Kent, Ohio -- George Mason wrestlers
Evan Maag and
Malachi DuVall were crowned champions at the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship held at Kent University. The two join teammate
DJ McGee as NCAA Qualifiers.
The last time the Patriots had three wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Championship was in 2018-19, with Tejon Anthony (149) Colston DiBlasi (149) and Matthew Voss (285).
George Mason finished a program-best third place at the championship, besting last year's sixth-place finish. Prior to 2023, Mason finished finished 11
th the previous two seasons in the 13-team conference.
Central Michigan won the conference championship with 131 points, followed by Rider with 114.5. The Patriots were only two points back of the Broncs with 112.5 points. Lock Haven (93) and Buffalo (85.5) round out the top 5.
The Patriots had nine wrestlers make the podium with two champions, a second place, two fifth ane sixth place finishes, and two eighth place winners.
Maag avenged a regular season 12-10 decision to Ohio's Garrett Thompson in the championship bout at 165 pounds. The redshirt freshman pinned the Bobcat in 2:49 to earn his ticket to the NCAA Championship.
DuVall upended top-seeded Cameron Pine from Clarion with an 7-4 decision in the 184-pound championship.
McGee finished second, dropping a 2-0 decision to #16 Peyten Keller from Ohio in the championship bout. McGee dropped a close, 3-0, decision to Keller earlier this season.
Kaden Cassidy (149) and
Dominic Hargrove (141) each earned fifth place finishes.
Tyler Kocak and
Donovan Sprouse finished sixth at their weights.
125 – JB Dragovich 8th Place
-
- 4-1 decision over Max Elton (Buffalo) in round 1
- 0-7 fall loss to top-seeded Anthony Noto (Lock Haven) in round 2
- 8-1 decision win over Adan Benavidez (Kent State) in consolation
- Fischer (Clarion) fall over Dragovich (2:19)
- Aranda (CSU) earned major decision against Dragovich in 7th place match
- 133 – Brandon Wittenberg -- 8th Place
- 0-8 Major decision loss to Marcel Lopez (SIU Edwardsville) in round 1
- Bye advances him to consolation round 3
- 8-3 Decision win over Nick Molchak (Cleveland State) in consolation
- Kaminski (NOIL) 4-2 dec against Wittenberg
- Perez (Cent) dec 10-7 over Wittenberg in 7th place match
- 141 – Dominic Hargrove -- 5th Place
- 0-9 major decision loss to Ryan Sullivan (Clarion) in round 1
- bye advances him to consolation round 3
- 3-0 fall win over Dylan Layton (Cleveland State) in consolation
- Fall (2:28) over Brenneman (Edinboro)
- Nugent (Cent) fall (4:19) over Hargrove
- Hargrove over Sullivan (Clarion) in 5th place match
- 149 - Kaden Cassidy -- 5th Place
- 8-2 decision over Caleb Tyus (SIU Edwardsville) in round 1
- 3-0 fall win over Kalben Burgess (Buffalo) in round 2
- 5-8 decision loss to Quinn Kinner (Rider) in the semis, moves to consolation final 4
- lost to Tyus (SIUE), 9-6
- Defeated Raike, TF 19-4 (4:31) in 5th Place match
- 157 – DJ Mcgee -- Second Place:
- Bye in round 1
- 4-3 decision win over Keegan Knapp (Kent State), advances to final 4
- 4-3 decision win over Johnny Lovett (Central Michigan), advances to championship
- 165 – Evan Maag -- MAC Champion:
- Bye in round 1
- 11-2 fall win over Hunter Shaut (Buffalo), advances to final 4
- 5-3 decision win over Tyler Swiderski, advances to final
- Pinned Ohio's Garrett Thompson in 2:49 in Championship match
- 174 – Paul Pierce:
- 184 – Malachi DuVall -- MAC Champion
- 197 – Tyler Kocak -- 6th Place:
- Technical fall 3-18 loss to Benjamin Smith (Cleveland State) in first round
- Bye advances him to consolation round 3
- Dec 4-2 against Carroll (NOIL)
- Dec 8-5 over Wiant (Clarion)
- MD 18-5 loss to Schaffer (Kent)
- Bell (Rider) wins 8-2 in 5th place match
- 285 – Donovan Sprouse 6th Place:
- Technical fall 6-21 loss to David Szuba (Rider) in first round
- Bye opponent advances to consolation 3rd round
- 5-3 decision over Miller (Lock Haven)
- 4-1 dec over Lodato (Edinboro)
- Ohio's Greer TF (5:26), 16-0 over Sprouse
- Owen Pablan (Buf) dec Sprouse, 5-3 in 5th Place Match
