Oct. 10, 2008

FAIRFAX, Va. - The CAA preseason wrestling rankings were released this week and George Mason is tied for fifth. Old Dominion University leads the CAA with Rider University ranked second. Hofstra and Drexel are ranked third and fourth, respectively. Boston University is tied with the Patriots for fifth. Binghamton and Sacred Heart round out the rankings tied for seventh.

Seven wrestlers are ranked in the top six of their respective weight class heading into the season. Cayle Byers headlines the team as he is ranked first in the 197-pound weight class in the CAA. Byers is also ranked 10th nationally in his weight class by Amateur Wrestling News and ninth by Wrestling International Newsmagazine.

At 125 pounds, junior Brian Wright is ranked third. Moving up to 133 pounds, sophomore Denny Herndon is ranked fourth. Sophomore Brandon Bucher is ranked third at 149 pounds. In his second year as a Patriot, Frankie McLaughlin comes in fifth at 157 pounds. As a freshman, Mendbagana Tovuujav is ranked sixth in the 174-pound weight class. Junior Bill Widener is ranked sixth in the 184-pound weight class.

The Patriots will kick off the 2008-09 season on Nov. 9 as they travel to Blacksburg, Va. to take on Virginia Tech.