Wrestling

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Wrestling Earns Second-Most NCAA Allocations for the MAC - George Mason University Athletics

INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA has announced the second coaches ranking and first Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) for the 2025 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.

gomason.com

"The Mid-American Conference (MAC) earned 26 NCAA allocations, including four from George Mason wrestlers. The Patriots were one of only four teams with four or more allocations with Lock Haven leading the way with six, followed by Central Michigan, Rider, and George Mason with four each.

Each qualifying tournament was awarded pre-allocations to the national tournament based on regular season performance by conference wrestlers through February 23. The pre-allocations were determined by using a sliding scale of the three standards, win percentage, coaches' rank, and RPI ranking; while never going below the base of .700 winning percentage, top 30 coaches' ranking and top 30 RPI ranking until reaching the maximum of 29 wrestlers per weight class.

For each wrestler that reached the threshold in at least two of the three categories, his conference tournament was awarded a qualifying spot in that weight class. Each conference is awarded a minimum of one automatic qualification per weight class, which will go to the tournament champion, even if they did not have any wrestlers reach at least two of the three thresholds. NCAA championship spots for each qualifying event will be awarded at conference tournaments based solely on place-finish.

After all the conference tournaments have concluded, the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee will meet in-person to select the remaining 43 at-large qualifiers, which will be announced on March 11, while brackets and seeding will be announced on NCAA.com at 8 p.m. on March 12. All weight classes will consist of 33 wrestlers.

Second RPI Rankings/Third NWCA Rankings
George Mason had four wrestlers earn spots in the most recent RPI/NWCA ranking; #26/#26 Kaden Cassidy at 149, #27/#22 DJ McGee at 157, #21/#23 Evan Maag at 165, and #31/#23 Malachi DuVall at 184."

 

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MAC Releases Pre-Seeds for 2025 MAC Wrestling Championships

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference released its pre-seeding for the 2025 MAC Wrestling Championships on March 7-8, hosted by Rider University at the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, NJ.

getsomemaction.com

125 lbs.

1. Blake West, Northern Illinois
2. Noah Michaels, Rider
3. Benjamin Aranda, Cleveland State
4. Drew Davis, SIUE
5. Chris Vargo, Edinboro
6. Ben Monn, George Mason
7. Travis Clawson, Clarion
8. Max Elton, Buffalo

133 lbs.

1. Anthony Noto, Lock Haven
2. Sean Spidle, Central Michigan
3. Markel Baker, Northern Illinois
4. Colton Camacho, Edinboro
5. Nick Molchak, Cleveland State
6. Marcel Lopez, SIUE
7. Scott Johnson, Clarion
8. Will Betancourt, Rider

141 lbs.

1. Wyatt Henson, Lock Haven
2. Andrew Austin, Central Michigan
3. Jordan Decatur, Kent State
4. Danny Martinez, SIUE
5. Jacob Brya, Northern Illinois
6. Anthony Ferraro, Edinboro
7. Ethan Mitchell, Cleveland State
8. Dominic Hargrove, George Mason

149 lbs.

1. Sammy Alvarez, Rider
2. Mason Shrader, Central Michigan
3. Kaden Cassidy, George Mason
4. Billy Meiszner, Kent State
5. Lucas Kapusta, Lock Haven
6. Derek Raike, Ohio
7. Hayden Whidden, SIUE
8. Kyle Schickel, Clarion

157 lbs.

1. Johnny Lovett, Central Michigan
2. Colton Washleski, Rider
3. DJ McGee, George Mason
4. Nick Stampoulos, Lock Haven
5. Landen Johnson, Northern Illinois
6. Kaleb Burgess, Buffalo
7. Eric Almarinez, SIUE
8. Carson Miller, Kent State

165 lbs.

1. Enrique Munguia, Rider
2. Evan Maag, George Mason
3. Tate Geiser, Cleveland State
4. Jack Lledo, Ohio
5. Ethan Barr, Kent State
6. Chandler Amaker, Central Michigan
7. Caden Dobbins, Lock Haven
8. Hunter Shaut, Buffalo

174 lbs.

1. Alex Cramer, Central Michigan
2. Garrett Thompson, Ohio
3. Avery Bassett, Lock Haven
4. John Worthing, Clarion
5. Logan Messer, George Mason
6. Michael Wilson, Rider
7. Tommy Bennett, Northern Illinois
8. Brody Evans, Edinboro

184 lbs.

1. Isaac Dean, Rider
2. Colin Fegley, Lock Haven
3. Malachi Duvall, George Mason
4. Marcus Petite, Buffalo
5. Jeremy Olszko, Ohio
6. Adrien Cramer, Central Michigan
7. Jared McGill, Edinboro
8. Holden Martin, Kent State

197 lbs.

1. Tucker Hogan, Lock Haven
2. Luke Cochran, Central Michigan
3. Brock Zurawski, Rider
4. Tyler Kocak, George Mason
5. Blake Schaffer, Kent State
6. Nick Nosler, SIUE
7. Sean Carroll, Northern Illinois
8. Joey Lyons, Cleveland State

285 lbs.

