June 5, 2009

MANHEIM, Pa. - George Mason was one of 30 wrestling teams in the nation to earn National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) All-Academic Team honors, the organization announced on Friday. Mason ranked 16th on the list with a cumulative team GPA of 3.04.

For teams to be eligible for consideration, the team GPA is comprised of 12 student-athletes, including the 10 wrestlers that were the entries in the team's NCAA tournament conference qualifier. If teams had less than 10 entries for their respective qualifier, they may fill those spots with wrestlers that competed in at least one varsity dual during the season.

American University led the Division I teams with a GPA of 3.28 after tying with Duke University for the top spot in 2008. American was closely followed by Harvard University. Stanford University, Duke University and Davidson College rounded out the top five.

The NWCA also announced its Individual All-Academic Team for 2008-09. Mason sophomore Frankie McLaughlin IV was one of 73 wrestlers in the nation to earn the honor. McLaughlin earned a GPA of 3.32 while majoring in finance. On the mat, McLaughlin posted a 25-11 overall record at 157 pounds and wrestled to a fourth-place finish at the CAA Championships.

To qualify for the individual team, wrestlers must have at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA, been an NCAA qualifier or won 60 percent of his total schedule - and must have competed in at least 60 percent of said schedule. The other way to qualify for the All-Academic team is to have a 3.0 cumulative GPA and NCAA All-America status.