Patriot Brew 10/18: Praisin' Polite

Ronny Polite III Earns Preseason A-10 Accolade

Author

Patriot Brew Crew
October 18, 2023

Happy Wednesday Patriots. “Work hard, be kind and amazing things can happen.”

Work hard ✅
Be Polite ✅

Well, Ronny Polite III is a prime example of that quote and the be kind part is literally in his name. Now? The amazing things are happening and much more is ahead.

What all is stirring in today’s Brew? Check it out!

🏀 Preseason Praise
🤝 Hero’s Welcome
⚽️ Connect Four
​⭐ And much, much more!

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Talkin’ Hoops. Lights, Camera, Action. Hoops seasons is almost here.

To help get us ready for the upcoming 2023-24 Mason men’s hoops season, the Patriots headed to Brooklyn for Atlantic 10 Media Day with Coach Skinn and Ronny Polite III jumping on the mic and having some fun for the cameras.

Polite III, who is coming of one of the most improved seasons in program history, was named to the Preseason All-Atlantic 10 Third Team by the league’s coaches.
 
The veteran guard made significant gains 2022-23 in nearly every statistical category, including scoring (11.5 ppg vs. 4.9 rpg), assists (4.0 vs. 1.4), 3pt FG% (.364 vs. .219) and overall FG% (.441 vs. .360).

🔼 Connect Four. You always want to be playing your best down the stretch.

Prime example? The 2023 Mason men’s soccer team.

The Green & Gold used a historic performance on Tuesday to extend their unbeaten streak to four with a dominating 7-0 victory on the road at Radford.

The seven goals is the most in a game since August 29, 2014 when Mason defeated Howard, 7-0. It also gave the Green & Gold their fourth win of the season, matching the most since 2019.

Sophomore Nicholas Prioli led the offensive explosion with two goals and two assists, while Luis Maestre continued his hot streak with two goals of his own. Maestre now has 15 points on the year (3 goals, 9 assists), which is the highest individual point total in a season since Tunde Akinlosotu in 2019.

🔼 Hero’s Welcome. When Chad Gartland was nicknamed “The Fireman” by one of his teammates, it was truly more than a nickname for the Rochester, N.Y. native.

The Patriots’ right-hander earned All-Conference accolades last season for the Green & Gold during their run to the Atlantic 10 title, but this year, he’s taking the mound for much more.

“The Fireman” is honoring his father, who is a firefighter back in his hometown, as well as the local Fairfax community by using his season to raise money for the local Fairfax County Fire Department.

This past weekend, Gartland, head coach Shawn Camp and the entire Mason baseball program welcomed local FCFD Chief O’Neal to throw out the first pitch at their fall scrimmage and be recognized.

🔼 Flyin’ High. Not one, but ✌️ Patriots earned Top-10 finishes for Mason’s men’s golf squad this week in Ohio.

Junior Nikita Gubenko and freshman Samir Davidov finished eighth and 10th respectively at the Dayton Flyer Invitational.

🏀 FIFTY IS NIFTY

During the 2023-24 season, the Patriots are recognizing and celebrating 50 years of women's basketball at GMU.

Throughout the year, the program and department will be highlighting major milestones, events and athletes over the past 50 years. One of the first women's varsity sports offered at the university, women's basketball saw the signing of Title IX and the transition into a Division I program less than 10 years after its inception.
 
The Patriots played their first game in February of 1974 and became a Division I program prior to the 1982-83 season. Mason joined the Colonial Athletic Association for the 1985-86 season and relocated to the Atlantic 10 Conference during the 2013-14 school year.
 
Stay tuned throughout the coming month for more features, information and so much more.

🤔 PATRIOT TRIVIA

Turning Heads. Yesterday, Ronny Polite III continued what seems to be a yearly tradition for the Mason men’s basketball program.

Polite III was named to the preseason all-conference team marking another season in which the Patriots had a member honored on the preseason A-10 teams.

Since Mason’s move to the Atlantic 10, the Patriots have had a representative on the preseason teams in 10 of the 11 seasons.

Who was the first Patriot that earned preseason accolades in the Atlantic 10?

Got a guess?

Scroll on down to the bottom of this email for the answer!

Patriot Trivia is sponsored by our official Student Housing Partner,
The Main on University

📅 WHAT’S ON TAP?

Thursday, October 19
⚽ Women’s Soccer vs. St. Bonaventure @ 5pm

Friday, October 20
🏐 Volleyball vs. Davidson @ 6pm

Saturday, October 21
🏐 Volleyball vs. Davidson @ 2pm
🚣 Women’s Rowing at Head of the Charles (Boston, Mass.)
⚽ Men’s Soccer vs. VCU @ 7pm
🚣 Women’s Rowing at Yinzer Cup (Pittsburg, Pa.)

📬 STICK WITH US

Did someone send you the Patriot Brew? Well, the first thing you should do is thank them. The next thing you should do is subscribe here and get it in your inbox every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning just in time for your first cup of coffee!

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Sherrod Wright in 2013-14.

After averaging nearly 17 points per game and five rebounds per game in the final season in the CAA, Wright turned heads prior to Mason’s first year in the Atlantic 10.

Patriot Trivia is sponsored by our official Student Housing Partner,
The Main on University

⭐️ Have a great Wednesday, y’all!