George Mason University Athletics

Canaan Bethea enters his second season as assistant coach with the George Mason wrestling team for the 2017-18 season.

A two-time NCAA qualifier while at the University of Pennsylvania, Bethea competed in the NCAA Championships in 2013 and 2015.  He advanced to the round of 12 at the NCAA Championships in 2015, finishing with a 3-2 record. 

Bethea was a two-time University National Freestyle All-American.  He was an All-Ivy selection in 2013, finishing third on the team at Penn with 24 victories.  Bethea placed seventh at the 2015 University Nationals and sixth at the 2016 University Nationals.

During his time at Penn, Bethea was a runner-up at the 2015 EIWA Championships and placed fifth at the 2013 EIWA Championships.  He also won four individual tournament championships, claiming titles at the Wilkes Open (Dec. 2011), Simonson Open (Jan. 2012), Keystone Classic (Nov. 2012) and Franklin & Marshall Open (Jan. 2015).

Bethea, a Trenton, N.J. native, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2015 with a degree in psychology. 

In 2015, Bethea was named South Jersey College Wrestler of the Year.  An EIWA Finalist in 2015, Bethea ranked 10th nationally by Wrestling Amateur News at 197 pounds his senior year. 

Bethea continues to compete on the senior level, representing the Patriot Elite Wrestling Club.

Bethea is the co-founder of Trenton Youth Wrestling in his hometown of Trenton, N.J., where he also served as director and coach.

Prior to his time at George Mason, Bethea set a Mercer County and Colonial Valley Conference high school record for wins by a public school competitor with a career mark of 134-34.  He was a three-time NHSCA High School National All-American, three-time District 25 champion and a New Jersey State Finalist in 2010.