FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason senior
Logan Messer was selected as the Co-East Wrestler of the Week, announced by the Mid-American Conference. He shares the honor with Lock Haven's Lucas Kapusta.
It's the first conference award this season by a Mason wrestler. Last season, the Patriots won four of the weekly honors.
Messer was undefeated this weekend with a 6-0 record. The Norton, Ohio native earned a major decision (9-0) in a dual match over Griffin Ray in the Patriots' win against Buffalo on Friday. On Sunday, the senior was crowned champion of the 174-pound weight class at the A Better Way Athletics Open. Messer won all five duals en route the title in the tournament held at the Field House on campus. He had three technical falls and a major decision.
The senior is 12-3 this season. He has won eight matches with bonus points, including four technical falls.
Next up for the Patriots is a home match against Gardner-Webb on December 19.
Co-East Wrestler of the Week
Lucas Kapusta, Lock Haven, Redshirt-Freshman, 149 lbs.
The Bald Eagles took on a pair of Big Ten opponents in dual action over the weekend and redshirt-freshman Lucas Kapusta led the way for Lock Haven. The 149-pounder was the only Haven wrestler to go 2-0 and his victories included an upset-win and a tech fall. Friday's (Dec. 6) dual with Rutgers started at 149 pounds and Kapusta quickly quieted the crowd of nearly 4,000 with a 4-1 sudden victory win over No. 31 Andrew Clark. Back home on Sunday (Dec. 8), Kapusta's dominating tech fall helped the Bald Eagles blow by Wisconsin, 26-17 for Lock Haven's first victory over a Big Ten opponent since December 2017. Kapusta downed Aiden Medora, a redshirt-senior from Wisconsin, 17-1 (5:57).
West Division Co-Wrestlers of the Week
Garrett Thompson, Ohio, Redshirt-Junior, 174 lbs.
Garrett Thompson, a redshirt junior in the 174-pound weight class, recently excelled at the highly competitive Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, securing a 3rd place finish and currently ranking 23rd in the nation. He began the tournament with an impressive 8-1 victory over 8th seed Jared Simma and then defeated top-seeded Cade DeVos 10-7 in the quarterfinals, elevating his ranking to 21st. Although he faced #4 seed Lorenzo Norman in the semifinals and lost 10-6, Thompson rebounded in the consolation bracket by dominating #7 seed Brevin Cassella 11-1 and clinching the bronze medal with a 10-7 victory over #6 seed Simon Ruiz. His notable performance underscores his determination and potential as a rising contender in collegiate wrestling.
