FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason redshirt sophomore
Malachi DuVall was selected as the Co-East Wrestler of the Week, announced by the Mid-American Conference. He shares the honor with Lock Haven's Wyatt Henson.
It's the second straight week and the fourth conference award this season by a Mason wrestler.
DJ McGee claimed the weekly conference award twice this season, while
Nathan Higley earned wrestler of the week in early December.
The Centre Hall, Pa. native scored the critical bonus points to propel George Mason over ACC opponent University of Virginia, 18-17. His pin gave Mason the bonus points to beat the Cavaliers for the first time since February 1991. He won by fall in 2:53 over Griffin Gammell. DuVall was the only Mason Wrestler to score bonus points in the dual where each team won five matches. UVA scored two major decision but DuVall's pin gave the Patriots the win.
Co-West Wrestlers of the Week
Eric Almarinez, SIUE, Redshirt Freshman, 141lbs
Collected a pair of dominating wins with his first two MAC contests of the season ... Defeated Jacob Brenneman of Edinboro 7-1 on Friday and followed that up with a 15-3 major decision over Buffalo's Caleb Brooks ... Almarinez previously unranked in the MAC rankings ... Leads the team with 15 victories this season at 141 and 149 ... Helped the Cougars to four straight dual match victories and most MAC dual wins in a season since the program joined the league.
Aaron Ferguson, Kent State, Junior, 165lbs
Ferguson placed fifth at the loaded F and M open, marking the highest finish at the Open in school history. Ferguson went 5-1 on Friday. The 165-pounder won a pair of decisions to start the day, and after falling in the quarterfinals to the third-ranked wrestler, turned it up a notch in the wrestle backs. Ferguson won by technical fall and major decision to earn his way into the fifth-place match which was won by no contest. Ferguson finished fifth in a field that saw the top-four wrestlers ranked in the NCAA top-33, his victory over Dalton Harkins in the fifth-place match was over Flo Wrestling's #32 wrestler.
Co-East Wrestlers of the Week
Malachi DuVall, George Mason, Redshirt Sophomore, 184lbs
Wyatt Henson, Lock Haven, Redshirt Sophomore, 141 lbs
Redshirt-sophomore Wyatt Henson led the way for the Lock Haven wrestling team Friday (Jan. 5) at the 2024 David H. Lehman '68 F&M Open, hosted by Franklin & Marshall. Henson soared through a talented field to claim the 141-pound title, his fourth individual tournament title of the 2023-24 season. Ranked No. 22 nationally, Henson was a perfect 5-0 with two tech falls and a major decision on the day at F&M. Henson, the two-seed, rattled off back-to-back techs to start the day as he downed Brandon Sauter (Franklin & Marshall), 17-2 (2:48) and Mason Clark (Columbia), 20-5 (3:15). After advancing by medical forfeit in the quarterfinals, Henson took down No. 27 Cole Matthews (Pittsburgh), 7-2 in the semifinals, and he capped off his brilliant effort with a lopsided 14-4 major decision in the 141-pound finals over Carter Bailey of Lehigh.
