Members of the George Mason High School wrestling team turned in strong performances last Saturday at J.E.B. Stuart High School’s Raider Invitational Tournament. Of the nine wrestlers entered by Mason, seven finished in the top four of their weight class.

The Mustangs were led by Danny Seidita who won the 119-pound championship. Teammates Ben Tourkin and Keiyon Tyler finished as runners up at 125 and 171 pounds respectively, with Jackson Thomas finishing third at 130, Ze’ev Lailari, third at 140, Grant Hagler, third at 152, and Mikey Larcamp, fourth at 285. In capturing first place, Seidita improved his record to 9-3 on the season. As a team the Mustangs finished in fourth place, just two points behind West Springfield.

Coach Bryan Harris was pleased with the results, given the experience level of his squad.

“We are a young team this year. Tourkin, Thomas, Lailari, Tyler and Larcamp are in their second year of varsity competition and Grant is a freshman so we are very inexperienced at this time. The veteran on the team is Danny who is still only in his third year of wrestling and we look to him to lead us through the rest season. This tournament is a good start and we hope to build on it. For the first time in years we do not have any returning all state wrestlers and we are looking to Danny and Mikey Larcamp to really show the younger guys how its done.” said Harris. “Their performances at this tournament are just what we needed to build on as the season progresses.”

On the second place finishes of Tourkin and Tyler Harris said, “Both of these guys are a pleasant surprise.” “Each had a hard time last year adjusting to the competition level of high school wrestling but they have made tremendous strides this year in technique and conditioning.

“They will be hard for opposing teams to overlook,” he said.

The Mustangs will be away from Mason for the Appalachian Duals at Skyline High School today and tomorrow and then head to the Battle of the Bridge at Woodbridge High on Dec. 29 and 30.