VESTAL, N.Y. (November 15, 2009) - Sophomore Denny Herndon finished in fourth place at 133 pounds at the WWSport.com/BU Open on Sunday at the Events Center in Vestal, N.Y. Herndon posted a 4-2 record at the tournament.

The Yorktown, Va. native opened the tournament with a win by fall in 2:34 over Quin Leith of Cornell. He followed that up with a 7-1 win over Binghamton's Genta Murayama and a close 6-5 decision over Drexel's Frank Cimato before losing to Brian Ortenzio of Penn 3-0 in the championship semifinals.

After dropping down to the consolation bracket, Herndon dispatched of Lock Haven's John Trumbetti to earn a berth in the consolation final against Finger Lakes' Joe Stanzionne. Stanzionne pinned Herndon in 2:25 to win the match and send Herndon to a fourth-place finish.

George Mason wrestles again on Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Navy Classic in Annapolis, Md. The tournament is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.
Three George Mason Placewinners Highlight the Hokie Open Tournament for Mason Wrestling

Patriots place at 157, 165 and 174 pounds

SALEM, Va. (November 8, 2009) - George Mason opened its 2009-10 wrestling season on Sunday at the Hokie Open at Salem Civic Center in Salem, Va. The Patriots had placewinners in three separate weight classes (157, 165 and 174 pounds) at the tournament.

Junior Frankie McLaughlin IV finished fourth at 165 pounds for Mason. The Hillsborough, N.J. native made his way to the semifinal round of the championship bracket before falling to Virginia Tech's Matt Epperly by a 12-7 decision. After dropping to the consolation bracket, McLaughlin was forced to forfeit the consolation final to Tennessee-Chattanooga's Brandon Wright to take fourth place.

Sophomore Mendbagana Tovuujav took fifth place in the 174-pound bracket after defeating Mark Rogers of Tennessee-Chattanooga by a 3-1 decision. At 157 pounds, junior Jimmy Kaden made his way to the seventh-place match after dropping to the consolation bracket.

The Patriots will compete again on Sunday, Nov. 15 at the Bearcat Open in Binghamton, N.Y. The tournament is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.
George Mason Wrestling Begins the 2009-10 Season with High Expectations

Patriots had two individual CAA Champions for the first time since the 2001 season last year 

FAIRFAX, Va. (November 6, 2009) - After winning multiple individual titles at the Colonial Athletic Association Wrestling Championships for the first time since the 2001 season, George Mason enters the 2009-10 campaign with high expectations to take the program to the next level and consistently compete among the conference's and the nation's elite teams. With one of the toughest dual schedules in the history of the program, the team will be tested throughout the season and well-prepared for championship competition late in the season.

The following is a breakdown of the team at each weight class:

125 Pounds
Providing senior leadership at 125 pounds will be three-year starter Brian Wright. Wright has 49 career wins and is a two-time CAA Championships placewinner. Last season, Wright wrestled to a third-place finish at the conference tournament.

"Brian placed at the conference tournament the past two years and if he can get healthier and be more consistent, he can get himself to the national tournament as well," said George Mason wrestling head coach Mark Weader. "He is in a tough weight class in our conference but when he is wrestling well, he can wrestle with anybody."

Freshman Zachory Huxford, from Jackson Memorial High School in Jackson, N.J., will
push for mat time at the weight class. Huxford wrestled to a fourth-place finish at the Beast of the East Tournament for the Jaguars in 2008.

133 Pounds
The incumbent at 133 pounds, Denny Herndon, returns for his sophomore season in 2009-10. After earning a medical redshirt in 2007-08, Herndon bounced back last season with 18 wins, four falls and two major decisions. Herndon finished in fourth place in a tough field at the 2008 Navy Classic Tournament.

"Denny Herndon started the year very well last year, placing at big tournaments in the beginning of the season, but he suffered from some injuries later in the year," Weader said. "If he can put together a full year, he can really help us quite a bit."

Sophomore Brian Benton is expected to challenge for time on the mat this season. An accomplished wrestler out of Amsterdam High School in Amsterdam, N.Y., Benton wrestled twice last season, winning his first collegiate match by a fall at the Navy Classic, before being forced to sit out the remainder of the year with an injured hand.

141 Pounds
John Delgado returns for his junior year at 141 pounds. Delgado recorded five wins last year at the weight class. Also returning to the team at 141 pounds will be junior Ryan Watson. Newcomers at the weight class include freshmen Shohei Takagi and Jaaziah Bethea. Takagi, from Prospect High School in San Jose, Calif., where he compiled a 128-37 overall record, is expected to push for time on the mat. Bethea finished his high school career at Trenton Central High School in Trenton, N.J. with a record of 103-24.

149 Pounds
Returning for his junior year at 149 pounds is former CAA All-Rookie selection Brandon Bucher. Last season, Bucher posted two falls, two technical falls and a major decision among his five wins. Other returning athletes at the weight class include sophomores Josh Deel and Thomas Lacey. Newcomers to the team include Ty Knepp and Richard Stevens. Knepp was a two-time state qualifier at Midd-West High School in Paxtonville, Pa., where he finished his high school career with a record of 121-21. Stevens joins the team from Loudoun County High School, where he posted a career record of 116-32.

