Scholastic Bowl coach Jamie Scharff was named Region A Coach of the Year last Saturday after his team beat all four of it contestants in the Virginia High School League Regional competition. The Mustangs kept their undefeated season in tact and will advance to the state competion. Team members Dany Bray (captain), Kaitlin Bottock, Evan Cunningham, Rahul Gupta, Joe Mauro and Casey Smirniotopoulos competed under sponsor Scharff’s coaching. On February 15 the team will tape is next round of the "It’s Academic" competition at WNBC Channel 4 studios. The following weekend, February 22, the team will travel to the College of Wiliam and Mary to defend its state title in the VHSL State Scholastic Bowl Competition.

Lasso Online asked Evan Cunningham, a member of George Mason’s undefeated Scholastic Bowl team, to share the inside story and drama of the recent victory in the regional finals that now sends the team on its way to the state finals. The team hopes to repeat as state champions.

By Evan Cunningham (February 11, 2003)

On Friday, February 1, the George Mason Scholastic Bowl team embarked on the five-hour journey to Chatham, Virginia, for the Region B tournament. The team stayed overnight in Danville, Virginia, disproving the myth that wherever you are in Virginia, you are far from Danville. Despite the remoteness of the tournament, which was two miles away from the "Welcome to North Carolina" visitors’ center, the team recovered from all travel fatigue and was ready to play. After a good night’s sleep in a Holiday Inn Express, the team proceeded to Chatham High School to try to win a bid for the state tournament in Williamsburg, Virginia on February 22^nd. 

Anxious for competition, and after hearing that the team they were to play in the first round did not make it to the tournament, the Mustangs decided to practice against coach Jamie Scharff and his wife as well as team members Kaitlin Bottock and Casey Smirniotopoulos. The Scharffs proved they were too cool for school, and beat up on Mason players Dan Bray, Evan Cunningham, Rahul Gupta and Joe Mauro. After eating a hefty slice of humble pie in the practice, the team members continued to the second round, ready to extend their winning streak. And that they did, as they soundly defeated Wilson Memorial, who failed to score 100 points. It was a good match for Mason, Juniors Evan Cunningham, Rahul Gupta, who’s smarter than your average bear, Kaitlin Bottock and Jumpin’ Joe Mauro combined with senior captain Dan Bray to complete the victory.

The next contenders to try to usurp Mason’s winning legacy was Riverhead High School, a tough contender in last year’s regional competition. But the Mustangs yet again held their opponents to less than a hundred points. Mason knew that with a victory against Riverhead they would be guaranteed a berth in the state tournament, and they showed their prowess at the ol’ learning derby by beating up on the opposition in the final round. 

Mason now had a two-game wait before its final game for the regional championship. Randolph-Henry, a perennial powerhouse, had a chance to make its way up the losers’ bracket to face Mason in the final round, and the Mustangs were weary. Captain Dan Bray had begun to call Randolph-Henry’s captain his nemesis after a losing match two years ago. Dan had this to say about Randolph Henry’s loss to Wilson Memorial in the losers’ bracket, "It was unfortunate that I could not finish off our archrival, alas I must be content with the regional trophy." These profound words came during another long wait, as Wilson Memorial played Riverhead for a spot in the regional championship. Mason knew that whomever they played, they would have already beaten them, but were worried about losing their edge during the long wait. Wilson Memorial triumphed over Riverhead and Mason’s first opponent would be their last.

Edgy, nervous, and hoping for a win, the Mustangs sat down to play. Captain Dan was wicked smart and hella fast, racking up the majority of Mason’s points in the first round. At the end of that round Mason was barely ahead. The team round was one of the toughest Mason has ever faced, but the combined team effort of Evan, Dan and Cabin Boy Rahul Gupta built up the Mustangs’ lead. The last competitive round was merely a formality; Mason made sure to not let Wilson Memorial take a lead, and iced its regional championship. "They had the big mo," said junior Evan Cunningham after the win over Riverhead, "but we had the big guns and the big spirit, so we came away champions." Not only did the team win the regional championship, but coach Scharff also won the Regional Coach of the Year award, adding it to his hefty collection of trophies and left-wing bumper stickers. 

Next up for the Mustangs is traveling to WNBC4 Studios for ‘It’s Academic’ this Saturday, February, 15. Everyone is encouraged to attend and make witty signs, so if the team loses, they can have lost honorably. For tickets see Mr. Scharff.