The Patriots wrapped up their 2007-08 schedule with a 13-5 overall record and a 5-3 mark in conference dual meets. Under the tutelage of Head Coach Mark Weader and Assistant Coach James Torres, a young and talented Mason team earned its most dual victories since the 1991-92 season, when the team won its first of five CAA titles.
Individually, eight wrestlers rank in the top six of their respective weight classes in the conference. Freshman sensation Cayle Byers has been a force for Mason at the 197-pound weight class and is the team's lone nationally-ranked wrestler. Byers is ranked 12th by InterMat and 16th by Amateur Wrestling News in the final regular season polls. The CAA is particularly strong at 197 pounds but Byers is expected to compete for the title along with Hofstra's Joe Rovelli, ranked 10th by InterMat and 11th by Amateur Wrestling News, and Rider's T.J. Morrison, ranked 17th by InterMat and 12th by Amateur Wrestling News.
Other Mason wrestlers that are ranked in the CAA are Brian Wright at 125 pounds, Joe Coughlin at 133 pounds, Brandon Bucher at 149 pounds, Frankie McLaughlin IV at 157 pounds, Randy Oates at 174 pounds, Bill Widener at 184 pounds and Harry Zander at the heavyweight class. Zander, the top-ranked heavyweight in the CAA, brings a 7-0 CAA record and a 15-3 overall mark into this weekend's tournament. At 174 pounds, Oates will look to upset Hofstra's Alton Lucas, who is ranked sixth in both polls.
Hofstra has won the past six conference titles and enters the 2008 CAA Championships ranked 17th in the country. Old Dominion is not far behind, currently ranked 19th in the nation. Rider and Mason are ranked third and fourth, respectively, in the CAA team rankings and will attempt to challenge the Pride and Monarchs for the team championship this weekend.
The wrestling action begins on Friday with the first round, quarterfinals and first round consolations, and picks up on Saturday with the second round consolations and semifinals early in the day. At 5 p.m., the consolation finals and championship finals will begin. A total of 24 wrestlers - 20 automatic qualifiers plus four wild cards - will earn the right to compete in the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on March 20-22 in St. Louis, Mo. as a result of their performance at the conference championships.
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