Fairfax, Va.— The University of Virginia handed the George Mason wrestling team its first loss of season, 26-6, breaking the Patriots 8-0 start, its best start since the 1994-95 season. The match took place at St. Christopher's High School in Richmond as part of the ARMS Sofware tournament.
The Patriots got points from freshman
Markel Baker and sophomore
Logan Messer with decisions.
Baker won his match, 6-2, against the Cavaliers Kyle Montaperto improving his record to 17-8 in his inaugural season. Messer won, 4-3.
Josh Jones and Nate Higley's matches were very competitive, each edged by one point. Jones came back from down 4-1, but Garrett Grice held on to the lead.
Virginia's Jarod Verkleeren avenged an earlier loss to Higley at the Midland Championships, defeating the Patriot, 2-1.
Mason will take on No. 8 Virginia Tech at the RAC on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Sunday, January 8 vs. No. 8 Virginia Tech at the RAC
No. 8 Virginia Tech travels to Fairfax for a Sunday dual with Mason.
The All-time series between these two programs dating back to 1976 is tied at 9-9. No. 8 Virginia Tech defeated the Patriots, 31-15, in the Moss Arts Center in Blacksburg last season on Jan. 15. The Hokies have won four straight against the Patriots, last losing to Mason, 22-13 on Feb. 14, 1997.
Hokies Wrestling finished eighth at the 2022 NCAA Championships - the ninth time finishing in the top-11 in the past eleven seasons. Tech also claimed three All-American honors for the ninth straight season - one of only four programs to accomplish the same feat. Mekhi Lewis, the first national champion in program history, made history yet again by becoming the program's first two-time finalist.
Virginia Tech Lineup
125 - No. 18 Eddie Ventresca | Cooper Flynn
133 - No. 8 Sam Latona | Brandon Wittenberg
141 - No. 14 Tom Crook | Collin Gerardi
149 - No. 11 Caleb Henson | Kylan Montgomery
157 - Clayton Ulrey
165 - No. 22 Connor Brady | Ty Finn
174 - Jordan Florence | Kolton Clark
184 - Sam Fisher
197 - No. 21 Andy Smith | Dakota Howard
285 - No. 23 Hunter Catka
RESULTS V. UVA
125: Markel Baker dec Kyle Montaperto (UVA), 6-2
133: Garrett Grice (UVA) dec Josh Jones, 4-3
141: Dylan Cedeno (UVA) dec Anthony Glasl, 6-0
149: No. 29 Jarod Verkleeren (UVA) dec. Nate Higley, 2-1
157: Denton Spencer (UVA) dec Loranzo Rajaonarivelo, 9-3
165: No. 14 Justin McCoy (UVA) MD Drew Dickson, 13-3
174: Logan Messer dec Vic Marcelli (UVA), 4-3
184: No. 18 Neil Antrassian (UVA) dec Malachi DuVall, 10-5
197: Michael Battista (UVA) MD Jon List, 14-5
285: Ethan Weatherspoon (UVA) dec Tyler Kocak, 6-3
UP NEXT
Mason will be on the road for the remainder of January and early February for seven straight duals. The Patriots will dual four straight conference opponents beginning with Clarion on January 20, followed by Edinboro the following day (1/21). Mason will battle SIUE and Cleveland State in a tri-dual in Cleveland on Jan. 29.
