Dec. 9, 2008

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - Sophomore Cayle Byers, a 197-pounder from Chugiak, Alaska, was named the Colonial Athletic Association Wrestler of the Month this afternoon. Byers has been a force on the mat this season, opening the year with 10 consecutive victories without a single loss.

Byers has four falls, two technical falls and a major decision among those 10 wins. He successfully defended his Navy Classic Championship on Nov. 22 and also took the Nittany Lion Open title at 197 pounds this past weekend.

Byers entered the Nittany Lion Open ranked eighth by Amateur Wrestling News and ninth by InterMat. After pinning the University of Maryland's Hudson Taylor, who was ranked fourth by Amateur Wrestling News and fifth by InterMat, in the championship bout, Byers has moved up to sixth in the latest InterMat poll. The Amateur Wrestling News poll has yet to be released this week.

Also earning Wrestler of the Month honors from the CAA were Chris Davis of Sacred Heart University, James Nicholson of Old Dominion University, Jon Oplinger of Drexel University, Josh Patterson of Binghamton University and Lou Ruggirello of Hofstra University. Ben Clymer of Hofstra was named the CAA Rookie of the Month.

George Mason wrestles again on Sunday, Dec. 21 against No. 24 Northern Iowa at noon at the Field House.