By Orie Bumgarner (February 15, 2002)

George Mason’s "Unofficial JV" wrestling team ended its season last weekend at a tournament sponsored by Warren Co. High School. This tournament attracted wrestlers from the region’s 15 top schools including perennial state championship contenders Clark County and Strasburg. Sophomore Aarin Buskirk took home a second place medal at 103 and eighth grader Willie Hoover finished fourth at 119. Strong showings were made by Nick Pitas (8^th grade), Julie Dorsey (8^th grade), Bob Bumgarner (8^th grade), Andrew Phelps (9^th Grade), Orie Bumgarner (10^th grade), Zach Schwind (10^th grader), and Casey Winzeler (10^th grade).
 

The Warren Co. tournament capped an eventful year in which several of Mason’s youngest wrestlers prepared themselves to go on to the next level. Leading the team was sophomore Casey Winzeler, who finished the season with a 15 and 4 record and a championship at the Brentsville High School JV tournament. According to Casey, "The JV team has a lot of potential". He is looking forward to next year, to see the JV wrestlers fill the gaps left by the graduating seniors. Devlin Melancon and Zach Schwind continued their development as second year JV wrestlers and filled in for injured varsity wrestlers at the end of this season. Other freshman and sophomore wrestlers who are quickly developing are John Falkey, Will Straub, and Adam Dittmer. Will Hoover whom, in addition to his 4th place at Warren Co., also finished 4th at the Brentsville tournament leads the eighth-grade contingent. 

"Junior Varsity wrestling is an excellent setting to learn without the pressure to win," said Coach Pitas. "Work hard, do your best and the winning takes care of itself is the JV philosophy". This year’s sophomore varsity wrestlers had a solid foundation to build on from their junior varsity experience in their 8^th grade and freshman years; Aarin Buskirk, Colin Ehmer, Mike Cummings, Mac Cohe, Andrew Hipolet, and Tim Quintyn are all front line varsity wrestlers who have benefited from the program. Coaches Pitas and Heupel said, "We encourage all interested rising 8^th graders, freshmen and sophomores to come out next year and join in the Action that is Wrestling."