FAIRFAX, Va. - George Mason Head Wrestling Coach Joe Russell has announced the captains for the Patriot's 2015-16 season. The announcement comes ahead of the team's first practice of the year, this Saturday, October 10 at 12pm. Saturday's practice is open to the public and anyone is welcome to check out the 2015-16 Patriot wrestling team in the main room of the field-house.
Taking leadership responsibilities will be two seniors and one junior with extensive experience on the mat.
Senior Vince Rodriguez (Fresno, Calif./Clovis North High School) and Junior Sahid Kargbo (Alexandria, Va./Hayfield Secondary School) will both continue their captainships from last year. Joining them this season as a first-year captain is Senior Greg Flournoy (Rappahannock County, Va./Fauquier High School).
“Greg Flournoy has developed into a leader of this team and was an overwhelming choice by the team to officially serve in a role he has taken on unofficially this past season,” Russell said. “Greg leads by example, he does the little things right.”
Flournoy attended Fauquier High School where he wrestled for Coach Doug Fisher. Fauquier has strong ties to the Mason wrestling program considering both recent graduate Ryan Hunsberger and current freshman Matt Raines (Warrenton, Va. / Fauquier High School) came to the Patriots from the Fauquier Falcons.
Flourney is also the first wrestler to score points at the NCAA tournament during Russell's tenure at George Mason.
Kargbo is another captain with local ties. Kargbo is from Alexandria, Virginia and wrestled in high school for Hall of Fame Coach Roy Hill. He wrestled in the off-season for the Gunston Wrestling Club with current teammates, redshirt sophomore Ibrahim Bunduka (Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams High School) and redshirt senior Konbeh Koroma (Springfield,Va./Robert E. Lee High School).
“Sahid Kargbo and Vince Rodriquez have been in this role before and they know what we expect,” Head Assistant Coach Israel Silva said. “All three bring different aspects of leadership, Kargbo is vocal, Rodriguez is calm and collective and Flournoy's work ethic leads by example.”
Although the team's first organized meet is not until the Navy Classic in late November, the open practice Saturday will be the beginning of what Russell hopes is another positive step in the right direction.
Russell is starting his fifth season with Mason and will try and build on last year's 10 win campaign by relying on the team's captains to set the tone.
“We preach a servant leadership style at George Mason University, our guys are asked to live a lifestyle where there is excellence in everything they do,” Russell said. “The 'Mason Way' can be difficult, but the fruits of the lifestyle pay dividends way beyond the wrestling mat.”
No one understands the “Mason Way” better than fifth-year redshirt senior and returning captain Rodriguez. Rodriguez arrived in the Fall of Russell's first season as head coach and immediately produced, receiving an At-Large bid to the NCAA championships in St. Louis that year.
“Being selected as a captain is a huge honor for me,” Rodriguez said. “Being a captain means that my team trusts me enough to help guide them to reach their goals, and get the team where it needs to be for this upcoming year.”
Assistant Coach Tom Carr has been with George Mason wrestling for four seasons, which has allowed him to see first-hand how each of the three captains have positively affected the program.
“The program has a greater sense of accountability to work towards our common goals and these young men have taken it on themselves to lead by example,” Coach Carr said.
With a solid coaching and leadership foundation, the Patriots have the pieces in place to continue making positive strides in the right direction, individually and as a program this season.
