Athlens, Ohio – The George Mason wrestling team completed the first day of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship. The Patriots had two wrestlers compete in semifinal matches and five Patriots remain in competition heading into the final day tomorrow at Ohio University.
 
Grad student Alex Madrigal (149) and senior Kyle Davis (184) both ended the night in semi-final matches. Madrigal earned a major decision (10-2) against Bloomsburg's Cade Balestrini in the first round. He won in sudden vicory against Ohio's Alex Hagan, 6-4, in the quarterfinals. Kent State's Kody Komara won the semi-final match by medical forfeit (5:34).
 
Davis began his tournament with a major decision against Bloomsburg's Buridano Stofi, 10-0. In the quarterfinals, Davis earned a 9-4 decision against Edinboro's Ethan Ducca. Top-seeded Brit Wilson defeated Davis by major decision in the semifinals.
 
Freshman Kaden Cassidy (141) battled Seth Koleno, the championships number three pre-seed, to overtime, dropping the match, 8-6. Cassidy rebounded with a 6-3 decision against Ohio's Alec Hagan.
 
At 157 pounds, Avery Bassett improved to 23-8 on the season with a first-round win against Edinboro's PJ Gohn, 4-2, and a technical fall against Clarion's Kyle Schickel. The only setback was to Ben Barton of Lock Haven in the championship quarterfinals. He will face Anthony Gibson of Northern Illinois on Saturday.
 
Logan Messer earned a major decision, 12-3, against Bloomsburg's Matt Benedetti in the first round. Buffalo's Jay Nivison needed overtime to defeat Messer in the championship quarterfinals, 3-1. Messer earned a technical fall in the consolation bracket against Shane Reitsman from Rider.
 
The consolation quarterfinals start at 11:30, followed by the consolation semifinals at 1:30 p.m. The championship series is set for 3 p.m. 
 
125:  Ben Monn 
Bye
Championship Qtrs. -- Anthony Noto (Lock) dec. Monn, 5-2
Consolation -- Brock Bergelin (Cent) dec. Monn TB-1 8-2

133:     Michael Rapuano
Championship First -- Vincente Perez (Central Mich.) dec. Michael Rapuano, 6-0
Championship Qtrs -- Michael Rapuano dec. Cameron Soda (Edin), 10-6
Jake Manley (Clev) MD Michael Rapuano, 14-2

141:  #32 Kaden Cassidy
Bye
Championship Qtrs -- Seth Koleno (Clarion) dec. Cassidy, 8-6, SV-1
Consolation -- Kaden Cassidy dec. Alec Hagan (Ohio), 6-3 
Next: Saul Ervin (SIEU) v. Kaden Cassidy

149: #21 Alex Madrigal  
Championship First Rd -- Madrigal MD Cade Balestrini (Bloom), 10-2
Championship Qtrs -- Alex Madrigal Alec Hagan (Ohio), 6-4 SV-1 
Championship Semi-final: Kody Komara (Kent) dec Alex Madrigal medical forfeit (5:34)
Next: Winner of Tyus (SIUE)/Arceri (Buf)

157:  Avery Bassett (21-7) 
Championship First Rd.-- Bassett dec. PJ Gohn (Edin), 4-2
Championship Qtrs -- Ben Barton (Lock) MD Avery Bassett, 10-1
Consolation -- Bassett tech fall Kyle Schickel (Clar), (6:49) 
Next: Anthony Gibson (NOIL) v. Bassett

165:  Tyler Kocak (14-15) 
Championship First Rd. -- Kocak dec. Joe Casey (Rider), 4-3
Championship Qtrs -- Izzak Olejnik (NOIL) dec. Kocak, 4-0
Consolation -- Kolby Ho (Clarion) dec. Kocak, 4-2

174:  Logan Messer (23-7) 
Championship First Rd -- Messer MD Matt Benedetti (Bloom), 12-3
Championship Qtrs -- Jay Nivison (Buf) dec. Messer, 3-1 SV-1
Consolation -- Messer tech fall Shane Reitsman (Rider), (5:00)
Next: Anthony Rice (Clev) v. Messer

184:  Kyle Davis (9-6) 
Championship First Rd. -- Davis MD Buridano Stolfi (Bloom), 10-0
Championship Qtrs Davis dec. Ethan Ducca (Edin), 9-4
Championship Semi: Wilson (NOIL) MD Davis, 9-1
Next: Winner of Villalobos(SIUE) / Wohlabaugh

197:  Jonathan List
Championship First Rd. -- Carson Brewer (Ohio) dec. Jon List (9-6), 8-5
Consolation -- Aaron Bolo (Cent) dec. List, 5-4

285:  Ali Salem
Championship First Rd. -- Tobin Cahill (Buffalo) dec. Ali Salem (0-1), 4-3
Consolation -- Terrese Aaron (NOIL) dec. Salem, 6-2