Feb. 28, 2002

Norfolk, VA-The Old Dominion wrestling team held off a late surge by Colonial Athletic Association foe George Mason to win their final match of the regular season, 25-18. Old Dominion, winners of five straight, finish the 2002 season with a 6-9 record, 2-3 CAA. The Patriots fall to 4-8, 2-3 CAA.

Old Dominion senior Jeff Rusak (Reading, PA) kicked off the match with a pin at 184, collecting his 30th win of the season and finishing his collegiate career undefeated in duals. He finishes the season a perfect 30-0 and is ranked fourth nationally.

Greg Gill (Chesapeake, VA) and Derrell Lorthridge (Wilmington, DE) followed Rusak's pin with victories of their own, and sophomore John Starkes (Chesapeake, VA) won a hard-fought 2-1 overtime decision over GMU's Aaron Suranofsky at 125 to push the ODU lead to 15-0.

The Patriots forfeited at 133 but bounced back with Rob Becker and Brian Smith pins at 141 and 149, respectively.

Adrian Austin cut the Monarch lead to 21-15 with a decision over Jesse Pearce at 157, but ODU's Ben Summerlin (Lynchburg, VA) shut the door on the match with a convincing 12-3 major decision over Richard Appau at 165.

The Monarchs will take part in the CAA Championships March 9-10 at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA.

ODU 25, GMU 18
184-Jeff Rusak (ODU) WBF P.J. Ross, 3:45
197-Greg Gill (ODU) dec. John Davis, 8-7
285-Derrell Lorthridge (ODU) dec. Sandy Ailor, 10-4
125-John Starkes (ODU) dec. Aaron Suranofsky, 2-1 OT
133-Paul Jimenez (ODU) wins by forfeit
141-Rob Becker (GMU) WBF Mark Clark, 2:47
149-Brian Smith (GMU) WBF Casey Todd, 5:13
157-Adrian Austin (GMU) dec. Jesse Pearce, 8-2
165-Ben Summerlin (ODU) major dec. Richard Appau, 12-3
174-Chad Scheidegger (GMU) dec. Dave Kaplan, 12-10