WRESTLING at American

WHEN:  Friday, Feb. 17 | 7 p.m.                                         
WHERE:  Bender Arena | Washington, D.C.
LIVE VIDEO:  Click here
LIVE STATS:  Click here or follow @GMUWrestling on Twitter WASHINGTON, D.C. – The George Mason wrestling team concludes the road portion of the regular season when it faces American at 7 p.m. on Friday at Bender Arena in Washington, D.C. 

Mason (6-11, 2-4 EWL) won seven of 10 bouts at Franklin and Marshall in a dominant 31-11 win last Saturday at Mayser Gym in Lancaster, Pa.  The Patriots have been strong on the road with a 5-3 record this season, after winning just once away from home during the 2015-16 campaign.

"I don't know if there's any magic to it," Mason head coach Joe Russell said.  "I know we do a really good job on the bench and the team rallies and fights for each other.  It's fun listening to the bench because they get into it."

Junior Ibrahim Bunduka (18-3), 31st in the NCAA Coaches Panel Rankings, recorded a 10-2 major decision at 125 pounds against the Diplomats.  He scored seven points over the final two periods to post his fifth major decision of the year.

For his effort, Bunduka was named the EWL Wrestler of the Week.

"It was great having Ibrahim recognized as EWL Wrestler of the Week," said Russell.  "He's earned the right to be in that conversation.  Friday night he has a big match against a highly-ranked opponent.  He loves to wrestle and score points and I know he'll give us his best effort."

Mason sophomore Tejon Anthony (17-9), who ranks 30th in RPI, picked up an 8-6 decision at 141 pounds in the first sudden victory his last time out.  Senior Sahid Kargbo (24-2), 24th in the NCAA Coaches Panel Rankings, notched his first pin of the season at 149 pounds against Franklin & Marshall.

The Patriots recorded a season-high three pins against the Diplomats.  Sophomore Austin Harrison (3-11) recorded the first pin of his collegiate career at 184 pounds, while classmate Matthew Voss (16-10) made quick work of his opponent at heavyweight with a pin in the first period.

Mason has 14 wrestlers with at least one pin to their credit this season.

Last season, Mason was defeated by American 27-11 in Fairfax.  The Patriots and Eagles split the first four bouts of the dual before American earned victories in five of the final six matches.

Ryan Forrest and Blake Roulo each won by decision, while Vince Rodriguez won by technical fall against the Eagles in last season's matchup.

Mason has just two duals remaining before the Eastern Wrestling League Championships on March 4 in Bloomsburg, Pa. 

"We definitely want to see our guys going out there and giving their best effort and having a great attitude," Russell said.  "If we can have confidence going into the conference tournament, whether we win or lose this weekend, it is important to build belief.  Going out and wrestling as hard as we can when the whistle blows is important."

Mason Probable Starters:

125: #31 R-Jr. Ibrahim Bunduka (Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams) 18-3
133: Fr. Lio Quezada (Winchester, Va./John Handley) 13-16
141: R-So. Tejon Anthony (Baltimore, Md./Western Tech) 17-9
149: #24 R-Sr. Sahid Kargbo (Alexandria, Va./Hayfield) 24-2
157: R-Fr. Matthew Raines (Warrenton, Va./Fauquier) 10-15
165: Jr. Daniel Mika (Fairfax, Va./Robinson) 4-14
174: R-Sr. Ryan Forrest (Reston, Va./South Lakes) 2-4
184: R-So. Austin Harrison (Baltimore, Md./Western Tech) 3-11
197: R-Sr. Matt Meadows (Medino, Ohio/Cuyohoga Valley Christian Academy) 4-13
HWT: R-So. Matthew Voss (Edgewood, Wa./Puyallup) 16-10

Scouting American:

American (4-8, 0-6 EIWA) won the first three and the last three matches in a 25-14 victory over Old Dominion on Sunday, Feb. 12 at Bender Arena.

Senior Esteban Gomez-Rivera picked up a decision at 133 pounds, sophomore Jack Mutchnik won by decision at 141 pounds and sophomore Michael Sprague recorded a pin at 149 pounds to give the Eagles a 12-0 match score lead.

The Monarchs then won four straight bouts at 157, 165, 174 and 184 pounds to take a one-point edge. The lead didn't last long, with American closing out the match with three straight victories to earn its fourth dual win of the season.

Eagles junior Jeric Kasunic won by fall at 197 pounds and classmate Brett Dempsey picked up a decision at 285 pounds, while sophomore Josh Terao claimed a major decision at 125 pounds.

The Eagles had suffered seven straight losses before the win over the Monarchs.  American fell to Army, North Carolina, Lehigh, Penn, Drexel, Bucknell and Binghamton during its losing streak.

All four of American's victories have been at home.  The Eagles beat Campbell 23-13 and Clarion 27-11 on Nov. 13, notched a 19-14 win over Wyoming on Jan. 6 in addition to their win over Old Dominion.

American has three wrestlers in the top-30 in the NCAA Coaches Panel Rankings. 

Terao, who is ranked 10th, has won five straight matches and 10 of his last 11.  Gomez-Rivera, ranked 26th in the nation, has won 13 of his last 14 bouts.  Kasunic, who is ranked 29th, is 3-3 in his last six matches.

American has won the last seven meetings against Mason.  The Patriots' last win over the Eagles was a 28-8 victory in Fairfax during the 2007-08 season.
    
Mat Facts:

American head coach Teague Moore was a four-year starter at Oklahoma State and won the 1998 NCAA Championship at 118 pounds with a pin in the finals.  He was a three-time All-American, two-time Big-12 Champion and ranks 18th in Cowboy history with a career record of 118-25.

Moore placed third at the 2000 and 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, won the 2002 Open National Championship and captured a silver medal at the 2003 World Cup.

A Pittsburgh native, Moore was the 1995 Pennsylvania State Champion while wrestling for North Allegheny High School.  Also a three-time State Freestyle Champion, Moore was inducted into the Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2008.

American Probable Starters:

125: #10 R-So. Josh Terao (Honolulu, Hawaii/Mid-Pacific Institute) 23-4
133: #26 R-Sr. Esteban Gomez-Rivera (Miami, Fla./Belen Jesuit Prep) 19-3
141: R-So. Jack Mutchnik (Owings Mills, Md./St. Paul's) 19-15
149: R-So. Michael Sprague (Olney, Md./Georgetown Prep) 19-13
157: R-Sr. Tom Page (Hamburg, N.Y./Eden Central) 11-10
165: R-Sr. Cole Moseley (Nashville, Tenn./Father Ryan) 7-16
174: R-So. Joe Salvi (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Carmel Catholic) 3-18
184: Sr. Jason Grimes (Atlanta, Ga./Holy Innocents Episcopal) 13-16
197: #29 Jr. Jeric Kasunic (Benton, Pa./Benton Area) 18-8
HWT: R-Jr. Brett Dempsey (Kalamazoo, Mich./Mattawan) 15-15