FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason wrestling team is set for a challenging 2019-20 season, its first in the Mid-American Conference. The schedule includes multiple matchups against teams ranked in the top-25 nationally and a contest against eight MAC opponents.
The schedule includes 18 duals, with Mason hosting 12 duals in Fairfax. The Patriots will also compete in five tournaments during the season.
"I am very excited that we will have the opportunity to compete in twelve duals and a tournament at home," Mason head coach Frank Beasley said. "We have a great fan base that will get to see our team develop throughout the season. We have set a challenging schedule that will prepare our team for the MAC Championships and the NCAA Championships."
The Patriots will open the season in Blacksburg, Va., competing in the Hokie Open on Nov. 3. Virginia Tech finished in 11th place at the 2018-19 NCAA Championships.
Mason will then travel to Albany, N.Y. for the Journeymen Classic on Nov. 10. Six top-25 teams from the 2018-19 season will compete in the tournament including four teams that finished in the top fifteen in the country. Rutgers (9th at the 2019 NCAA's), Nebraska (10th at the 2019 NCAA's), Arizona State (12th at the 2019 NCAA's), Lehigh (13th at the 2019 NCAA's), Lock Haven (18th at the 2019 NCAA's) and Oklahoma (25th at the 2019 NCAA's) will take the mat in the tournament.
"With a young team, I think it is important to get a lot of matches early in the season so that our younger guys can develop," Beasley said. "The Hokie Open and Journeyman Classic are great Tournaments annually. We will see a large mix in competition from the Big Ten, ACC, Big 12, EIWA, Pac 12 and Southern Conference. The Journeyman Classic is a tournament with a unique format where wrestlers are grouped in a round robin format to get several matches with different competitors. There will be a very high level of wrestling at the event."
The Patriots' first dual will be on the road against conference opponent Clarion on Nov. 17 in Clarion, Pa.
The first home dual of the season is set for Nov. 21 when the Patriots host Oregon State at the George Mason Field House. The Beavers finished in 20th at the 2019 NCAA Championships. The match is designated at high school night and one of the members of the Mason Wrestling Staff will present a free clinic prior to the dual meet.
The Patriots will then compete in the 42nd annual Navy Classic on Nov. 23 in Annapolis, Md.
Mason will host the Patriot Duals on Dec. 6 in the George Mason Field House, facing VMI, Gardner-Webb, Davidson and LIU. The Patriots defeated VMI, Gardner-Webb and Davidson in duals last season.
The second annual Patriot Open will be held in the Field House on Dec. 7.
The team will then travel for three road straight contests. The Patriots will face Edinboro in Edinboro, Pa. on Dec. 20, Cleveland State in Cleveland, Ohio on Dec. 20 and Buffalo in Buffalo, N.Y. on Dec. 22.
To start off 2020, Mason will participate in the always powerful Southern Scuffle for the third year in a row in Chattanooga, Tenn. on Jan. 1-2.
The Patriots will host Brown on Jan. 11-12 and then Lock Haven, which was ranked 21st in the NCWA Coaches Poll for 2018-19, on Jan. 18 in Fairfax.
After an away contest against Rider in Lawrenceville, N.J. on Jan. 25, Mason will host five consecutive home duals. The Patriots will face Navy on Feb. 6 for Military Appreciation Day, Hofstra on Feb. 9 for Alumni Day, Old Dominion on Feb. 16, Bloomsburg on Feb. 16 for Senior Day and American on Feb. 20.
Mason concludes the regular season with a road matchup against Maryland in College Park, Md. on Feb. 21.
The Mid-American Conference Championships will be hosted by Northern Illinois on Mar. 6-7 in DeKalb, Ill. The NCAA Championships will be held Mar. 19-21 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn.