157 Pounds
For the first time in two seasons, the 157-pound weight class will not be occupied by Frankie McLaughlin. The weight class will be occupied by a pair of veterans in Jimmy Kaden and Aaron Keeton, who both enter their junior years. Kaden won 12 matches last season, while Keeton earned five wins and a sixth-place finish at the Navy Classic.

165 Pounds
McLaughlin will be the starter at 165 pounds for the first time in his career this season after wrestling the past two years at 157 pounds. McLaughlin, a CAA All-Rookie Team selection in 2007-08, won 25 matches last season on his way to a fourth-place finish at the CAA Championships.

"Frankie is going to have a huge year for us," Weader said. "He was very close to going to the national tournament last season. He has a lot of wins his first two years in college and has improved tremendously since he joined the team as a freshman."

Entering his sophomore season at 165 pounds is Kramer Whitelaw, who recorded eight wins, four falls and one major decision during his freshman season.

174 Pounds
After winning the CAA Championship and advancing to the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships last season, Mendbagana Tovuujav returns for his second year donning the Green and Gold in 2009-10. Tovuujav was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the CAA Championships and earned a ranking of 18th in the final Amateur Wrestling News poll of the season. The Ulaanbaatar City, Mongolia native enters the season ranked in three different polls, including a high of 11th in the Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine poll.

"I really think the sky is the limit for Bagna," Weader said. "He is an unbelievable talent and he is getting better all the time. I think he just needs to be more consistent and more focused as he becomes more mature. People know who he is now and he is not going to take anyone by surprise but he has proven he can wrestle anyone in the country and beat anyone in the country."

Juniors Greg Scott and Jimmy Webb also return at the weight class. Scott won three matches last year, while Webb won two.

184 Pounds
Seniors Andrew Rock and Bill Widener will both vie for time on the mat at 184 pounds. Rock moved up a weight after winning three matches last season at 174 pounds. Widener also won three matches last year, while wrestling at 184 pounds. Joining Rock and Widener at the weight class is junior Zach Ulm, who won five matches last year, two by fall.

197 Pounds
A void will be created at the 197-pound weight class by the loss of junior Cayle Byers, who will redshirt this season with a foot injury. Byers, a two-time NCAA qualifier, was ranked in three different polls entering the season, including a high of fourth in the WrestlingReport.com poll. Moving into Byers' spot in the lineup will be junior Mike Peterson, who wrestled primarily at heavyweight last season, earning three wins and a fall.

Heavyweight
Hunter Manspile returns for his sophomore season at the heavyweight class. The Roanoke, Va. native earned valuable mat experience last season at the weight class.

George Mason begins its 2009-10 schedule this Sunday at the Hokie Open in Salem, Va. The tournament, hosted by Virginia Tech, will be held at the Salem Civic Center.
George Mason Wrestling Earns First Conference Victory of the Season

Down Campbell 38-12 and VMI 29-12 at the Fieldhouse

*FAIRFAX**, Va.** (January 12, 2008)* ˆ It was a successful Saturday
afternoon at the Fieldhouse for the George Mason wrestling program as
the team scored a pair of dominating dual meet victories. The Patriots
were never seriously tested in defeating Campbell by 26 and VMI by 17
points.

The Patriots won their first conference dual meet of the season in
dominating fashion, defeating Campbell by a final score of 38-12. The
Camels only won two matches during the entire meet, one by forfeit.
Senior Joe Coughlin (133 pounds), freshman Greg Scott (165 pounds) and
freshman Cayle Byers (197 pounds) all earned their victories by fall.
Brian Wright earned a major decision at 125 pounds, while Brandon Bucher
and Randy Oates won by technical fall at 149 and 174 pounds, respectively.

The success carried over into Mason‚s second meet of the afternoon, as
the Patriots immediately seized control by winning the first five
matches to take a commanding 19-0 lead before VMI won its first match
with a fall by Jayme Gordon at 165 pounds. After the loss, Mason
rebounded by winning the next three matches before forfeiting at the
heavyweight class to take a 29-12 win in the team scoring.

In the opening meet of the day, VMI downed Campbell by a final score of
21-14. The Keydets scored big at the 165-pound weight class, earning six
points when Jayme Gordon pinned Chris Mazzatta at 5:49.

George Mason returns to the mat next weekend when it hosts the CAA Duals
at the Fieldhouse on Jan. 18-19. All nine CAA wrestling programs will be
in action at the two-day event.

