WHEN:  Sunday, Dec. 18
WHERE:  Recreation Athletic Complex (RAC), Fairfax, Va.
DUAL:  1 p.m. | Mason vs. American 
LIVE VIDEO:  ESPN+ 
FOLLOW ON TWITTER:  @GMUwrestling
ALUMNI DAY:  Annual Patriots wrestling alumni day

Fairfax, Va.— The George Mason wrestling team will host American University at the Recreation Athletic Complex (RAC) Sunday, Dec. 18, beginning at 1 p.m.
 
Mason has won all five duals this season, its best start since the 2000-01 team began the season 6-0. Prior to that season, Mason started the 1995-96 season 7-0.

The match will be the 39th meeting between the Patriots and Eagles. Last season, Mason defeated American 20-16, snapping a 10-match losing streak against the Eagles. Prior to that the Patriots last defeated the Eagles, 28-18, in Fairfax during the 2007-08 season. Mason has the edge in the all-time series 22-15-1.
 
The George Mason matches will be broadcast nationally on ESPN+.

MASON'S PROBABLE LINE-UP
125 – Markel Baker
133 – Josh Jones 
141 – Michael Rapuano | Shawn Nonaka
149 – DJ McGee | Nate Higley
157 – Peter Pappas 
165 – Drew Dickson
174 – Logan Messer 
184 – Malachi DuVall  
197 – Jon List 
285 – Donovan Sprouse

MAT FACTS

• Mason is 5-0 in duals to open the 2022-23 season.
• Mason has the edge in the all-time series 22-15-1 with American.
• Grad student Peter Pappas and sophomore Logan Messer were crowned champions at the ARMS Software Patriots Open on Dec. 4. Mason claimed 13 overall place-winners in the annual tournament.
• Peter Pappas is 12-1 and Logan Messer is 15-2 on the season. 
• Most technical falls – Markel Baker, Logan Messer, & Malachi DuVall each have two.
• The Patriots opened the 2022-23 season with six place-winners at the Princeton Open. Malachi Duvall (184 pounds) earned a third-place finish, the highest finish by a Patriot. Tyler Kocak finished fourth. Sophomores Michael Rapuano and Logan Messer earned a fifth place finishes. Freshman Markel Baker and sophomore Jonathan List each finished sixth.
• At 174 pounds, Mason's Logan Messer is ranked third in MAC rankings. As a freshman, he finished fourth in the 2022 MAC tournament. He had an impressive rookie campaign, finishing with a 27-9 record. He is 15-2 this season.

AMERICAN EAGLES

• AU is 2-3 in duals after earning just one win in 2021-22. The Eagles beat Duke and Bloomsburg on the opening day of the season, and have since lost to Maryland, Michigan State and Army.
• Three Eagles placed at the Navy Classic on Nov. 19. Heavyweight Will Jarrell and 125-pounder Maximilian Leete were both fifth, while freshman 165-pounder Caleb Campos placed seventh.
• Campos (165) and redshirt junior Connor Bourne (197) both pulled out dual wins vs. Army West Point, with Campos defeating the #28-ranked wrestler, Dalton Harkins.

EAGLES LINEUP

125: Maximilian Leete or Raymond Lopez

133: Jack Maida

141: Ethan Szerencsits

149: Patrick Ryan or Antonio Segura

157: Jack Nies or Ryan Zimmerman

165: Caleb Campos

174: Lucas White

184: Colin Shannon or Carsten Rawls

197: Connor Bourne

285: Will Jarrell or Isaac Righter

UP NEXT
The Patriots head to Clinton, S.C. for dual meets against Duke and Presbyterian College on Wednesday, Dec. 21.