Feb. 5, 2008

LYNCHBURG, Va. - With a pair of come-from-behind victories on Tuesday evening, the George Mason wrestling team improved to 11-4 on the season, reaching double-digit victories for the first time since the 1996-97 season, when the Patriots captured the CAA Championship. Wrestling at the Vines Center in Lynchburg, Va., Mason defeated Liberty 19-18 and UNC Greensboro 18-17 in a couple of highly-competitive nonconference dual meets.

In its first meet of the day, Mason wrestled host Liberty. The Patriots trailed 14-9 heading into the 174-pound match, when senior Randy Oates recorded a fall over Liberty's Aaron Kelley that gave Mason a one-point lead. The lead changed hands again when Liberty's Chris Daggett earned a 16-5 major decision win over sophomore Bill Widener. Trailing by three points, Mason needed at least a major decision at 197 pounds to win the meet. Freshman Cayle Byers, currently ranked 16th by InterMat and 20th by Amateur Wrestling News, did exactly that, beating Nick Knowles 19-5 to give the Patriots a close 19-18 win.

Mason's second meet of the day found the Patriots in a similar situation, trailing entering the final match. This time around, Mason trailed UNC Greensboro by two, 17-15, heading into the 197-pound bout. Byers prevailed again, this time against a much tougher opponent than the first. Wrestling Daren Burns, the 11th-ranked wrestler in the nation according to InterMat and 13th according to Amateur Wrestling News, Byers showed off his tremendous skills, forcing overtime against the seasoned veteran, before giving Mason the 18-17 team victory with a takedown in the extra period to earn his 31st win of the year.

George Mason will attempt to extend its winning streak to three when it hits the mat again on Friday, Feb. 15, wrestling at Duquesne at 7 p.m.

George Mason 19 Liberty 18
285: Patrick Walker (LU) maj. dec. Harry Zander (Mason), 9-1, 4-0 LU
125: Brian Wright (Mason) dec. Sean Katz (LU), 5-2, 4-3 LU
133: Joe Coughlin (Mason) dec. T.J. Mitchell (LU), 6-2, 6-4 Mason
141: Tim Harner (LU) dec. Will Powars (Mason), 7-3, 7-6 LU
149: Scott Clymer (LU) dec. Brandon Bucher (Mason), 2-0, 10-6 LU
157: Frankie McLaughlin (Mason) dec. Julian Colon (LU), 3-2, 10-9 LU
165: Chad Porter (LU) maj. dec. Andrew Rock (Mason), 16-3, 14-9 LU
174: Randy Oates (Mason) fall Aaron Kelley (LU), 1:56, 15-14 Mason
184: Chris Daggett (LU) maj. dec. Bill Widener (Mason), 16-5, 18-15 LU
197: Cayle Byers (Mason) maj. dec. Nick Knowles (LU), 19-5, 19-18 Mason

George Mason 18 UNC Greensboro 17
285: Harry Zander (Mason) fall Ryan Hsu (UNCG), 0:49, 6-0 Mason
125: Mitchell Johnson (UNCG) dec. Brian Wright (Mason), 6-4 (SV), 6-3 Mason
133: Jeff Hedges (UNCG) dec. Joe Coughlin (Mason), 6-3, 6-6 Tied
141: Will Powars (Mason) dec. Ben Wilmore (UNCG), 7-5 (SV), 9-6 Mason
149: Marcus Hannah (UNCG) dec. Brandon Bucher (Mason), 12-6, 9-9 Mason
157: Frankie McLaughlin (Mason) dec. Mark Ring (UNCG), 7-3, 12-9 Mason
165: Byron Sigmon (UNCG) maj. dec. Andrew Rock (Mason), 10-0, 13-12 UNCG
174: Randy Oates (Mason) dec. Mikal McKee (UNCG), 8-4, 15-13 Mason
184: Jeremy Cannon (UNCG) maj. dec. Zach Ulm (Mason), 8-0, 17-15 UNCG
197: Cayle Byers (Mason) dec. Daren Burns (UNCG), 4-2 (SV), 18-17 Mason