The Patriots (1-0) won the first three bouts of the night to take a 12-0 match score lead. Mason head coach Frank Beasley earned his first head coaching victory in his Patriots debut.
"It was certainly a lot of fun," Beasley said of the milestone win. "It's a credit to the 10 guys who were wrestling and the 23 guys on the team. I definitely felt more pressure than I did as an assistant. It's awesome that we won, but what I was really looking for was the way that we competed and the development that they're showing. It was exciting and I can't wait for the next one."
Mason senior Ibrahim Bunduka (1-0) began the season with a victory at 125 pounds. He led 3-2 after the first period and stretched the advantage to 6-2 going into the third period. Bunduka scored eight points in the third for a convincing 14-6 major decision over Bulldogs junior Patrick Kearney as Mason jumped in front 4-0.
"He got better as the match went on and really hustled to score team points for us," Beasley said of the quick start. "After he had the major locked up, he was still trying to score more team points. He did a great job as a senior leader showing the guys the kind of intensity and fight that we want."
In his first collegiate match, freshman Jose Tapia (1-0) led 4-0 after two periods at 133 pounds. He increased the advantage to 7-0 against The Citadel's senior Andrew Szalwinski on the way to a 13-7 decision. Tapia earned a victory in his NCAA debut to give the Patriots a 7-0 match score advantage.
"I'm very proud of the way he competed and the effort he gave," said Beasley. "To start his career with a win is great."
At 141 pounds, Mason junior Tejon Anthony (1-0) turned in a dominant performance against Bulldogs freshman Ethan Phillips. Anthony notched a near fall and earned the victory by technical fall, 16-1, as the Patriots increased the match score lead to 12-0.
"It was very important to set the tone for the coming weeks and the rest of the season," Beasley said. "Two things I was most proud of was the way the guys came together as a team on the bench and fought for each other and the way they competed."
The Bulldogs won their first match of the night with a 5-2 decision at 149 pounds.
Mason freshman Creed Lumpp (1-0) made his debut at 157 pounds and wasted little time denting the scoreboard with a reversal in the first period against Bulldogs sophomore Douglas Gudenburr for a 2-0 lead. Lumpp registered the only point in the second period and went on to earn a 6-0 decision in the match.
The Citadel won the next two bouts, earning a 15-6 major decision at 165 pounds and a 12-7 decision at 174 pounds to trim the Patriots match score lead to 15-10.
Junior Austin Harrison (1-0) turned the momentum back in Mason's favor at 184 pounds. He scored a pair of takedowns for a 4-1 first period lead against Bulldogs senior Chandler Sambets. Harrison notched the Patriots first pin of the season with 31 seconds remaining in the second period to give Mason a commanding 21-10 lead in the match.
The Citadel then claimed an 11-6 decision at 197 pounds.
In the final bout of the night, Mason junior Matthew Voss led 3-1 after two periods and hung on for a 4-2 decision over Bulldogs sophomore Michael McAleavey at 285 pounds.
The Patriots are back in action on Sunday, Nov. 12 against Maryland a the Xfinity Center in College Park, Md.
Results:
125 | Ibrahim Bunduka (Mason) major decision over Patrick Kearney (The Citadel), 14-6 | 4-0 Mason
133 | Jose Tapia (Mason) decision over Andrew Szalwinski (The Citadel), 13-7 | 7-0 Mason
141 | Tejon Anthony (Mason) technical fall over Ethan Phillips (The Citadel), 16-1 (3:00) | 12-0 Mason
149 | Ty Buckiso (The Citadel) decision over Matthew Raines (Mason), 5-2 | 12-3 Mason
157 | Creed Lumpp (Mason) decision over Douglas Gudenburr (The Citadel), 6-0 | 15-3 Mason
165 | Rian Burris (The Citadel) major decision over Brendan May (Mason), 15-6 | 15-7 Mason
174 | Matthew McGillick (The Citadel) decision over Levko Higgins (Mason), 12-7 | 15-10 Mason
184 | Austin Harrison (Mason) fall over Chandler Sambets (The Citadel) , 4:05 | 21-10 Mason
197 | Sawyer Root (The Citadel) decision over Eli Spencer (Mason), 11-6 | 21-13 Mason
HWT | Matthew Voss (Mason) decision over Michael McAleavey, 4-2 | 24-13
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