George Mason High School is ranked in the top 20 on a list of “America’s Best High Schools”, released today by US News and World Report (USNWR) magazine. Mason is ranked 1st among traditional Virginia public high schools and 19th of the nearly 22,000 high schools across the country included in the survey.

“The entire George Mason community is committed to excellence in mind, body, and character. We expect to achieve at high levels throughout our student body, and while the results are nice to hear, we are not surprised,” said George Mason Principal, Ty Byrd.

“We are confident that each Mason student is provided with a rigorous academic challenge and consistent support as they strive to reach individual and group goals. Thanks to our students, our teachers, counselors, administrators, assistant superintendent, superintendent and our school board. We are truly an exceptional community,” Byrd said.

The magazine also noted the school’s strong community in its review. “George Mason emphasizes parent involvement through conferences, parent nights and open houses,” the magazine reports. “The school’s proximity to Washington, D.C. and the agencies and international organizations in the area, draws in a culturally diverse student body.”

The magazine awarded George Mason with a Gold Medal for achieving a perfect 100.0 rating in the USNWR College Readiness Index which is based on exam participation rates and the percentage of students passing at least one exam. Mason reached 98% proficiencies in Reading and Geometry.

The school was also cited for its International Baccalaureate program and electives such as Mandarin Chinese and personal finance.

The George Mason High School Girls Field Hockey Club is keeping the excitement alive in the spring.  The team played in the “Beach Bash” tournament in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware last weekend, gaining lots of experience against teams from around the region.

Rising 8th – 11th grade girls and parents interested in the team may send inquiries to gmcfieldhockey@gmail.com for information about the Spring meeting, summer camps, and more.

GMHS Field Hockey Club team, sitting, from left, Annie Mothershead, Autumn Broxson, Caroline Duffett; kneeling, Celestine Taevs, Anna Hennessey, Hailey Thomas, Isabella Dod, Callie Gaskins, Darcy Jones, Gabe Brown; standing, Julianne Kelly, Nicole Iraheta, Rachel Pugh, Emily Garrett, Cami Malm, Sabine Wills, Ellie Yatsko. Not pictured, Coach Kristen Terry. (Photo by Justin Wills.)

Sixty-one teams competed in the DC Regional FIRST robotics competition this past weekend with George Mason’s robot, Vae Victus, coming within once match of making the finals.  The team performed well in the nine qualification matches held all day Friday and Saturday morning at the DC Convention Center, earning a spot as one of eight alliances to advance to the elimination rounds.

This year’s challenge,  ”Rebound Rumble” is  played by two competing alliances on a 27′ x 54′ field.  Each team consists of three robots competing to score as many basketballs into their hoops as they can during the two minute and 15 second match.  The match ends with robots attempting to balance on bridges located in the center of the field for bonus points.

In the quarter finals, the alliance easily defeated the number four seeded team.  They then went on to defeat the number one seeded alliance 64-55 in an exciting first match of the semi-finals.  During the second match, all three robots on the alliance had technical problems, forcing a third and final match.   With some of the technical issues still at hand, the alliance was unable to overcome their opponent.  Two weeks earlier at the Virginia Regional Competition in Richmond they also made it to the semi-finals only to be defeated by the alliance that went on to win the tournament.

Vae Victis on the field. (Photo: Arthur Pierson)

John Ballou, the faculty advisor for the program, was very pleased with how well the team fared at both events.  “I think our team did a fantastic job.  They played well and all of their hard work paid off.  It was a thrill a minute!”

At the end of the competition, awards are given to individuals and teams who have merited special recognition.  The volunteer of the year award was given to Falls Church resident and GM mentor, Don Brobst, who was recognized for “participating in or leading many FIRST initiatives and activities.  He gives willingly to help teams become the best they can be, and he is committed to FIRST‘s mission.  His dedication to teams’ technical and logistical know-how, and ‘no excuses’ attitude have made him an invaluable mentor, advisor, planning committee member, and event volunteer.”  When the Vae Victis team realized that it was their own member, Mr. Brobst, the cheers were enormous!

A few minutes later, the parent cheering section was again on their feet when the Johnson & Johnson sponsored Gracious Professionalism Award was awarded to George Mason.  The award “celebrates outstanding sportsmanship and continuous gracious professionalism in the heat of competition, both on and off the playing field.  At FIRST, sportsmanship means playing fairly, playing with humility, helping others, and not allowing results to compromise or drive your efforts.  It is a high standard, and one that we are proud to report is one of the distinguishing features of FIRST’s robotic competitions.”

