In its first meet of the day, Mason wrestled host Liberty. The Patriots trailed 14-9 heading into the 174-pound match, when senior Randy Oates recorded a fall over Liberty's Aaron Kelley that gave Mason a one-point lead. The lead changed hands again when Liberty's Chris Daggett earned a 16-5 major decision win over sophomore Bill Widener. Trailing by three points, Mason needed at least a major decision at 197 pounds to win the meet. Rather than a major decision, freshman Cayle Byers, currently ranked 16th by InterMat and 20th by Amateur Wrestling News, did even better, recording a technical fall over Nick Knowles to give the Patriots a close 20-18 win.
Mason's second meet of the day found the Patriots in a similar situation, trailing entering the final match. This time around, Mason trailed UNC Greensboro by two, 17-15, heading into the 197-pound bout. Byers prevailed again, this time against a much tougher opponent than the first. Wrestling Daren Burns, the 11th-ranked wrestler in the nation according to InterMat and 13th according to Amateur Wrestling News, Byers showed off his tremendous skills, forcing overtime against the seasoned veteran, before giving Mason the 18-17 team victory with a takedown in the extra period to earn his 31st win of the year.
George Mason will attempt to extend its winning streak to three when it hits the mat again on Friday, Feb. 15, wrestling at Duquesne at 7 p.m.
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