The George Mason High School wrestling team was on the road again last Saturday, this time to Strasburg High for the Bull Run District duals. All in all it was a pretty good day team-wise for the Mustangs, as they went 2-3, defeating Clarke and Rappahannock Counties while losing to Strasburg, Madison County and Manassas Park.
The George Mason High School wrestling team was on the road again last Saturday, this time to Strasburg High for the Bull Run District duals. All in all it was a pretty good day team-wise for the Mustangs, as they went 2-3, defeating Clarke and Rappahannock Counties while losing to Strasburg, Madison County and Manassas Park.
The most important outcomes were those of the individual wrestlers, however, as the results of Saturday’s matches will go a long way toward determining how each Mustang is seeded in the upcoming district tournament. If “location, location, location” is what counts in real estate then for wrestlers about to enter the postseason, it’s “seeding, seeding, seeding.”
Junior Danny Seidita led all Mason wrestlers, going a perfect 5-0 on the day. Junior Alborz Alaeddini and senior Mike Larcamp each went 4-1, and junior Ben Tourkin and senior Jackson Thomas finished 3-2. By virtue of his perfect day, Seidita will most likely receive the top seed at the district tournament in two weeks. Alaeddini and Larcamp will be no worse than #2 seeds, but each have a shot at securing the #1 seed. Tourkin and Thomas project to be #3 seeds. No other Mason wrestler did well enough to crack the top four.
“Being seeded is no guarantee of anything, obviously,” said head coach Bryan Harris, “but seeded wrestlers have an advantage and during the post season every advantage counts.”
It has been this group of wrestlers who have been the team standouts all year so their performances came as no surprise to Harris. Seidita has quietly compiled a record of 29-12 and is on pace for a 40-win season. Larcamp, Mason’s only returning state qualifier from last season, is also doing well with a record of 24-12. Thomas and Tourkin have 18-11 and 16-11 records respectively and while Alaeddini has been hampered by injuries and has not logged as much mat time as others, he is 13-6 on the season- 8-2 in his last 10 matches. More importantly he is healthy and appears to be coming on strong at the right time. Although he had an off day at the duals with a 2-3 record, junior Ze’ev Lailari is 22-13 for the season.
“We have come to depend on these guys as our core group,” said Harris, “and I think that each has gained the experience and confidence which are important factors when tournament time rolls around. Every one of them has a shot at going to the state tournament and doing well there.”
The Mustangs will hold their final event of the year this Saturday at the GM Pit when they will host Potomac Falls, Brooke Point and Stafford. Matches will start at 10 a.m. It is also senior recognition day and there will be a ceremony at the beginning of the 1 p.m. round.