1. Jordan Greer, Ohio
2. Gavin Hoffman, Lock Haven
3. Daniel Bucknavich, Cleveland State
4. Austin Chapman, Clarion
5. James Blackman, George Mason
6. Bryan Caves, Central Michigan
7. Brentan Simmerman, Kent State
8. Aden Roe, Edinboro

 

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Patriots Head to MAC Wrestling Championships - George Mason University Athletics

FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason Wrestling will travel to Ohio for the Mid-American Conference Championships on Friday and Saturday, March 7-8.

gomason.com

"George Mason Wrestling will travel to New Jersey for the 2025 MAC Wrestling Championships on Friday and Saturday, March 7-8 inside the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, NJ, on Friday and Saturday.

Ten Patriots will look to punch their ticket to the 2025 NCAA Championships at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA, on Mar. 20-22.

In its sixth season in the MAC, Mason finished the season with an 12-6 record, and its best finish in the MAC (6-2). For the third consecutive season the Green and Gold have double-digit wins. After back-to-back 11-win seasons, GMU won 12 this season, which is the most wins in a season since the 2007-08 season when the Patriots finished with a 13-5 record.

Two wrestlers, Evan Maag (165) and Malachi DuVall (184) are aiming to defend their 2024 MAC Championships. Maag is seeded second, while DuVall earned a three seed. George Mason has nine wrestlers included in the pre-seedings. In addition to Maag and DuVall, 2024 NCAA Qualifier DJ McGee in the 157-weight class earned a three seed. Kaden Cassidy (149), ranked #26 in NWCA Coach's Poll, is also a three-seed.

Three Patriots additional wrestlers are in the top 5; Tyler Kocak (197) is a four seed, while senior Logan Messer (174) and freshman James Blackman (285) garnered five seeds."

 

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https://gomason.com/news/2025/3/7/mac-wrestling-championships.aspx

"Trenton, N.J -- George Mason wrestler DJ McGee punched his ticket to the NCAAs today, while the Patriots stand in fourth overall heading into the final day at the 2025 MAC Wrestling Championships. McGee will compete for the individual championship, while several Patriots will compete in the wrestlebacks in their quest to earn a spot in the NCAA Championship.

It will be the second straight trip to the NCAA Championship for the sophomore. McGee will face Johnny Lovett from Central Michigan in the 157-pound championship on Saturday. The two wrestlers have competed several times including McGee win over Lovett by a 4-3 decision in the 2024 MAC Championship.

Unfortunately George Mason's Evan Maag (165) and Malachi DuVall (184) will not defend their MAC titles this year. Maag had to withdraw from the tournament after suffering an injury in the semifinal match.

Malachi DuVall (184) will need to compete through the consolation bracket after dropping his semifinal match to Edinboro's McGill with a 7-0 decision. The redshirt Junior began the competition with a bye then won his quarterfinal match against A. Gacek (Clarion) by major decision."

 

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Three Tickets Punched to NCAA Championship; George Mason Finishes Fourth at the MAC Championships - George Mason University Athletics

Trenton, N.J – Three George Mason wrestlers punched their ticket to the NCAAs, while eight Patriots finished on the MAC Championship podium.

gomason.com

"The Patriots finished fourth overall at the 2025 MAC Wrestling Championships.

McGee defeated Johnny Lovett from Central Michigan in the championship bout to claim his first MAC Championship and earn his second trip to the NCAA Championship. McGee lost to Lovett earlier this season in the Midlands championship match.

Malachi DuVall punched his ticket to the NCAA Championship for the second straight season with a third-place finish. After Malachi DuVall dropped his semifinal match, the redshirt junior recorded to falls en route to finishing in third place. DuVall earned a fall against Ohio's Olszko (3:43) and Colin Fegley (4:12).

Kaden Cassidy earned his first trip to the NCAA Championship. The redshirt junior battled his way through wrestle-backs with four straight wins to finish third.

Ben Monn enjoyed his best MAC Championship, finishing in fourth place. In the championship round he earned a big win against #3 seed Aranda from Cleveland State. After dropping the semifinal match, Monn edged C. Vargo from Edinboro and in the third-place match lost to D. Davis (SIUE), 2-1.

Freshman James Blackman earned a fourth-place finish in his first MAC Championship. In the wrestle-backs Blackman earned a 7-5 decision against CMU's Cavs before dropping the third place match to Cleveland State's Bucknavish, 7-1.

Dominic Hargrove finished fifth, while Evan Maag (inj.) and Logan Messer finished sixth."

 

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Blackman (285) just missed capturing the auto bid falling against a nationally ranked wrestler he had defeated earlier this year in the 3rd place match.

Messer also had a great shot to get an auto bid if he placed 3rd, but he lost a nailbiter to a former teammate who transferred out in the consi semi's to keep him from 3rd place bout.

Blackman and Messer where our two dark horses to steal a bid, and both wrestled their best of the season, look forward to them punching their tickets next year.

We have 3, hopefully Maag is healthy and can compete in two weeks as he should certainly get an at large and be our 4th wrestler at NCAA's.

 

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Out of 33, Kassidy is the #27 seed at 149, Mcgee is the #17 at 157 (highest for a Mason wrestler in recent history), and Duvall is #22 at 184.

Great for these guys, but very disappointing Maag is missing the NCAA’s after a pretty dominant season. I have to assume his injury kept him from being selected as an at large, because his resume definitely earned it.