George Mason Wrestling Out Lasts Maryland, 23-14
Patriots win first three bouts and hold on for the victory.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – George Mason scored 14 points in the first three bouts of the night on its way to a 23-14 win over Maryland Friday night at Comcast Pavilion. Maryland’s Charlie Pinto and Jason Kiessling won by major decision but it wasn’t enough as the Terps dropped their sixth straight dual.
With the win, the Patriots move to 8-6 on the year, while the Terps fall to 3-12-1 on the season.
The match started at 184 where Mike Maceroli and Mike Eastman staged an exciting bout. Maceroli evened the match early in the third period, but Eastman scored a pair of late takedowns countering an aggressive Maceroli to come away with the 11-6 victory.
The Patriots came away with a fall at 197 in another action-packed bout. Jerry Afari, seeing his first action for Maryland since December, took a 9-5 lead in the third before Mason’s Harry Zander was able to score a reversal and take Afari to his back. Zander scored two back points before he was able to re-position Afari for the fall with just 12 seconds remaining in the match.
Maryland’s Yony Noy was disqualified at heavyweight after being called for stalling five times through the first two periods, giving Joel Caruso the victory. However, the Patriots were penalized one team point for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Jeff Oldham (125) got the Terps on the board with a 7-5 victory over Joe Coughlin. Tied 2-2 through two periods, Oldham took control of the match with two takedowns in the third. Coughlin scored a late reversal with just six seconds left but Oldham was able to hold on for the win.
George Mason’s David Emison fell behind Sean Carr 2-0 after the first period, but was able to rally for a 10-4 decision at 133 pounds. The victory put the Patriots up 17-3 in the match.
Maryland’s Charlie Pinto helped rally the Terps with a 17-5 major decision over Jay Chichester at 141 pounds. Pinto controlled the third period scoring six points and amassed nearly two minutes of riding time to earn the bonus points. Pinto nearly scored six for the Terps with a fall but Chichester managed to only surrender the back points. The victory was Pinto’s 22nd this season and seventh straight.
Maryland’s Andrew Schlaffer and Mason’s Robert Henry staged another exciting bout at 149 pounds. Down 1-0 to start the third, Schlaffer used a reversal to send Henry to his back. After scoring three back points and nearly converting for the fall, Henry countered with a reversal of his own and two back points. Schlaffer was able to escape with 31 seconds left in the match, but could not score the decisive takedown in the 7-6 loss.
Mitch Webster was able to defeat Bryan Rizzo 6-3 at 157 pounds to put George Mason up 23-7, but Jason Kiessling responded with a major decision over Randy Oates at 165 pounds. Kiessling scored four takedowns, one escape and had over a minute advantage in his 10-2 win.
In the final bout of the day, Maryland’s Luke Stauffer scored a takedown as the buzzer sounded in the third period for a 6-5 win over Nick Webster at 174 pounds. The two tumbled out of bounds with Webster leading 5-4 with just six seconds remaining, but Stauffer quickly shot off the re-start and converted a double-leg takedown to steal the victory.
George Mason concludes its regular season Sunday at Colonial Athletic Association opponent Old Dominion at 5 p.m.
GEORGE MASON 23, MARYLAND 14
Wt. Name, Result MD MASON
184: Mike Eastman (Mason) dec. Mike Maceroli (MD), 11-6 0 3
197: Harry Zander (Mason) pinned Jerry Afari (MD), 6:48 0 9
HWT: Joel Caruso (Mason) won by disqualification on Yony Noy (MD) 0 14*
125: Jeff Oldham (MD) dec. Joe Coughlin (Mason), 7-5 3 14
133: David Emison (Mason) dec. Sean Carr (MD), 10-4 3 17
141: Charlie Pinto (MD) maj. dec. Jay Chichester (Mason), 17-5 7 17
149: Robert Henry (Mason) dec. Andrew Schlaffer (MD), 7-6 7 20
157: Mitch Webster (Mason) dec. Bryan Rizzo (MD), 6-3 7 23
165: Jason Kiessling (MD) maj. dec. Randy Oates (Mason), 10-2 11 23
174: Luke Stauffer (MD) dec. Nick Webster (Mason), 6-5 14 23
*Mason penalized one team point for unsportsmanlike conduct
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