Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
George Mason
Mason Sneaks Past Drexel, 18-17
2/20/2009 8:53:01 PM | Wrestling
Philadelphia - Drexel and George Mason each won five matches, but one extra bonus point helped the Patriots defeat the Dragons, 18-17, in the final dual of the season for Drexel. In the marquee match of the dual, ninth-ranked Cayle Byers took a 6-3 decision from Drexel's Jon Oplinger at 197 pounds.
Mason opened the match with a major decision victory at 125 pounds before Drexel took the next three matches. Frank Cimato earned a 6-3 decision over Denny Herndon at 133 pounds. Herndon entered the match ranked third in the conference. Matt Dugan nearly took a major decision from John Delgado, but a late reversal by the Mason wrestler halted his attempt at the four team points. Dugan took the match, 8-2. Robert Robinson completed the three-match run with a hard-fought 8-4 victory that included two first period takedowns and a two-point near fall over Brandon Bucher.
The Patriots responded with an 8-2 win at 157 pounds as Frankie McLaughlin outlasted Billy Haydt. Jimmy Kaden earned a 4-1 win over Scott Hunter in one of the tightest bout of the evening. The score was tied late in the third period when Hunter was forced to use injury time for the second occasion. Kaden opted to take bottom with less than 30 seconds remaining and earned an escape just eight seconds later. With Hunter scrambling for a match-winning takedown, Kaden earned a last-second takedown to notch the win. At 174 pounds, 20th-ranked Mendbagana Tovuujav was given a scare by Drexel's Dave Woodall as the sophomore nearly had Tovuujav pinned in the first period but the Mason wrestler escaped. Mendbagana went on to earn a win by technical fall to give the Patriots five valuable team points.
With the Dragons down 15-9, Justin Wieller stepped up to earn a 3-1 victory as he made a first period takedown hold up to bring Drexel to within three points with two matches remaining. At 197 pounds, Oplinger earned a quick 3-0 lead as the senior scored the first takedown of the match then was awarded a penalty point for a technical violation on Byers. The Mason wrestler earned an escape before the first period ended as Oplinger led 3-1 heading to the second period. Byers chose to start in the down position and quickly escaped then earned a takedown midway through the period to take a 4-3 advantage. Byers was able to ride Oplinger out to end the period as he built a 1:02 riding time advantage. Oplinger elected to start the final period neutral but was unable to earn a takedown. Byers was given a point late in the match due to a technical violation and was awarded a point for the riding time advantage. Mason led 18-12 with just one match remaining as Kyle Frey looked to earn the Dragons a tie with a win by fall. Frey had his way with Mason's Mike Peterson all match but could not finish with a pin as he recorded a technical fall to end the dual with Mason ahead, 18-17.
The Dragons will compete in the Colonial Athletic Association Championships on March 6-7 on the campus of Old Dominion.
George Mason 18, Drexel 17
125: Wright (M) maj. Gomez, 14-2
133: Cimato (D) dec. Herndon, 6-3
141: Dugan (D) dec. Delgado, 8-2
149: Robinson (D) dec. Bucher, 8-4
157: McLaughlin (M) dec. Haydt, 8-2
165: Kaden (M) dec. Hunter, 4-1
174: Tovuujav (M) t.f. Woodall, 6:14
184: Wieller (D) dec. Ulm, 3-1
197: Byers (M) dec. Oplinger, 6-3
285: Frey (D) t.f. Peterson, 7:00
