)

MAT FACT

Mason head coach Frank Beasley enjoyed an elite wrestling career at Lincoln College and Bloomsburg, where he was a team captain and finished fourth at the 2006 EWL Championships.  He accumulated 90 collegiate wins with nearly half coming by pin.

Beasley was a two-time Academic All-American, four-year National Dean's List honoree and recipient of education and English department honors at Bloomsburg, where he earned a dual degree in 2006.  He also earned his master's degree in curriculum and instruction from Bloomsburg, graduating Summa Cum Laude.

Beasley was an assistant coach at his alma mater for two seasons, helping the Huskies produce nine national qualifiers and the program's first All-American in more than a decade.