No. 24 Virginia Defeats George Mason 27-10
Dec. 21, 2016
RICHMOND, Va. – The Cavaliers got bonus points early to build a lead and continued to add to the advantage as No. 24 Virginia (5-2) defeated George Mason (1-7) by a score of 27-10 on Wednesday night (Dec. 21) at the Rumble on the River hosted at St. Christopher’s School.
Virginia picked up bonus points in four of the first six matches of the night to build the insurmountable lead. The Cavaliers got wins at seven weight classes on the way to the victory over the Patriots.
The wins came from freshman Jack Mueller (Dallas, Texas), redshirt seniors Will Mason (Virginia Beach, Va.) and George DiCamillo (Highland Heights, Ohio), redshirt junior Andrew Atkinson (Lynchburg, Va.), senior Ray Bethea (Trenton, N.J.), redshirt junior Drew Hull (Gasport, N.Y.) and redshirt sophomore Chance McClure (Commerce, Ga.).
“We are really excited about all of our fourth and fifth-year leaders finishing the semester together in this match,” said Virginia head coach Steve Garland. “The highlight of the dual match for me was Drew Hull bumping up for the team and winning at 184 pounds. He started the year at 165 pounds, so that was big. I’m also happy to see our guys continuing to commit to scoring points and being relentless. We need to keep this up.”
Mueller, ranked No. 11 in the nation at 125 pounds, started things off with a tech fall. It was his seventh tech fall of the season and ninth victory with bonus points on the way to an 11-0 mark this season. It was followed up by a major decision from Mason at 133 pounds and a decision from 10th-ranked DiCamillo at 141 pounds to put the Cavaliers on top by 12 points.
Atkinson, the nation’s No. 18 ranked wrestler at 157 pounds, added bonus points with his major decision. Bethea then tacked on a tech fall at 165 pounds to continue adding bonus points for the Cavaliers.
Hull then cemented the victory with his win at 184 pounds, building a big lead early and holding on for the decision. McClure then capped the scoring for Virginia with a decision at 197 pounds.
“I’ve said it before, but this is a different group with a different mindset from last year,” Garland said. “They are really listening and putting into practice what we are going over in practice in the wrestling room. Coaches Jordan Leen, Shelton Mack and Mark Ellis have been doing such a good job with the guys. I’m grateful for them and the work they do for this program”
Virginia will return to action in January, opening the new year at the Southern Scuffle. The two-day event hosted by Chattanooga begins on Sunday, Jan. 1.
No. 24 Virginia 27, George Mason 10
125: No. 11 Jack Mueller (UVA) def. Trevor Mello, TF, 18-1 (3:37); UVA 5, GMU 0
133: Will Mason (UVA) def. Lio Quezada, Major Dec., 12-3; UVA 9, GMU 0
141: No. 10 George DiCamillo (UVA) def. Tejon Anthony, Dec., 16-9; UVA 12, GMU 0
149: Sahid Kargbo def. Chris Yankowich (UVA), Major Dec., 12-4; UVA 12, GMU 4
157: No. 18 Andrew Atkinson (UVA) def. Matt Raines, Major Dec., 14-6; UVA 16-4
165: Ray Bethea (UVA) def. Mike Sicola, TF, 24-8; UVA 21, GMU 4
174: Patrick Davis def. M.J. Roberson (UVA), Dec., 3-1; UVA 21, GMU 7
184: Drew Hull (UVA) def. Austin Harrison, Dec., 8-7; UVA 24; GMU 7
197: Chance McClure (UVA) vs. Matt Meadows, Dec., 8-3; UVA 27, GMU 7
HWT: Matt Voss def. Chuck Boddy (UVA), Dec., 5-1; UVA 27, GMU 10