FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason wrestling team won eight straight matches and defeated Franklin & Marshall, 36-10, on Saturday night at Mayser Gym in Lancaster, Pa.

With the win, Mason (8-5, 3-3 EWL) improved to 5-2 on the road this season.

"I'm really proud of the way our guys competed tonight," Mason head coach Frank Beasley said.  "They were aggressive and hustling from start to finish.  It was nice to beat a team that we lost to last year.  We had a couple of student-athletes score bonus points on wrestlers who they lost to last year."

Franklin & Marshall (2-7, 0-5 EIWA) picked up a 13-3 major decision at 125 pounds to take and early lead, but the Patriots won the next eight bouts, earning bonus points in six of the matches.  Mason recorded two pins, three major decisions and also won by forfeit.

Mason redshirt sophomore Talha Farooq trailed Franklin & Marshall sophomore Michael Simonetti, 1-0, going into the third period. 

Farooq scored nine points in the final frame, including a takedown and four near-fall points, to earn a 9-1 major decision at 133 pounds.

Mason freshman Julio Alegria (6-14, 5-8) won by forfeit at 141 pounds to put the Patriots in front 10-4.

At 149 pounds, Mason redshirt senior Tejon Anthony (25-8, 10-3) scored with a pair of takedowns to build a 4-1 lead after the first period against Diplomats senior Chris Martorello. 

Anthony added two more takedowns and held a 10-3 advantage going into the third period.  
 
Anthony, who is second on the team in wins, went on to record a 15-4 major decision to extend the Patriots match-score lead to 14-4.

Mason freshman Kolby Ho (18-9, 8-3) stormed out to an early 13-6 first-period lead over Franklin & Marshall senior Patrick Quindlan at 157 pounds.

Ho tallied 10 takedowns and led 20-10 before winning by fall at 6:31 of the match.

At 165 pounds, Mason redshirt junior Colston DiBlasi (24-9, 8-2) notched his 15th pin of the season, winning by fall over Diplomats freshman Crew Fullerton at 2:46 of the first period.

With the Patriots leading the match 26-4, Mason redshirt freshman Cornelius Schuster (13-8, 7-5) and Franklin & Marshall senior Jacob Conners were scoreless after the first period in the 174-pound matchup.

Schuster took the lead with an early escape in the second period and didn't look back.  Holding a 4-0 advantage going into the third, Schuster scored the only point in the final frame to pick up a 5-0 decision to increase the Patriots match-score lead to 29-4.

In another defensive match at 184 pounds, Mason freshman Paul Pierce (5-13, 2-7) and Diplomats freshman Christopher Bolletino were scoreless after the first period.
 
Pierce took a 3-1 lead with a takedown and escape point.  He scored a takedown and added riding time for a 6-2 decision.

At 197 pounds, Mason redshirt sophomore Eli Spencer (21-11, 3-5) scored two takedowns and a reversal to take a 6-4 lead over Franklin & Marshall senior Philip Robilotto going into the second.

Spencer added three more takedowns in the bout on the way to a 14-5 major decision to make the score 36-4.

The Diplomats won by fall to close out the match at 285 pounds.

"The young men in our program are improving and developing well and it showed tonight," Beasley said.  "We have secured at least a .500 record for the first time in 11 years.  It's a great step for the development of our program but we have a lot more to accomplish this season."

The Patriots are back in action when they face American on Friday, Feb. 15 in Washington, D.C.

George Mason 36, Franklin & Marshall 10

125 | Jose Diaz (F&M) major decision over Spencer Reed (Mason), 13-3 | 4-0 F&M
133 | Talha Farooq (Mason) major decision over Michael Simonetti (F&M), 9-1 | 4-4
141 | Julio Alegria (Mason) by forfeit | 10-4 Mason
149 | Tejon Anthony (Mason) major decision over Chris Martorello (F&M), 15-4 | 14-4 Mason
157 | Kolby Ho (Mason) fall over Patrick Quindlan (F&M), 6:31 | 20-4 Mason
165 | Colston DiBlasi (Mason) fall over Crew Fullerton (F&M), 2:46 | 26-4 Mason
174 | Cornelius Schuster (Mason) decision over Jacob Conners (F&M), 5-0 | 29-4 Mason
184 | Paul Pierce (Mason) decision over Christopher Bolletino (F&M), 6-2 | 32-4 Mason 
197 | Eli Spencer (Mason) major decision over Philip Robilotto (F&M), 14-5 | 36-4 Mason
285 | Antonio Pelusi (F&M) fall over Alex Donahue (Mason), 1:56 | 36-10 Mason