Dec. 11, 2003

FAIRFAX, Va. - Senior Rob Becker of George Mason University has been named the Colonial Athletic Association Wrestler of the Week for all competition Nov. 25 through Dec. 8, the league announced Tuesday. It is the first such honor for Becker this season.

A native of Mickleton, NJ and Clearview Regional High School, Becker captured the individual championship in his 141-pound weight class at the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, held Friday and Saturday, Dec. 7-8, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, winning all six bouts.

Unseeded entering the event, Becker won the title after defeating Matt Murray of Nebraska, 6-3 by decision, in the final. Becker topped three ranked wrestlers en route to the crown, including seventh-ranked Jeff Ratliff (15-11 decision) of Ohio State in the semifinals, No. 18 Max Meltzer (4-2 decision) of Harvard in the quarterfinals, and 12th-ranked Joe Clarke (7-5 OT decision) of West Virginia in the round of 32.

Becker, who improves to 10-1 on the season, is listed ninth in the latest Amateur Wrestling News rankings and 14th by InterMat.

George Mason heads into its exam break period before returning to action Friday, Dec. 19, at the Beast of the East College Invitational at the University of Delaware.