April 7, 2005
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY WRESTLING
2004-05 Season in Review
George Mason's 2004-05 season featured a very young squad with excellent potential. The athletes were tested throughout the year both mentally and physically; and despite its youth, produced some solid results and catapulted the Patriots to their first winning dual match season since 2000-01.
Bolstering a 29-man roster with only one senior, George Mason managed to put together an 8-7 overall record and 4-4 mark in the Colonial Athletic Association, utilizing a lineup that mainly consisted of 14 freshmen and sophomores.
The season began with a solid sixth-place showing at the Navy Classic, followed by a 27th-place tie at the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. Unlike in years past, the Patriots opened their dual match season early at the Slippery Rock Duals, where the team posted a 2-1 mark and won its first dual meet of the year 31-9 over host Slippery Rock.
Mason competed at the Southern Scuffle and Virginia Intercollegiate Wrestling Championships to close out its individual meets. Road dual matches at VMI and James Madison improved the Patriots mark to 3-2 entering the CAA Duals in Fairfax. Mason, which dropped the Dukes 31-9, began its CAA slate at 1-0.
George Mason won its opening CAA Duals bout over Wagner to begin a seven-meet home stand and went on to post a 2-2 record at the event. Sitting at 5-4 overall and 3-2 in the league after the Duals, the Patriots defeated Duquesne and lost two consecutive matches to close out the home string with a 6-6 mark and 4-3 conference record. The Patriots won two of their final three meets - all on the road - to finish at 8-7 overall and 4-4 in the CAA.
George Mason placed seventh at the CAA Championships at Boston University, dropping three spots from its fourth-place showing last year. However, for the first time since the 1986-87 campaign - a string of 18 consecutive years - Mason did not have a wrestler advance to the season-ending NCAA Championships.
Individually, three athletes placed in the top four of their respective weight classes at the CAA Championships in sophomores Mitch Webster, David Emison and Robert Henry. Head coach Brian Shaffer, who completed his 10th season at the helm of the Patriots with a 70-59 overall record and 34-21 CAA mark, also witnessed sophomore Harry Zander claim the individual 197-pound title at the Virginia Intercollegiate Wrestling Championships.
Webster placed third at the CAAs at 157 pounds and concluded the year with an 11-13 record, going 3-3 in the CAA and 5-6 in dual matches. He had an up-and-down season, but was able to put things together at the end. After falling in the main draw, Webster, seeded sixth, rebounded to claim three straight consolation victories, including a win over the No. 3 seed to finish third.
Emison, who placed fourth at the CAAs, led George Mason in overall victories at 27-11, competing at 133 pounds. He was one of two wrestlers to post double-digit wins in dual matches at 11-3 and collected a 5-2 mark against CAA opponents. Nineteen of Emison's 27 match wins were pin fall, technical fall or major decision victories.
Henry also finished fourth at the CAA Championships. Entering at 149 pound and seeded sixth, Henry dropped a narrow 4-1 decision to the No. 3 seed in the consolation final. He completed the year at 16-13 overall and 10-5 in dual contests (5-3 CAA). Zander registered a solid overall record at 16-9 and 10-5 against dual competition. He carried a 5-3 CAA mark. Capable of dominating a match, thirteen of Zander's victories were by pin fall, technical fall or major decision.
Mason's lone senior, Nick Webster, not only provided leadership; he also proved to be a worthy adversary for opponents at 174, compiling a 15-17 record and 8-5 dual mark. Sophomore Ryan Kittrick and junior Joel Caruso provided steady experience at Heavyweight. Kittrick was 7-10 overall. Caruso, who suffered a knee injury shortly after defeating the eighth-ranked wrestler in the country early in the season, saw limited action the rest of the year and compiled an 8-6 record. Junior Brian Smith totaled a 2-3 mark at 149 and 157 pounds. Sophomore Matt Horton registered five wins to seven losses at 184 pounds, while classmate Jim Martin (2-9) also competed at 184.
Notable freshmen performances include Joe Coughlin, who opened a lot of eyes with his abilities, at 125 where he earned two CAA Rookie of the Week awards and corralled an 18-12 record overall (12-3 duals, 6-2 CAA). Jay Chichester went 11-14 at 141. Randy Oates polished off 12 wins to 18 losses at 165 pounds, while Tyler Tisdell (2-3) and Matt Moyer (4-5) saw time on the mats at 157 and 165, respectively. Red-shirt freshman Sean Grant totaled a 1-5 mark at 157/165 and Mike Eastman collected a 7-10 record at 184 and 197 pounds.
