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After back-to-back see-saw matches against high-ranking opponents, Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ wrestling (11-2) returned to its winning ways with lopsided victories over conference rivals Jan. 21, at the CAA Duals in Fairfax, Va. The Bearcats defeated Drexel (36-6), Rider (20-12) and Boston University (32-12) at the Field House on campus at George Mason.

The Bearcats won seven bouts against Drexel and Boston University and six against Rider.

Junior 149-pound Donnie Vinson, No. 4 in the latest InterMat rankings, went 3-0 with two tech falls and a pin. Vinson improved to 25-3 overall, 13-0 in duals. Freshman 141-pound Joe Bonaldi also went 3-0 and scored an impressive victory over the top-ranked wrestler in the CAA, Drexel’s Frank Cimato. Bonaldi, 13-11 overall, pushed Cimato to overtime before scoring the clinching takedown.

Senior 157-pound Justin Lister, No. 7 in the nation, notched his team-high 12th pin of the season with a fall against Boston University. Lister, 2-0 on the day, is 20-2 overall, 12-0 in duals. He has 97 career wins.

Junior 184-pound Nate Schiedel, No. 19 in the nation, went 2-0 with a pin. Schiedel is 21-6 overall, 9-2 in duals.

Freshman heavyweight Nick Gwiazdowski, No. 18 in the nation, went 2-0, including a key decision over the top-ranked wrestler in the CAA, Drexel’s Kyle Frey. Gwiazdowski gave the senior Frey his first dual defeat of the season.

On Jan. 25, the Bearcats (11-2) moved up a notch to No. 19 in the NWCA/USA Today Coaches Poll. The position is the highest sixth-year coach Pat Popolizio’s squad has ever been. The team’s lone losses came by the slimmest of margins to now-No. 4 Cornell and No. 10 Oklahoma and Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ will now face its toughest opponent of the season in No. 1 Oklahoma State. The Beacats depart Friday for Stillwater, Okla., and a Sunday afternoon matchup with an undefeated Cowboys team (8-0) that features eight ranked wrestlers. It will be the fourth meeting between Popolizio and his alma mater and former coach, the legendary John Smith. The Cowboys beat the Bearcats 32-9 in the last meeting two seasons ago. The Bearcats will also wrestle Bucknell at the triangular.

No. 20 Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ 36, Drexel 6
125 - Derek Steeley (BU) pinned Michael Gomez (D), 2:27
133 - Patrick Hunter (BU) pinned Paul Wampler (D), 3:31
141 - Joe Bonaldi (BU) dec. Frank Cimato, 6-4 (ot)
149 - No. 4 Donnie Vinson (BU) tech fall Shane Fenningham (D), 19-2, 2nd period
157 - Austin Sommer (D) major dec. Joe Chamish (BU), 15-2
165 - Joe Booth (D) dec. Matt Kaylor (BU), 6-2
174 - Caleb Wallace (BU) major dec. Matyas (D), 17-5
184 - No. 19 Nate Schiedel (BU) pinned Sternlieb (D), 3:57
197 - Cody Reed (BU) dec. Brandon Pallick (D), 3-1
Hwt - No. 18 Nick Gwiazdowski (BU) dec. Kyle Frey (D), 6-2
* Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ also received a team point when Cimato was whistled for unsportsmanlike conduct

No. 20 Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ 20, Rider 12
125 - Chuck Zeisloft (R) dec. Derek Steeley (BU), 2-1
133 - Jimmy Morris (R) dec. Patrick Hunter (BU), 9-6
141 - Joe Bonaldi (BU) dec. Vinny Fava (R), 3-2
149 - No. 4 Donnie Vinson (BU) tech fall Connor Brennan (R), 18-1
157 - No. 7 Justin Lister (BU) dec. Ramon Santiago (R), 8-5
165 - Matt Kaylor (BU) dec. James Brundage (R), 12-6
174 - Caleb Wallace (BU) dec. Brandon Lintner (R), 8-1
184 - No. 19 Nate Schiedel (BU) dec. Clint Morrison (R), 8-2
197 -  Donald McNeil (R) dec. Cody Reed (BU), 11-7 (ot)
Hwt -  Evan Craig (R) dec. Mike McKeever (BU), 5-1

No. 20 Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ 32, Boston University 12
125 - Derek Steeley (BU) dec. Chris McGinley (Boston), 10-6 (ot)
133 - No. 16 Fred Santaite (Boston) dec. Patrick Hunter (BU), 3-1 (ot)
141 - Joe Bonaldi (BU) dec. Tyler Saitor (Boston), 7-4
149 - No. 4 Donnie Vinson (BU) pinned Ishiguro (Boston), 2:10
157 - No. 7 Justin Lister (BU) pinned Nick Tourville (Boston), 1:50
165 - Matt Kaylor (BU) dec. Mitchell Wightman (Boston), 8-6
174 - Kyle Czarnecki (Boston) dec. Caleb Wallace (BU), 6-1
184 - Hunter Meys (Boston) forfeit
197 -  Cody Reed (BU) forfeit
Hwt -  No. 18 Nick Gwiazdowski (BU) forfeit