Nov. 14, 2005

Ewing, NJ (November 13, 2005)--The George Mason wrestling team opened its 2005-06 season with several solid performances Sunday at the New Jersey Open. Five Patriots took home top honors while others had solid starts to the season. No team scores were recorded for the event.

Freshman red-shirts Will Powars and Tyler Tisdell handily defeated their four opponents en route to a first place finishes at 133 and 165 pounds respectively. Powars defeated Seth Ciasulli from Lehigh 4-1 in the championship match and Tisdell triumphed 9-4 over Franklin and Marshall's Justin Herbert. Freshman teammate Stewart Gonzalez wrestled in his first collegiate match and finished with a 1-1 record at 133 pounds.

Sophomore Mike Eastman needed only two victories at the 197 weight class to claim first place. Junior Robert Henry claimed the junior-senior 149 weight class with three straight wins, including a 3-2 win in the championship match against Lehigh's Marc McCauley. Sophomore Jay Chichester wrestled in the upperclassman division at 149 pounds and was narrowly defeated 3-2 in his opening match. He finished 0-2.

Sophomore Randy Oates took home the junior-senior 174 weight class title, defeating three straight opponents. He won the championship match 1-0 over Matthew Denichilo from Princeton.

The Patriots also got good starts to the season from senior Joel Caruso, who finished third at 197 pounds with a 2-1 record. Sophomore Matt Moyer won two of his three matches at 184 pounds and Junior Mitch Webster finished 1-1 at 157 pounds.

George Mason returns to action next Saturday November 19 at the Navy Classic in Annapolis, Md.