Dec. 8, 2003

LAS VEGAS - George Mason senior Rob Becker (Mickleton, NJ/Clearview Regional) captured the individual championship at the 2003 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational wrestling tournament, held Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6-7, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Becker, who was unseeded entering the event, won the title after defeating Matt Murray of Nebraska, 6-3 by decision, in the final. Becker, who went 6-0 at the event, 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.

Senior Adrian Austin (Colonial Heights, VA/Matoaca) earned an eighth-place finish at 149, helping the Patriots to a 21st-place tie with Adams State and a team score of 35. The event marked the first time that the Patriots placed two wrestlers in the top eight at the Las Vegas tournament under head coach Brian Shaffer. Austin defeated 16th-ranked Cal Ferry of Illinois in the round of 32, but dropped a 7-2 decision to Arizona State's Patrick Williams in the round of 16. He battled his way back into the main draw after going 3-1 in the consolation bracket and finished the tournament 4-3 overall.

The Patriots also received solid performances from junior Aaron Suranofsky (2-2) at 125-pounds, freshman David Emison (2-2) at 133, junior Nick Webster (2-2) at 174 and freshman Harry Zander (2-2) at 197. Also in action at the event was freshman Mitch Webster, senior Sean Early and Ryan Kittrick.

"This tournament was a good gauge for our team, said Shaffer. "There were several national caliber teams at this event and it gives us a good idea about where we stand and what we need to do."

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.