Jan. 23, 2009

FAIRFAX, Va. - George Mason will host the Columbia Lions in a nonconference wrestling dual on Sunday, Jan. 25 at 5 p.m. at the Field House. The Patriots will be looking for their second straight victory after defeating the Keydets of VMI by a final score of 31-12 on Thursday evening at the Thunderdome in Lexington, Va.

Three ranked wrestlers will hit the mat on Sunday. For George Mason, sophomore Cayle Byers is currently ranked eighth in the nation in both the InterMat and AWN polls in the 197-pound weight class. Byers, coming off a 5-2 victory on Thursday, is 21-2 overall on the season. Teammate Mendbagana Tovuujav, wrestling in the 174-pound weight class, is currently ranked 19th in the country by AWN. Tovuujav took a victory by way of fall on Thursday and is currently 16-5 on the season. For the Lions, Ryan Flores is ranked 14th by InterMat and 15th by AWN in the heavyweight division. Flores is 18-3 on the season and 8-0 in dual matches.

Mason's overall record stands at 4-5-1 on the season after going 2-1-1 over the past week. Mason took victories over Sacred Heart and VMI, while falling to Rider and tying Boston University. Columbia enters Sunday's contest with a 1-7 record in dual meets, but is coming off an impressive third-place finish at the New York State Championships last weekend. The Lions will take on American University at 1 p.m. on Sunday before making their way to Fairfax to take on the Patriots at 5 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the Field House on the day of the meet and cost $5 for adults and $2 for youth and senior citizens. All full-time enrolled George Mason University students will be admitted free with a valid Mason student ID.