Dec. 18, 2008

FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason wrestling team will host its second home dual meet of the season as the Panthers of Northern Iowa visit Fairfax on Sunday. The Panthers enter the match with Mason ranked 25th in the nation by InterMat in its latest poll.

Mason's Cayle Byers, currently ranked sixth in both the InterMat and Amateur Wrestling News polls, headlines a Mason team that enters Sunday's contest with a 1-1 record. Byers, who has wrestled to a perfect 10-0 record to begin the season, has finished first in the 197-pound weight class at both the Navy Classic and the Nittany Lion Open. Freshman Denny Herndon has also been competitive this season and currently holds a 9-3 overall record. Competing in the 133-pound weight class, Herndon has earned a fourth-place finish at the Navy Classic and a third-place finish at the Nittany Lion Open. Sophomore teammate Frankie McLaughlin has wrestled to an 8-3 record in the 157-pound weight class and garnered a fifth-place finish at the Navy Classic.

Northern Iowa boasts four nationally-ranked wrestlers. Junior Charlie Ettelson enters Sunday's meet ranked 19th by InterMat in the 149-pound weight class. Senior Moza Fay is currently the second-ranked wrestler by InterMat and AWN in the 165-pound weight class with a 6-0 record. The third Panther ranked nationally is senior Andrew Anderson in the 197-pound weight class. InterMat currently ranks Anderson 14th, while AWN ranks the senior 13th, which sets the stage for a great match between two top-20 wrestlers in that weight class as Anderson will take on Byers. Freshman heavyweight Christian Brantley is ranked 18th by AWN in this week's poll.

Sunday's meet will begin at noon in the George Mason Field House. Tickets cost $5 for adults and $2 for youth and senior citizens. All full-time enrolled students will be admitted free with a valid George Mason University ID.