JMU dropped by GMU in CAA home opener

On the heels of their first win of the season, the Dukes dropped their Colonial Athletic Association home opener to the George Mason University Patriots 31-9 Saturday in Sinclair Gymnasium.

JMU fell behind early, dropping the first two matches and finding itself down 10-0.

"We knew going in that this match was winnable," senior Brian Lambert said. "We need to get on top early. It’s hard to dig yourself out of a hole like that."

JMU got on the board in the third match when senior Derick Schoenly, wrestling in the 157-lb. weight class, defeated GMU’s Sean Grant 6-0.

"That was very important," JMU coach Josh Hutchens said. "We were down two pretty bad matches and we basically had to stop the bleeding."

Schoenly picked up two quick points on a takedown. By the halfway point, he had the match well in hand.

"Halfway through the match, the guy Derick was wrestling was just trying to not get pinned," Hutchens said. "You could see a little excitement after Derick’s win."

The excitement was short-lived.

At the 165-lb. match, freshman Chris Gwaltney jumped to an early 4-0 lead before surrendering ten-straight points to George Mason’s Randy Oates. The Patriots reclaimed their 10-point advantage at 13-3.

Lambert took the 174-lb. match 7-4, pulling the Dukes back within seven at 13-6, but that was as close as the Dukes would get.

"Unfortunately, we couldn’t carry the momentum from Derick’s match to Brian’s match," Hutchens said.

Lambert said he knew he needed to step up.

"Down like that, I wanted to get something going," Lambert said. "I got the win, didn’t wrestle my best, but I knew I had to get it going."

Though the Dukes would receive another victory from redshirt junior heavyweight Chris Cvitan, the Patriots picked up two pins late in the match to put the Dukes away.

Citivan’s match came after George Mason’s Harry Zandler pinned JMU sophomore Zach Winfrey in the 197-lb. match.

"I would have liked to get the pin and get the team back in it," Cvitan said. "I didn’t get the opportunity."

Cvitan said JMU did appear to be turning the corner.

"Some people could and should have done better today," he said. "But I think we had a couple of good matches. I think we’re really well conditioned, probably better than most teams."

Hutchens agreed and said he took a lot of pros out of the match.

"I think we’re gradually getting better," Hutchens said. "We had a few guys who stepped up. I think we’re moving in the right direction. Hopefully, the win earlier this week and today’s match will encourage us."

But encouragement only goes so far. Cvitan said the Dukes needed to cut down on their errors.

"I think we need to finish our shots and work on the little mistakes," Cvitan said. "The little mistakes can win you the match if you avoid them."

JMU next heads to Fairfax for the CAA Duals at George Mason Friday.