LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Sacred Heart wrestling team dropped a pair of dual matches on Saturday at Bucknell, dropping a close 23-13 match against George Mason and a 36-6 decision to the host #24 Bison. Conan Schuster and Johnny Vrasidas both went 2-0 on the day.
The Pioneers opened the day against the George Mason Patriots. Six of the 10 matches were decided by two points or less. Sacred Heart got off to a fast start at 125, with Patrick Skinner earning a major decision victory over Ibrahim Bunduka, 16-6, to give the Pioneers four team points. George Mason came back at 133 with a technical fall victory to go ahead 5-4. At 141 pounds, Sahid Kargbo put George Mason ahead 8-4 after defeating Kyle Brady in overtime 5-4. Brendan Goldup closed the gap to one, 8-7, after a 2-1 win over Ryan Hunsberger at 149 pounds.
After a George Mason victory at 157 pounds gave the Patriots an 11-7 lead, Sacred Heart took the lead back. Vrasidas won 7-6 at 165, followed by Schuster's 4-2 win at 174 that put the Pioneers ahead 13-11. The Patriots took the lead back 14-13 at 184 when Ryan Hembury defeated Elliott Antler 5-3. George Mason then earned a decision at 197 and a pin in the heavyweight bout to win the dual 23-13.
In its second dual of the day, Sacred Heart took on the #24 Bucknell Bison. Bucknell opened the dual by getting bonus points in each of the first three matches, getting two pins and a major decision to take a 16-0 lead. Goldup battled hard in his match, but was on the wrong end of a 10-7 decision against Victor Lopez. Casey Mitchell came close to defeating Victor Lopez at 157, but lost 4-3. Vrasidas put the Pioneers on the scoreboard with an 8-3 victory over Robert Schlitt. Schuster followed with an 8-3 win at 174 against Brenan McAllister. Bucknell, however, proved to be too much as the Bison won the last three matches to win the dual 36-6.
The Pioneers travel to Brown on Saturday, Jan. 24 for a 6 p.m. dual.
George Mason 23, Sacred Heart 13
125: Patrick Skinner (SHU) maj. dec. Ibrahim Bunduka (GMU), 16-6.
133: Vince Rodriguez (GMU) tech fall Tim Johnson (SHU), 22-6.
141:Sahid Kargbo (GMU) dec. Kyle Brady (SHU), 5-4 (tb1)
149: Brendan Goldup (SHU) dec. Ryan Hunsberger (GMU), 2-1.
157: Greg Flournoy (GMU) dec. Casey Mitchell (SHU), 6-4.
165: Johnny Vrasidas (SHU) dec. Patrick Davis (GMU), 7-6.
174: Conan Schuster (SHU) dec. Ryan Forrest (GMU), 4-2.
184: Ryan Hembury (GMU) dec. Elliott Antler (SHU), 5-3.
197: Matt Meadows (GMU) dec. Sasha Oliinyk (SHU), 14-7.
285: Jake Kettler (GMU) pinned John Hartnett (SHU), 1:33.
Bucknell 36, Sacred Heart 6
125: No. 14 Paul Petrov (B) pinned Patrick Skinner (SHU), 6:14.
133: Grim Gonzalez (B) pinned Tim Johnson (SHU), 2:39
141: Tyler Smith (B) maj. dec. Kyle Brady (SHU), 17-7.
149: Victor Lopez (B) dec. Brendan Goldup (SHU), 10-7.
157: Logan Kerin (B) dec. Johnny Vrasidas (SHU), 4-3.
165: Johnny Vrasidas (SHU) dec. Robert Schlitt (B), 8-3.
174: Conan Schuster (SHU) dec. Brenan McAllister (B), 11-4.
184: Tom Sleigh (B) dec. Elliott Antler (SHU), 9-3.
197: Tyler Lyster (B) tech fall Sasha Oliinyk (SHU), 17-1 (6:49)
285: No. 19 Joe Stolfi (B) pinned Jon Hartnett (SHU), 1:28.
