With recent bad weather wrecking havoc for their schedule, George Mason High School’s varsity
wrestling Head Coach Bryan Harris was grateful that cold temperatures were all he and his Mustang squad had to deal with last Tuesday and Wednesday, at the Battle at the Bridge wrestling tournament hosted by Woodbridge High School.
While many of his starters away for the holidays or hobbled with injuries, Harris considered himself lucky to have nine of his 14 Varsity regulars on the bus with him.
“Last year we could muster only three guys, so I have no complaints,” said Harris.
This year, Mason had no champions but did have three wrestlers earn medals. Senior Manuel Veiga-Diaz led the way with a fourth-place finish at 189-pounds. At 112, Danny Seidita finished in seventh place and Teddy Rueckert claimed seventh at 152. All three finished the tournament with 4-2 records.
The results were not the same as last year, when Mason’s David Ray won the championship of the 152-pound weight class, but was the only Mustang to earn a medal.
“There were 24 guys in each weight class in this tournament, so finishing as high up as our guys did is an accomplishment,” said Harris.
“But the best part was all of our guys got to experience a big tournament atmosphere,” he explained.
“We have had only dual meets to this point and our post-season consists of tournaments, so it is important to get a feel for how they operate and get a sense of what to expect in the post season. Even the wrestlers who did not place will benefit from the experience.”
The Mustangs are off until this Saturday, Jan. 9, when they will host Lee, Fauquier, Kettle Run and Mount Vernon High Schools in a dual meet round robin in the George Mason Pit.
Wrestling matches will start at 10 a.m., with additional rounds at 11:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 4:15 p.m.
