Feb. 21, 2008

FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason wrestling team had a tough time in its final home meet of the regular season against No. 22 Maryland, falling by a final score of 36-4. The Terrapins won the first nine matches of the meet before senior Harry Zander won the heavyweight bout for the Patriots.

Despite the loss, the 2007-08 season has been one to remember for the Patriot wrestling program, as Head Coach Mark Weader and Assistant Coach James Torres guided a young but talented team to a 13-5 dual meet record. The 13 wins is the most for Mason since the 1991-92 season, when the team won its first of five CAA titles.

The three seniors on this year's team - Joe Coughlin (133), Randy Oates (174) and Zander (285) - were honored in a ceremony prior to the start of the meet. All three seniors rank in the top-25 in school history in career wins.

With the regular season complete, the Patriots travel to Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. to compete in the CAA Championships on March 7-8. A total of 23 wrestlers - 20 automatic qualifiers plus three wild cards - will earn the right to compete in the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on March 20-22 in St. Louis, Mo. as a result of their performance at the conference championships.

No. 22 Maryland 36 George Mason 4
125: Brendan Byrne (UM) maj. dec. Brian Wright (Mason), 15-3, 4-0 UM
133: Steve Bell (UM) maj. dec. Joe Coughlin (Mason), 16-8, 8-0 UM
141: Jon Kohler (UM) dec. William Powars (Mason), 7-3, 11-0 UM
149: Eric Medina (UM) fall Brandon Bucher (Mason), 2:17, 17-0 UM
157: Brian Letters (UM) dec. Aaron Keeton (Mason), 8-3, 20-0 UM
165: Michael McGill (UM) maj. dec. Jimmy Kaden (Mason), 16-2, 24-0 UM
174: Mike Letts (UM) maj. dec. Randy Oates (Mason), 15-6, 28-0 UM
184: Joshua Haines (UM) maj. dec. Bill Widener (Mason), 11-2, 32-0 UM
197: Hudson Taylor (UM) maj. dec. Cayle Byers (Mason), 8-0, 36-0 UM
285: Harry Zander (Mason) maj. dec. Pat Gilmore (UM), 19-9, 36-4 UM