2018 NCAA DIVISION I NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
WHEN: Thursday, March 15 | First Round: 12 p.m. (ESPNU/ESPN3)
Second Round: 7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN3)
Friday, March 16 | Quarterfinals: 11 a.m. (ESPNU/ESPN3)
Semifinals: 8 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN3)
Saturday, March 17 | Championship Medal Round: 11 a.m. (ESPNU/ESPN3)
Finals: 8 p.m. (ESPN2/ESPN3)
WHERE: Quicken Loans Arena | Cleveland, Ohio
DAILY SCHEDULE |
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CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The George Mason wrestling team will send three student-athletes as national qualifiers to the 2018 NCAA Wrestling Championships. Senior
Ibrahim Bunduka and juniors
Tejon Anthony and
Matthew Voss will compete for national titles beginning Thursday, March 15 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
Bunduka, from Alexandria, Va., qualified for the NCAA Championships for the second straight year at 125 pounds. He finished the season with a record of 23-12 and earned bonus points in eight of his 35 bouts. Bunduka recorded six major decisions and two technical falls during the season.
Bunduka was named the Eastern Wrestling League's Wrestler of the Week for the week ending January 14.
Anthony, a native of Baltimore, Md., had a 21-13 record during the season, with two falls, two technical falls and four major decisions.
Voss, from Edgewood, Wash., posted a 23-11 record during the season. He earned bonus points in 11 matches, led the team with six falls and was second on the squad with five major decisions.
"It's the first time in 17 years that we've had three wrestlers in the NCAA Championships," Mason head coach
Frank Beasley said. "It's a great learning experience for all three and they are all great representatives of our program."
All three have thrived in tournament settings throughout the season.
Bunduka recorded four decisions to place second at the Eastern Wrestling League Championships to punch his ticket to the NCAA Championships.
At the Southern Scuffle held Jan. 1-2 in Chattanooga, Tenn., Bunduka placed eighth. He then went 3-0 with a pair of decisions and a 15-7 major decision at the Franklin & Marshall Open on Jan. 6 in Lancaster, Pa.
Anthony placed sixth at the Navy Classic on Nov. 18 in Annapolis, Md. and was second at the Franklin & Marshall Open on Jan. 6 in Lancaster, Pa., where he recorded five straight victories to advance to the championship match at 149 pounds.
Anthony began the day with a 14-5 major decision over Andrew Mauriello (Drexel). He then picked up four straight decisions on his way to the final match.
Anthony won two matches at the EWL Championships with a 13-3 major decision over Bloomsburg's Shawn Orem and a sudden victory over Rider's Tyson Dippery.
Voss placed third at the EWL Championships. He began the day with a 3-2 decision over Rider's Mauro Correnti and then registered a 5-3 decision over Cleveland State's Collin Kelly. In the third place match, Voss notched a 3-2 win in sudden victory against Correnti.
Voss finished sixth at the Navy Classic. He posted four wins at the Franklin & Marshall Open, with two victories by fall, one by major decision and another in sudden victory. Voss also won three matches at the Southern Scuffle.
Bunduka will face Northwestern freshman Sebastian Rivera (26-5) in the opening round. Rivera is seeded tenth after earning a fifth-place finish at the Big Ten tournament.
"He knows what to expect so he should be well prepared for it," Beasley said. "It's always exciting to compete at the highest level and he's excited and eager to compete."
While Bunduka is making a return trip the the NCAA Championships, Anthony and Voss are first-time qualifiers.
"It's their first time here but if they go out and compete hard and execute, good things are going to happen," said Beasley. "They've wrestled for years now and it's just a higher level of competition. At the end of the day, it's just a wrestling match. They have to take it one match at a time and not focus on the tournament, location and the crowd."
Anthony will begin the tournament against Lehigh freshman Luke Karam (20-7), who is seeded 13th after a third-place finish in the EIWA tournament.
Voss will battle Michigan's Adam Coon (25-1) in his opening match. Coon enters the NCAA Championships as the second seed at 285 pounds after suffering his first loss of the season in double overtime in the Big Ten heavyweight final.
The 88th NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships begin on Thursday, March 15 at 12 p.m. at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
