Feb. 20, 2008

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - Freshman 197-pound wrestler Cayle Byers (Chugiak, Alaska/Chugiak) won his second consecutive Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week award, the conference announced today. It is the third straight week a member of George Mason's talented 2007-08 freshman class has won the award.

Byers won both of his bouts last week with a fall against Duquesne's Dave Mitchell in the Patriots' 35-6 dual meet victory and a 14-4 major decision against Delaware State's Shawn Nowrey in Mason's 37-12 win. He is now 33-5 overall in his rookie campaign and is ranked 12th by InterMat and 16th by Amateur Wrestling News in the latest rankings.

The CAA also announced its Co-Wrestlers of the Week. Hofstra's Jonny Bonilla-Bowman and Binghamton's Nate Patterson split the award this week.

George Mason wrestles No. 22 Maryland tomorrow on Senior Night at 6 p.m. at the Fieldhouse. The meet was originally scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. but the date was changed due to a scheduling conflict.

Tickets to Thursday's meet will cost $5 for adults and $2 for youth and senior citizens. All full-time enrolled students at George Mason University will be admitted free with a valid Mason student ID.