FAIRFAX, Va. - Head wrestling coach Joe Russell has announced the 2014-15 George Mason wrestling schedule. The slate includes matches against each of the six Eastern Wrestling League conference opponents, two programs that placed in the top-10 of the 2014 NCAA Tournament, a third consecutive trip to NYC for the Grapple at the Garden and an inaugural trip to the National Dual Championships. The Patriots will host eight opponents on seven different dates.

“I believe this schedule will challenge the team and help them prepare for the EWL and NCAA Championships,” commented Coach Russell.  “There is no easy date on the schedule.  Proper preparation will be essential to our team and individual success this season.  We will need to be ready to compete with great resolve every time we step on the mat.”

Mason jumps right into competition on Sunday, November 2 with three team duals on the day at the Cavalier Duals, hosted by University of Virginia. The Patriots draw VMI first at 10 a.m. followed by duals with Anderson and host Virginia later in the afternoon.

The first home dual of the season comes on Saturday, November 8 when the Navy Midshipmen visit Fairfax at 1 p.m. Other matches in the month of November include a match with Maryland on November 9 and traveling to the Navy Classic later in the month. The Patriots dual Franklin & Marshall on December 6 before closing out the calendar year on the 21st in the third annual Grapple at the Garden, hosted in Madison Square Garden. Mason wrestles Duke at 10 a.m. and Drexel for the third consecutive season at noon.

The Green and Gold open up the new year with competition at the Southern Scuffle on January 1 and 2 in Chattanooga, TN, an all-D1 individual tournament with many of the top competitors in the country expected to compete. Mason then hosts the first of three EWL opponents this season on the 10th in a dual with Cleveland State.

Conference opponent Rider visits on the 25th of the month along with North Carolina followed by EWL member and 2014 NCAA Tournament fifth place finisher Edinboro on January 31. The Fighting Scots are the first of two teams to visit Mason this season that finished in the top-10 of the 2014 NCAA Tournament. Mason hosts Big Ten member Northwestern, which placed ninth at last year's NCAA Tournament, in the last home dual of the season on February 21.

Road trips to wrestle EWL opponents Clarion, Lock Haven and Bloomsburg are also on the schedule along with the program's first spot in the National Duals on Sunday, February 14, drawing host Lehigh in the first round. Finals take place in Iowa on the 22nd.

EWL Championships are scheduled for March 7 at Rider University followed by NCAA Championships in St. Louis, MO from March 19-21. For the full 2014-15 schedule, please click here.