Junior wrestler Maz Movahed has been selected as the Connection Newspapers/George Mason University Athlete of the Week.

Movahed, a resident of Herndon and a 1993 graduate of Herndon High School, had an outstanding week as he won five of six matches, including four straight to capture the 142-pound championship at the 1997 Virginia Division I Intercollegiate Championships in Charlottesville. Movahed improved his overall record to 13-6 this season.

As a native of Iran, Movahed got a late start to his athletic career as competition during youth in the Iranian culture is discouraged. He never wrestled while at Herndon High, but he did train with a local club gymnastics team.

The son of Abdolla Movahed, a six-time world champion and considered possibly the greatest wrestler ever in Iran, Maz learned at home from his father, who is serving as a part-time assistant with the Patriots this season. The younger Movahed sat out his first year as a redshirt, then was 0-5 as a freshman and 4-4 as a sophomore in limited action. He opened this season competing for the starting spot at 150, but essentially lost that position to redshirt freshman Kevin Brandon.

Movahed's opportunity came when sophomore Mark Weader, the starter and a second-place finisher at the Colonial Athletic Association Championships at 142 pounds last year, came down with the flu several weeks ago. Movahed, who had placed third at 142 at the East Stroudsburg Open in November, stepped in for him at the Virginia Duals and lost matches to nationally ranked wrestlers from Lock Haven and Indiana, but the experience prepared him well for last week.

Wrestling up a class at 150 during a tri-meet with Campbell (45-0 George Mason victory) and Franklin & Marshall (42-3 Patriot win) last Wednesday, Movahed scored a 22-4 technical fall over Campbell's Lee Clark, but he dropped a 9-8 decision to F&M's Sean Groszowski.

Movahed then had his shining moment at the Virginia state tournament. With Weader returning to action but wrestling at 150 since Brandon was injured, Movahed won all four of his matches to capture the title at 142, one of three individual crowns won by George Mason as the Patriots finished second as a team. He defeated Old Dominion's Jesse Correll (3-2), James Madison's Jim Dutrow (9-4), Virginia's Adrian Miles (8-7) and James Madison's Chris Carpino (5-4) to claim the title, his first as a collegian.

"This was a big step for Maz," said Patriot head coach Brian Shaffer. "He has all the physical tools to be successful, but he needed these wins to give him the confidence to perform in pressure situations."

Wrestling Contact: Ben Trittipoe (993-3263)