The announcer went on to say, ” This team showed gracious professionalism that reached beyond this event.  In the weeks leading up to the competition, they worked alongside other teams helping them to get ready for this event. While at the DC Regional, they repeatedly shared their spare parts with those in need and helped teams debug their software.  This very friendly and helpful team had a great attitude and demonstrated . . . .Propitius Phasellus . . .That is Latin for Gracious Professionalism.”

FIRST (For Inspiration and  Recognition of Science and Technology) is an international program founded by Segway inventor,  Dean Kamen, designed “to turn young people on to career opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math” (STEM) and to promote “teamwork, competition, and just plain fun for young people ages 6-18″.  For more information visit www.usfirst.org.

Team 1418 with trophies. (Photo: Arthur Pierson)

One of the many items in the Byrd Feeder auction - a quilt in GMHS colors.

With a wide variety of items there’s something for everyone.  Make sure you see the handmade quilt in Mason colors that was created just for the Byrd Feeder!

Place your bids now, then finalize the bidding and claim your item at the 2012 Byrd Feeder  event this Saturday, March 24th, from 4-7pm, at Clare and Don’s Beach Shack on North Washington Street in Falls Church.  Bring the family for dinner and part of the proceeds from all meals will also benefit this great cause.

The Byrd Feeder, hosted by George Mason High School principal Tyrone Byrd, raises money to provide an alcohol and drug-free celebration and allows our community to keep our graduates safe on the night of their high school graduation, a night of high risk for teenagers, while offering them a wonderful way to celebrate all night with their classmates.

The George Mason High School Lady Mustangs beat the Lady Devils of Gate City 50-47 to earn the VHSL Group A Division Two Championship.  The game was close throughout, with seven ties and eight lead changes.

Junior Stephanie Cheney opened the scoring with two in the paint from an offensive rebound, followed quickly by a fast break score by Senior Lauren Kane for a 4 – 1 lead.  Gate City came right back, tied the score at seven, and Mason took the lead back for a 10 – 7 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

Mason’s defense continued to frustrate Gate City, as Stephanie Cheney blocked back-to-back shots, and Senior Leah Roth stole the ball and took it to the hoop for a 14-7 lead.  Sophomore Ashley Alexander drilled Mason’s only three point goal of the night to extend the lead to 10 points.  Gate City used a very physical defense to try to get back in the game, committing several fouls, but Mason could only convert 4 free throws in the first half and the Lady Mustangs went to the locker room with a lead of only two points, 25-23.

Stephanie Cheney with one of five blocked shots

The third and fourth quarter were a see saw battle of ties and one point lead changes.  Mason fans grew quite concerned when Stephanie Cheney fouled out with 4:55 left in the 4th quarter, but her teammates rose to the occasion to fill her shoes.  Lauren Kane, Senior Krista Kelly, and Freshman Katie Goodwin all nailed free throws to seal the win in the closing seconds.

Lauren Kane drives for two of her 16 points

Lauren Kane led Mason’s scoring with 16 points, Ashley Alexander had 11, Stephanie Cheney totaled 10, Katie Goodwin came off the bench to add six points, Leah Roth tallied four, Krista Kelly with 2, and Jaya Chavern scored one.

The celebration was well deserved for the Lady Mustangs, who have been been to the final four 8 times, with this their third championship in four years.  Seniors May Williamson, Krista Kelly, Leah Roth, Lauren Kane and and Sonia Kapoor have completed fabulous basketball careers at George Mason!

The Lady Mustangs celebrate another State Championship!

Mason scores against Fort Chiswell

The George Mason High School boys basketball team thumped Fort Chiswell 62-50 today in the semifinals of the Virginia State Basketball Tournament to move to tomorrow’s Championship game. 

Nunley (24) replaced injured Nate Ogle

The Mustang boys were underdogs entering today’s contest, lacking the services of senior forward Nate Ogle, who broke his hand in GM’s quarterfinal outing against Essex.  But the Mustangs led from the start and built a double digit lead in the fourth period that Fort Chiswell was unable to overcome.   Junior forward Will Nunley was a huge bright spot on the day, stepping into Ogle’s shoes and delivering a 13 point performance. 

Tickets for tomorrow’s Championship games at the Siegel Center ($10 plus fees) are available online here.

The Lady Mustangs of George Mason High School defeated Glenvar Thursday night 64-48 in the semifinals of the Virginia State Basketball Tournament.  With the win, George Mason advances to the State Championship game against Gate City Saturday in Richmond.

