FAIRFAX, Va. – Franklin & Marshall's wrestling team got back in the win column on Saturday afternoon, taking two of the final three matches to down George Mason by a narrow 21-17 score in Fairfax, Va.
The victory was the first over the Patriots since 2006 and marked the Diplomats first road win on the season. F&M improved to 4-12 with the decision, while George Mason fell to 6-10.
Leading by a slight 15-14 score heading into 184, F&M's Anthony Mancini delivered the Diplomats a clutch 5-1 decision win. Charles Kerkesner (197) clinched the contest in the next bout, dominating his opponent with four takedowns en route to an 11-5 decision.
Aaron Moldoff led off with a late third-period pin (5:46) at 125, before the Patriots cut into the gap with an 8-4 decision at 133. Rick Durso held off his opponent at 141, registering a 4-3 decision to extend his winning streak to 10 straight. F&M's senior grappler has now won 18 of his previous 20 bouts.
The matchup at 149 was high-scoring and back-and-forth throughout the opening two periods, before Jason Bing pinned his opponent late in the stanza (4:54) and put the Diplomats out in front by a 15-3 margin. The Patriots climbed back into the competition with wins in three straight, but decisions from Mancini and Kerkesner put an end to the rally.
Antonio Pelusi appeared to have a victory in hand at 285, but a last second takedown from George Mason's Matt Voss forced overtime. In the first tiebreaker, Voss recorded another takedown to clinch the contest.
F&M returns to the mat on Thursday, hosting Millersville at the Mayser Center for the annual Rupp Cup, beginning at 8:30 p.m.
F&M 21, George Mason 17
125: Aaron Moldoff (F&M) over Ibrahim Bunduka (GEMA) (Fall 5:46)
133: Ryan Renkey (GEMA) over Dan Martoccio (F&M) (Dec 8-4)
141: Rick Durso (F&M) over Tejon Anthony (GEMA) (Dec 4-3)
149: Jason Bing (F&M) over Konbeh Koroma (GEMA) (Fall 4:54)
157: Gregory Flournoy (GEMA) over Michael Marano (F&M) (TF 16-0 4:38)
165: Patrick Davis (GEMA) over Brandon Giovanetti (F&M) (Dec 7-1)
174: Daniel Mika (GEMA) over Gordon Bolig (F&M) (Dec 5-3)
184: Anthony Mancini (F&M) over Luke Ludke (GEMA) (Dec 5-1)
197: Charles Kerkesner (F&M) over Cameron Houston (GEMA) (Dec 11-5)
285: Matt Voss (GEMA) over Antonio Pelusi (F&M) (TB-1 7-5)
