Feb. 20, 2008

FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason wrestling team will take on No. 22 Maryland on Senior Night tomorrow at 6 p.m. at the Fieldhouse. The Patriots' trio of seniors - Joe Coughlin, Randy Oates and Harry Zander - will be honored in a ceremony prior to the start of the meet.

All three seniors rank among the top-25 in school history in career victories. Zander is tied for 16th with 75 wins, Oates is 19th with 74 wins and Coughlin is 21st with 71 wins.

Mason enters the meet on a roll, having won its past four meets and six of its past seven. George Mason's 13 wins this season matches the program's highest win total since the 1991-92 season, when the Patriots won their first of five CAA titles. 197-pound freshman Cayle Byers has won the past two CAA Rookie of the Week awards and is ranked 12th in the nation by InterMat and 16th by Amateur Wrestling News.

Maryland (14-4) has won 10 of its last 11 outings and has won more duals the past two seasons than in any other two-season stretch in school history. The Terrapins have had the same three wrestlers ranked in the top-20 by InterMat since December 2. Sophomore Mike Letts is ranked ninth in the nation by InterMat and seventh by Amateur Wrestling News at 174 pounds, junior Josh Haines is ranked 19th by InterMat at 184 pounds and sophomore Hudson Taylor is ranked fifth by InterMat and ninth by Amateur Wrestling News at 197 pounds. Sophomore Brenan Byrne is ranked 20th by Amateur Wrestling News at 125 pounds.

The meet was originally scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. but the date was changed due to a scheduling conflict. Tickets to Thursday's meet will cost $5 for adults and $2 for youth and senior citizens. All full-time enrolled students at George Mason University will be admitted free with a valid Mason student ID.