Six Mustang Wrestlers Move on to State Championships

By Mac Cohe (March 4, 2004)

Six of nine Mustang wrestlers qualified for states at the Region B Championship at Buffalo Gap High School last Saturday. The tournament consisted of the top four wrestlers from the Northern Section (Bull Run District) and the top four from the Southern Section (Shenandoah District and James River District) facing off to determine the top four in the Region who will advance on to the State Championship tournament next weekend
 

The wrestling team entered the tournament with nine wrestlers and six of them placed in the top four and thus will advance to the State Championships next weekend. In addition, the Mustangs placed fifth as a team; Mason’s strongest showing in nearly 20 years. The Mustangs were led individually by Region B Champion Colin Ehmer (140 lbs.) and by Region B Runners up, seniors Devlan Melancon (145 lbs.) and Mac Cohe (171 lbs.) and sophomore Nick Pitas (112 lbs.). This is a record number of wrestlers in the Region finals for GMHS. Junior John Sullivan (160 lbs.) and sophomore Mike Coleman (125 lbs.) both lost in the first round and then wrestled back to earn 3^rd and 4^th medals respectively and a trip to the State Championships. Also, Coleman became the first wrestler in Region B history to qualify for States without qualifying for Regionals (he entered the tournament as an alternate and battled his way to the medal round).

Seniors Andrew Hipolit (189 lbs.) and Tim Quintyn (275 lbs.) both lost in overtime one match away from making the medal round placing 5^th and 6^th respectively. Hipolit recorded two pins during the tournament and is an alternate for the state championships. He finishes his season leading the team with an impressive 34 wins this season. Sophomore Kristin Schwind (119 lbs.) became the first female from the Bull Run District to wrestle in the Region B Tournament in more than 15 years.

The Mustangs head to the Group A State Championships on Friday and Saturday, March 5^th and 6^th in Salem, VA.