FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason wrestling team awarded post-season honors at its annual banquet, with four members of the team earning awards for their accomplishments during the 2022-23 season.
 
The banquet was held at P.J. Skidoos Restaurant in Fairfax with Patriots' wrestlers, coaches, family, donors and staff in attendance. 
 
Mason wrestling garnered several accomplishments and accolades on and off the mat this season.
 
The team finished with an 11-8 record and earned the programs' best finish, placing sixth at the MAC Conference Championship in its fourth year as a member.
 
Grad student Peter Pappas made history as the first Patriots wrestler to earn a MAC Championship in the four-year history as members of the MAC. The Patriots also had six place-winners at the championship.
 
The Patriots earned high honors in the classroom as well. Mason finished a program-best fifth place as a team to earn a National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Top 30 distinction for the fourth straight year. The top five ranking is the second time in Patriots' history, attaining that finish last in 2020-21.
 
Four Patriots were name NWCA Scholar All-Americans recognized for their academic achievements and commitment to the sport of wrestling.
 
For the second straight year sophomore Logan Messer earned NWCA Scholar All-America honor. First-time honorees include Andrew Dickson, Anthony Glasl, and Peter Pappas.

Dan Wotring Outstanding Wrestler Award – Peter Pappas
 
Grad student Peter Pappas won the team's Dan Wotring Outstanding Wrestler Award. The 157-pounder ranked #25 in the NCAA Coaches poll led the Green & Gold in win percentage with a 24-5 overall record.
 
The Plainview, N.Y. native made history as the first Patriots wrestler to earn a MAC Championship in the four-year history as members of the MAC. Pappas defeated NCAA Qualifier Ashton Eyler 3-1 in sudden victory in the MAC Championship final becoming the first conference champion since 2019, when Mason was a member of the Eastern Wrestling League.
 
Competing for the first time in the NCAA Tournament, Pappas entered as the No. 23 seed. He battled with three-time NCAA Qualifier Kaden Gfeller before the Oklahoma State and two-time Big 12 Champion defeated the Patriot in SV-2 with a takedown in the first round. The 157-pounder rebounded with a win against Ohio's Peyten Kellar in the consolation round. Kellar earned the first point with an escape, but Pappas had a takedown in the second and earned the riding time point for the 3-1 win. 
 
Jerry Mullins Coaches Appreciation Award – Nate Higley
 
Nathan Higley won the Jerry Mullin Coaches Appreciation Award.
 
Higley had a tremendous inaugural season topped by earning an automatic bid to represent the Patriots at the 2023 NCAA Division I Men's Wrestling Championships. The first-time qualifier was seeded No. 26 in the NCAA Championship.
 
The redshirt freshman won the MAC Conference Rookie of the Year award, becoming the first Patriot to win the conference accolade in more than 20 years. Tony Howard earned the honor in 2001 when Mason was a member of the Colonial Athletic Association.
 
Unseeded at the MAC Championships, Higley earned the NCAA bid after finishing runner-up at the conference tournament. The redshirt-freshman took down two ranked opponents en route to the 149-pound MAC Championship final. Central Michigan's NCAA Qualifier #26 edged Higley, 7-5, in the final to win the championship.
 
The Sullivan County, Pa. native was one of five Mason wrestlers to win more than 20 matches, finishing with a 24-17 record, including a team-high 10 falls.
 
The Elia Ahmadian Uncommon Man Award – Anthony Glasl
 
Anthony Glasl was named the Elia Ahmadian Uncommon Man Award, an honor given to the athlete who exemplifies what it's like to truly #BeUncommon, on and off the mat. Glasl is a two-time Peter N. Stearns Provost Scholar Athlete, achieving a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or better.  Fighting through two injuries this season, Glasl grinded out a sixth-place finish at the MAC Championships at 141 pounds.
 
After dropping the opening match of the conference championships, Glasl battled back through the consolation rounds. He defeated Ohio's Kyran Hagan, 6-5 SV in consolation round 1, and Buffalo's Jack Marlow, 10-4, in consolation round 2. In the consolation semi-final, Glasl was edged, 3-0, by Javon Jones from Northern Illinois. Cleveland State's Caleb Rea earned a major decision over the Brockway, Pa. product, 8-0 in the fifth-place match.
 
True Freshman of the Year – Markel Baker
 
Freshman Markel Baker was named Mason Wrestling's True Freshman of the Year award.
 
Baker made an impact in his first collegiate season finishing with a team-high 27 wins and finishing fourth at the MAC Championships.
 
At the conference tournament, the Freeport, Illinois native finished 2-2, earning a 6-2 decision against Northern Illinois Blake West in the quarterfinals. In the championship semifinals, defending MAC Champion Anthony Noto edged Baker, 4-3.
 
Baker finished 5-1 in the MAC during the regular season with decisions against Bronson Garber (Bloomsburg), Joey Fischer (Clarion) and Aiden Lewis (Edinboro). He had a major decision against Cleveland State's Ben Aranda and a technical fall vs. Davian Guanaluato (SIUE). Rider's Tyler Klinsky edged Baker, 3-1 in the final regular season match.