Dec. 6, 2004

LAS VEGAS - George Mason sent eight wrestlers to the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Wrestling Invitational over the weekend, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4-5, which was held at the Cashman Center in Las Vegas, Nev. Mason competed with 47 other teams, finishing the two-day event tied for 27th overall with 18 points. Michigan won the meet with 148 points, while Nebraska (139.5) placed second and Hofstra (108.5) finished in third place.

Sophomore David Emison (Stafford, Va.) fell one match shy of placing at the tournament in the 133-pound weight class. He posted a 4-2 mark after dropping his first round match to Penn's Jeff Eveleth by a 9-6 score, and then winning four straight in the wrestleback bracket. He lost to 13th-ranked Derek Moore of UC-Davis via technical fall, 17-1, just missing out of a top-eight finish.

Senior 174-pounder Nick Webster (Towanda, Pa.) dropped a 15-4 decision to Nebraska's Marc Hardwood in the round of 32. Webster advanced to the round after beating Josh Johnston of Missouri Valley, 4-2 in overtime. He went 1-1 in the wrestleback, falling to Fresno State's Chris Gifford, 3-2.

Sophomore Mitch Webster (Towanda, Pa.) finished 1-2 in the 157-pound division. He posted a default victory over Tony Hook of Oregon State, but was downed in matches by 16th-ranked Brad Cieleski of Missouri and 20th-ranked Brian Busby of Cal-State Bakersfield.

Freshman Mike Eastman (Jefferson, N.J.) defeated Northern Colorado's Cole Allison, 9-6, in the round of 32 at 184 pounds. Tyler Baier of Cornell, listed 7th nationally, pinned Eastman in the round of 16. Eastman was 1-2 at the event.

Junior heavyweight Joel Caruso (Collingswood, N.J.) won his round of 32 match via pinfall over Charlie Walker of Eastern Michigan. Caruso had to medically default (7-1) from his round of 16 contest against 13th-rated Clint Walbeck of Fresno State. Caruso medically forfeited his subsequent consolation match.

Also in action over the weekend were freshmen Joe Coughlin (Horsham, Pa.), Jay Chichester (Falmouth, Va.) and Randy Oates (Owings, Md.), who each finished 0-2 overall at 125, 141 and 165 pounds, respectively.

George Mason begins its dual meet season Saturday at the four-team Slippery Rock Duals at Slippery Rock University. The Patriots will face Eastern Michigan first, followed by host Slippery Rock and Division II Mercyhurst.