*VMI 21 Campbell 14*

*125: *Jeremy Adams (VMI) dec. CJ Gittens (CU), 9-6, 3-0 VMI

*133: *Ryan Goodsell (VMI) dec. Trevour Smith (CU), 6-1, 6-0 VMI

*141: *Kelin Bidelspach (CU) dec. Tyler Anthony (VMI), 5-2, 6-3 VMI

*149: *David Metzler (VMI) dec. Bob Matthews (CU), 6-3, 9-3 VMI**

*157: *Ryan Ham (CU) maj. dec. Vince Cole (VMI), 11-0, 9-7 VMI

*165: *Jayme Gordon (VMI) fall Chris Mazzatta (CU), 5:49, 15-7 VMI

****

*174: *Dustin McCabe (VMI) dec. Dillon Landi (CU), 8-1, 18-7 VMI**

*184: *Kyle Higgins (CU) dec. Curtis Moore (VMI), 8-3, 18-10 VMI

*197: *Parker Burns (CU) maj. dec. Ronnie Ellsworth (VMI), 9-0, 18-14 VMI**

*285: *Leon Barrow (VMI) dec. Rob Yoder (CU), 5-2, 21-14 VMI

* *

*Campbell and George Mason Exhibition Matches*

*157: *Dan Cook (Mason)* *dec.* *Ryan Ham (CU),* *5-3 (SV)**

*174: *Zach Ulm (Mason) maj. dec. Matthew Hawksworth (CU), 10-0

*George Mason 38 Campbell 12*

*125: *Brian Wright (Mason) maj. dec. CJ Gittens (CU), 14-3, 4-0 Mason

*133: *Joe Coughlin (Mason) fall Trevour Smith (CU), 6:43, 10-0 Mason

*141: *Kelin Bidelspach (CU) fall Will Powars (Mason), 3:46, 10-6 Mason

*149: *Brandon Bucher (Mason) tech. fall Bob Matthews (CU), 16-1, 15-6
Mason**

*157: *Jimmy Kaden (Mason) dec. Jake Fose (CU), 4-3, 18-6 Mason

*165: *Greg Scott (Mason) fall Chris Mazzatta (CU), 3:28, 24-6 Mason

*174: *Randy Oates (Mason) tech. fall Dillon Landi (CU), 20-3 (5:45),
29-6 Mason**

*184: *Bill Widener (Mason) dec. Kyle Higgins (CU), 8-7, 32-6 Mason

*197: *Cayle Byers (Mason) fall Parker Burns (CU), 2:24, 38-6 Mason**

*285: *Rob Yoder (CU) wins by forf., 38-12 Mason

* *

*George Mason and VMI Exhibition Matches*

*149: *Jimmy Kaden (Mason) fall Vince Cole (VMI), 5:43**

*George Mason 29 VMI 12*

*125: *Brian Wright (Mason) wins by forf., 6-0 Mason

*133: *Joe Coughlin (Mason) maj. dec. Ryan Goodsell (VMI), 16-6, 10-0 Mason

*141: *Will Powars (Mason) dec. Tyler Anthony (VMI), 3-1 (SV), 13-0 Mason

*149: *Brandon Bucher (Mason) dec. David Metzler (VMI), 9-4, 16-0 Mason

*157: *Aaron Keeton (Mason) dec. John Held (VMI), 7-6, 19-0 Mason

*165: *Jayme Gordon (VMI) fall Andrew Rock (Mason), 2:20, 19-6 Mason

*174: *Randy Oates (Mason) dec. Dustin McCabe (VMI), 5-2, 22-6 Mason**

*184: *Bill Widener (Mason) dec. Curtis Moore (VMI), 5-2, 25-6 Mason

*197: *Cayle Byers (Mason) maj. dec. Ronnie Ellsworth (VMI), 14-4, 29-6
Mason

*285: *Leon Barrow (VMI) wins by forf., 29-12 Mason**

Six George Mason Wrestlers among the Place Winners at the 2008 Virginia State Championships

Patriots finish fourth in the team scoring with 32.5 points

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (January 5, 2008) – Six George Mason wrestlers were among the place winners at the 2008 Virginia Intercollegiate State Championships, held on Saturday afternoon at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Va. The Patriots finished fourth in the team scoring with a total of 32.5 points.

The Patriots earned a pair of runner-up finishes at the tournament as sophomore Andrew Rock finished second at 165 pounds and freshman Cayle Byers placed second at 197 pounds. In his first match of the day, Rock upset second-seeded Justin Gilliard of Apprentice, 4-3, to move onto the semifinal round. In the semifinals, Rock dispatched of Virginia’s Danny Artusio by a 4-2 decision to reach the championship match. In the title bout, Rock fell to the top seed, Virginia’s Mike Chaires, by a 9-7 decision.

In the 197-pound bracket, Byers, the third seed in the weight class, defeated the second seed, Old Dominion’s David Mendoza, in his first match of the day to advance to the championship bout against Virginia’s Brent Jones, the top seed. Jones prevailed by a single point to win the title, 3-2.

Also placing for the Patriots at the tournament were Brian Wright, who finished fourth at 125 pounds; Greg Scott, who finished third at 165 pounds; Randy Oates, who finished fourth at 174 pounds; and Jimmy Webb, who finished fourth at 184 pounds.

George Mason will host a tri-meet with VMI and Campbell on Saturday, Jan. 12 at the Fieldhouse. The first match is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. between VMI and Campbell. After the meet between VMI and Campbell wraps up, the Patriots will wrestle VMI before finishing up the evening with a CAA dual against Campbell.