CLARION, Pa. – The George Mason wrestling team fell to Clarion in Eastern Wrestling League action, 27-16, on Thursday evening at the Marwick-Boyd Auditorium in Clarion, Pa.

Mason (6-4, 2-2 EWL) took the lead over Clarion (5-4, 2-0 EWL) when redshirt sophomore Talha Farooq (4-13, 3-7) began the match with a 7-6 decision at 125 pounds over sophomore Gavin Park. 

Farooq trailed 5-4 after the first period and 6-4 after the second period, but tied the score with a reversal in the final frame before posting the victory.

The Golden Eagles then recorded a pin at 133 pounds to take a 6-3 match-score lead.

At 141 pounds, freshman Julio Alegria (3-13, 2-7) took control early and built a 7-2 lead over Clarion sophomore Jalin Hankerson heading into the second period.

Alegria notched his second pin in as many bouts at 3:44 to put the Patriots back in front, 9-6. 

Clarion then registered a pair of close decisions, 4-3 at 149 pounds and 8-7 at 157 pounds, to take the lead in the match, 12-9.

Mason redshirt junior Colston DiBlasi (23-8, 7-1) trailed 2-1 going into the third period at 165 pounds, but scored with an escape and a takedown on the way to a 5-2 decision over Golden Eagles senior Evan Delong. 

With the Patriots and Golden Eagles tied 12-12, Clarion picked up a 3-2 decision at 174 pounds, followed by back-to-back falls at 184 and 197 pounds to take a 27-12 advantage.

In the heavyweight bout, Mason redshirt senior Matthew Voss (24-4, 9-1) led Clarion sophomore Toby Cahill 5-2 heading into the third period on the way to a 14-6 major decision. 

Voss, who leads the team with 24 victories, has earned bonus points in 11 of his victories this season.

The Patriots are back in action when they host Edinboro in an Eastern Wrestling League matchup on Sunday, Jan. 27 at 12 p.m. at the Recreation Athletic Complex.

Clarion 27, George Mason 16

125 | Talha Farooq (Mason) decision over Gavin Park (Clarion), 7-6 | 3-0 Mason
133 | Seth Koleno (Clarion) fall over Spencer Reed (Mason), :33 | 6-3 Clarion
141 | Julio Alegria (Mason) fall over Jalin Hankerson (Clarion), 3:44 | 9-6 Mason
149 | Joe Sliwoski (Clarion) decision over Justin Yorkdale (Mason), 4-3 | 9-9
157 | Mike Bartolo (Clarion) decision over Tejon Anthony (Mason), 8-7 | 12-9 Clarion
165 | Colston DiBlasi (Mason) decision over Evan Delong (Clarion), 5-2 | 12-12
174 | Max Wohlabaugh (Clarion) decision over Cornelius Schuster (Mason), 3-2 | 15-12 Clarion
184 | Ty Bagoly (Clarion) fall over Philip Stolfi (Mason), 1:14 | 21-12 Clarion
197 | Greg Bulsak (Clarion) fall over Alex Donahue (Mason), 1:13 | 27-12 Clarion
285 | Matthew Voss (Mason) major decision over Toby Cahill (Clarion), 14-6 | 27-16 Clarion