July 16, 2007

MANHEIM, Pa. - George Mason's incoming recruiting class boasts five nationally ranked wrestlers, making it one of the top recruiting classes in the history of the Patriots' wrestling program. InterMat recently recognized the quality and depth of Mason's most recent class, ranking it among the nation's best in its Division I recruiting class rankings.

In its annual list of the top-30 recruiting classes in the country, George Mason's class of 13 recruits was ranked 29th by InterMat. Helping Mason achieve its lofty status were five nationally ranked wrestlers, including Brandon Bucher, a 141-pounder from Dillsburg, Pa., Cayle Byers, a 197-pounder from Chugiak, Alaska, Denny Herndon, a 125-pounder from Grafton, Va., Matt Jones, a 174-pounder from Burke, Va., and Frankie McLaughlin, a 157-pounder from Hillsborough, N.J.

Bucher was ranked No. 21 in the nation at 135 pounds by Wrestling USA; Byers was ranked No. 6 by InterMat, No. 10 by Amateur Wrestling News and No. 13 by W.I.N. at 189 pounds; Herndon was ranked No. 19 by Wrestling USA at 125 pounds; Jones was ranked No. 20 by Wrestling USA at 171 pounds; and McLaughlin was ranked No. 7 by InterMat and No. 11 by W.I.N. at 152 pounds.

The top-ranked recruiting class in the nation according to InterMat's list was Ohio State, followed by Missouri and Penn State. The state of Virginia had four schools on the list, including Virginia Tech (No. 4), Virginia (No. 8), Old Dominion (No. 16) and Mason (No. 29). The list had three CAA representatives, Old Dominion (No. 16), Hofstra (No. 19) and George Mason (No. 29).

InterMat's Top-30 Division I Recruiting Classes
1. Ohio State
2. Missouri
3. Penn State
4. Virginia Tech
5. Minnesota
6. Oklahoma State
7. Michigan
8. Virginia
9. Northern Iowa
10. Kent State
11. Oklahoma
12. Oregon State
13. Lehigh
14. Edinboro
15. Cornell
16. Old Dominion
17. Lock Haven
18. Nebraska
19. Hofstra
20. Harvard
21. Penn
22. Michigan State
23. Eastern Michigan
24. Columbia
25. Indiana
26. Iowa State
27. Iowa
28. Bucknell
29. George Mason
30. Northwestern