Nov. 6, 2009

FAIRFAX, Va. - After winning multiple individual titles at the Colonial Athletic Association Wrestling Championships for the first time since the 2001 season, George Mason enters the 2009-10 campaign with high expectations to take the program to the next level and consistently compete among the conference's and the nation's elite teams. With one of the toughest dual schedules in the history of the program, the team will be tested throughout the season and well-prepared for championship competition late in the season.

The following is a breakdown of the team at each weight class:

125 Pounds
Providing senior leadership at 125 pounds will be three-year starter Brian Wright. Wright has 49 career wins and is a two-time CAA Championships placewinner. Last season, Wright wrestled to a third-place finish at the conference tournament.

"Brian placed at the conference tournament the past two years and if he can get healthier and be more consistent, he can get himself to the national tournament as well," said George Mason wrestling head coach Mark Weader. "He is in a tough weight class in our conference but when he is wrestling well, he can wrestle with anybody."

Freshman Zachory Huxford, from Jackson Memorial High School in Jackson, N.J., will push for mat time at the weight class. Huxford wrestled to a fourth-place finish at the Beast of the East Tournament for the Jaguars in 2008.

133 Pounds
The incumbent at 133 pounds, Denny Herndon, returns for his sophomore season in 2009-10. After earning a medical redshirt in 2007-08, Herndon bounced back last season with 18 wins, four falls and two major decisions. Herndon finished in fourth place in a tough field at the 2008 Navy Classic Tournament.

"Denny Herndon started the year very well last year, placing at big tournaments in the beginning of the season, but he suffered from some injuries later in the year," Weader said. "If he can put together a full year, he can really help us quite a bit."

Sophomore Brian Benton is expected to challenge for time on the mat this season. An accomplished wrestler out of Amsterdam High School in Amsterdam, N.Y., Benton wrestled twice last season, winning his first collegiate match by a fall at the Navy Classic, before being forced to sit out the remainder of the year with an injured hand.

141 Pounds
John Delgado returns for his junior year at 141 pounds. Delgado recorded five wins last year at the weight class. Also returning to the team at 141 pounds will be junior Ryan Watson. Newcomers at the weight class include freshmen Shohei Takagi and Jaaziah Bethea. Takagi, from Prospect High School in San Jose, Calif., where he compiled a 128-37 overall record, is expected to push for time on the mat. Bethea finished his high school career at Trenton Central High School in Trenton, N.J. with a record of 103-24.

149 Pounds
Returning for his junior year at 149 pounds is former CAA All-Rookie selection Brandon Bucher. Last season, Bucher posted two falls, two technical falls and a major decision among his five wins. Other returning athletes at the weight class include sophomores Josh Deel and Thomas Lacey. Newcomers to the team include Ty Knepp and Richard Stevens. Knepp was a two-time state qualifier at Midd-West High School in Paxtonville, Pa., where he finished his high school career with a record of 121-21. Stevens joins the team from Loudoun County High School, where he posted a career record of 116-32.

157 Pounds
For the first time in two seasons, the 157-pound weight class will not be occupied by Frankie McLaughlin. The weight class will be occupied by a pair of veterans in Jimmy Kaden and Aaron Keeton, who both enter their junior years. Kaden won 12 matches last season, while Keeton earned five wins and a sixth-place finish at the Navy Classic.

165 Pounds
McLaughlin will be the starter at 165 pounds for the first time in his career this season after wrestling the past two years at 157 pounds. McLaughlin, a CAA All-Rookie Team selection in 2007-08, won 25 matches last season on his way to a fourth-place finish at the CAA Championships.

"Frankie is going to have a huge year for us," Weader said. "He was very close to going to the national tournament last season. He has a lot of wins his first two years in college and has improved tremendously since he joined the team as a freshman."

Entering his sophomore season at 165 pounds is Kramer Whitelaw, who recorded eight wins, four falls and one major decision during his freshman season.

174 Pounds
After winning the CAA Championship and advancing to the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships last season, Mendbagana Tovuujav returns for his second year donning the Green and Gold in 2009-10. Tovuujav was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the CAA Championships and earned a ranking of 18th in the final Amateur Wrestling News poll of the season. The Ulaanbaatar City, Mongolia native enters the season ranked in three different polls, including a high of 11th in the Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine poll.

"I really think the sky is the limit for Bagna," Weader said. "He is an unbelievable talent and he is getting better all the time. I think he just needs to be more consistent and more focused as he becomes more mature. People know who he is now and he is not going to take anyone by surprise but he has proven he can wrestle anyone in the country and beat anyone in the country."

Juniors Greg Scott and Jimmy Webb also return at the weight class. Scott won three matches last year, while Webb won two.

184 Pounds
Seniors Andrew Rock and Bill Widener will both vie for time on the mat at 184 pounds. Rock moved up a weight after winning three matches last season at 174 pounds. Widener also won three matches last year, while wrestling at 184 pounds. Joining Rock and Widener at the weight class is junior Zach Ulm, who won five matches last year, two by fall.

197 Pounds
A void will be created at the 197-pound weight class by the loss of junior Cayle Byers, who will redshirt this season with a foot injury. Byers, a two-time NCAA qualifier, was ranked in three different polls entering the season, including a high of fourth in the WrestlingReport.com poll. Moving into Byers' spot in the lineup will be junior Mike Peterson, who wrestled primarily at heavyweight last season, earning three wins and a fall.

Heavyweight
Hunter Manspile returns for his sophomore season at the heavyweight class. The Roanoke, Va. native earned valuable mat experience last season at the weight class.

George Mason begins its 2009-10 schedule this Sunday at the Hokie Open in Salem, Va. The tournament, hosted by Virginia Tech, will be held at the Salem Civic Center.