FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason wrestling team split a pair of duals on Thursday, defeating Cleveland State, 26-19, before falling to Columbia, 24-21, at the Recreation Athletic Center in Fairfax.

With the match against Cleveland State starting at 165 pounds, Mason (5-3, 2-1 EWL) redshirt junior Colston DiBlasi (20-8, 4-1) opened up an 8-0 lead with a takedown and six near-fall points in the first period against Vikings senior John Vaughn. 

DiBlasi went on to record an 11-0 major decision for his 20th win of the season.

At 174 pounds, redshirt freshman Cornelius Schuster (10-5, 4-2) notched his third pin of the season at 1:26 of the first period against Vikings sophomore Colton Carroll to increase the Mason match score lead to 10-0.

Mason redshirt sophomore Philip Stolfi (6-7, 3-1) led 3-2 after one period at 184 pounds and 8-4 after the second after a late reversal against Cleveland State junior Chris Morrow.  Stolfi improved to 3-1 on the season in dual matches after his victory by 8-5 decision.

The Vikings then picked up a 13-4 major decision at 197 pounds to cut the Patriots lead to 10-3.

Mason redshirt senior Matthew Voss (21-4, 6-1) scored with a takedown midway through the first period and then added eight near-fall points to take a 10-0 lead over Vikings senior Collin Kelly in the heavyweight bout.

Voss extended the advantage to 14-1 heading into the final frame and cruised to a 16-1 technical fall for his 21st victory of the season.  The senior captain has earned bonus points in nine of his wins on the year.

Cleveland State recorded pins at 125 and 133 pounds to trim the Patriots advantage to 18-16.

In a pivotal bout at 141 pounds, Mason freshman Julio Alegria scored a takedown late in the first period to take a 2-0 lead over Vikings sophomore Mike Santillo.

After Alegria was called for his second stalling of the match in the final seconds of the third period, the bout went to overtime tied 2-2, where Santillo scored a takedown for a 4-2 decision to put the Vikings in front 19-18.

Mason redshirt senior Tejon Anthony (21-6, 6-1) responded in the 149-pound matchup.

Anthony stormed out to a 14-3 lead over Cleveland State freshman Brady Barnett through two periods and notched a 19-4 technical fall to give the Patriots a 23-19 match-score lead.

Freshman Kolby Ho (16-7, 6-1) preserved the win for the Patriots with a 7-5 decision over Vikings sophomore Nico O'Dor at 157 pounds.

In the second dual of the evening, DiBlasi (21-8, 5-1) posted his 14th pin of the season, winning by fall at 165 pounds over Columbia junior Laurence Kosoy with one second remaining in the third period. 

At 174 pounds, Schuster (11-5, 5-2) won his second bout of the day with a 4-2 decision over Columbia senior Max Elling to make the score 9-0 Mason.

The Lions picked up a 13-4 major decision at 184 pounds and a 5-1 decision at 197 pounds to cut the Patriots lead to 9-7.

In the heavyweight matchup, Voss (22-4, 7-1) scored a takedown late in the third period against Columbia sophomore Daniel Herman for a 3-2 decision.  Voss won both of his matches on the day to improve to 7-1 in duals this season.

Columbia won by technical fall, 17-2, at 125 pounds to make the score 12-12.

Mason junior Spencer Reed won by forfeit at 133 pounds to put the Patriots back in front 18-12, but Columbia freshman Danny Fongaro won by fall at 141 pounds to even the match, 18-18.

At 149 pounds, Anthony (22-6, 7-1) capped off his perfect day with a 6-2 decision over Columbia sophomore Riley Jacobs to give the Patriots a 21-18 advantage with one match remaining.

In the final bout of the evening, Ho was shaken up in the first period and fell to Lions senior Dan Reed by medical forfeit, with Columbia taking the match 24-21.

The Patriots are back in action Sunday, Jan. 13 when they host The Citadel at 12 p.m. at the Recreation Athletic Complex.

George Mason 26, Cleveland State 19

165 | Colston DiBlasi (Mason) major decision over John Vaughn (CSU), 11-0 | 4-0 Mason
174 | Cornelius Schuster (Mason) fall over Colton Carroll (CSU), 1:26 | 10-0 Mason
184 | Philip Stolfi (Mason) decision over Chris Morrow (CSU), 8-5 | 13-0  Mason
197 | Ben Smith (CSU) major decision over Alex Donahue (Mason), 13-4 | 13-4 Mason
285 | Matthew Voss (Mason) technical fall over Collin Kelly (CSU), 16-1 (5:50) | 18-4 Mason
125 | Cameron Lathem (CSU) fall over Talha Farooq (Mason), 4:51 | 18-10 Mason
133 | Armando Torres (CSU) fall over Spencer Reed (Mason), :59 | 18-16 Mason
141 | Mike Santillo (CSU) decision over Julio Alegria (Mason), 4-2 (SV-1) | 19-18 CSU
149 | Tejon Anthony (Mason) technical fall over Brady Barnet (CSU), 19-4 (6:42) | 23-19 Mason  
157 | Kolby Ho (Mason) decision over Nico O'Dor (CSU), 7-5 | 26-19 Mason

Columbia 24, George Mason 21

165 | Colston DiBlasi (Mason) fall over Laurence Kosoy (Columbia), 6:59 | 6-0 Mason
174 | Cornelius Schuster (Mason) decision over Max Elling (Columbia), 4-2 | 9-0 Mason
184 | Brian Bonino (Columbia) major decision over Paul Pierce (Mason), 13-4 | 9-4 Mason
197 | Sam Wustefeld (Columbia) decision over Alex Donahue (Mason), 5-1 | 9-7 Mason
285 | Matthew Voss (Mason) decision over Daniel Herman (Columbia), 3-2 | 12-7 Mason
125 | Joe Manchio (Columbia) technical fall over Talha Farooq (Mason), 17-2 (4:33) | 12-12
133 | Spencer Reed (Mason) by forfeit | 18-12 Mason
141 | Danny Fongaro (Columbia) fall over Julio Alegria (Mason), 1:32 | 18-18
149 | Tejon Anthony (Mason) decision over Riley Jacobs (Columbia), 6-2 | 21-18 Mason
157 | Dan Reed (Columbia) medical forfeit over Kolby Ho (Mason), 2:54 | 24-21 Columbia