Glenvar and Mason played a nip and tuck game early in the contest, but the Lady Mustangs managed to lead 18-15 at the end of the first quarter.  In the second period, the Highlanders fought back to take a 19-18 lead.  Sophmore Jaya Chavern came into the game and hit a three point shot the first time she touched the ball to put Mason back in the lead for good.   Senior Krista Kelly drove the lane and scored to give Mason a 29-25 advantage going into the locker room.

The Lady Mustangs started the third quarter strong, with consecutive baskets by Sophomore Ashley Alexander, Senior Leah Roth, and Senior Lauren Kane, to open up a 10 point lead.  Glenvar showed great determination and eroded the lead to single digits several times.  Lauren Kane showed her skills at both ends of the court by blocking a three point shot by Glenvar, and then taking the ball all the way to the hoop at the other end. 

Lady Mustangs were leading 45-36 entering the final stanza.  The fourth quarter was all Mason, with the Lady Mustangs dominating the Highlanders on both ends to walk away with a double digit win.

Stephanie Cheney led the Lady Mustangs in scoring with 20 points on the evening.  Lauren Kane had 13, Krista Kelly found several holes in Glenvar’s defense to add nine, Leah Roth scored seven, and Ashley Alexander tallied 5.

George Mason’s Championship game opponent, Gate City, advanced with a 48-42 win over Stuarts Draft earlier in the evening.  The Blue Devils started the season 5-11 before turning a corner in the second half of the season to claw their way into the state finals. 

The Championship game will tip off at 3pm Saturday at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center in Richmond.

George Mason High School’s boys and  girls varsity basketball teams each won their quarterfinal state tournament games today, advancing to the Final Four next week

The boys team faced a challenge in their match with Essex High School.  The Mustangs held a double-digit lead early in the fourth quarter, but Essex fought back to get within two points with one minute left.  The Mustangs added a basket, plus excellent free throw shooting and punched their ticket to the final four with a 56-52 win.  Four Mason seniors scored in double digits, as Nate Ogle led the way with 15, Phillippe Griffiths added 14, Dmitri Venets had 12 and Noel Obusan had 10.

The Lady Mustangs hoped to continue the success in their quarterfinal match against the Lady Tigers of Sussex Central High School from Sunny Creek, the Division 2 Region A champions.   Mason jumped out to an early 5-0 lead with consecutive fast break baskets by Senior Lauren Kane.    The Lady Tigers clawed their way back into the game, led by Senior Tatyana Calhoun and closed the score to 12-9.  Mustang Senior Leah Roth turned a steal into a fast break basket with eight seconds left in the first quarter, closing the period with Mason leading 14-9.

Stephanie Cheney scores two points in the paint

Junior Stephanie Cheney opened the second quarter with a three pointer and then two foul shots, to widen the lead to ten points.  Strong defense pressure limited the Lady Tigers’ scoring opportunities, and resulted in many fast break opportunities.  Senior Krista Kelly and Sophomore Juliana Rollo both had steals in the second quarter that they turned into assists to their Mason teammates at the other end of the floor.   Mason went into the locker room at VCU with a commanding lead of 39-20.

Ashley Alexander opens the 3rd with a fast break basket

Coach LaBryan Thomas did not let his team ease up in the third quarter.  Defensive pressure continued, with the defense tallying 11 steals in the game and forcing a total of 21 turnovers by the Lady Tigers.  Mason’s defense held the Lady Tigers to single digit scoring in the first, third and fourth quarters. The final score was 66-36 for the Lady Mustangs, who return to the final four in the state tournament for the fourth year in a row.

Lauren Kane and Stephanie Cheney led all scorers with 23 points, each, Freshman  Katie Goodwin came off the bench to score ten points and grab four rebounds, and Leah Roth had six points and eight assists.

The girls will now face Glenvar High School Thursday at 8:45pm at the Siegel Center at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.

The boys will take on Fort Chiswell Friday at 12:15pm, also at VCU’s Siegel Center.

George Mason High School Trainer Vicki Galliher included student concussion victims and their parents in a compelling presentation at GMHS last week on the causes and effects of this common traumatic brain injury.

Galliher also included detailed representations of healthy and concussed brains and a video of former LaSalle University athlete Preston Plevretes, who in failing to allow a first concussion to heal before resuming play, set himself up for a tragic “second-impact” syndrome.  Once a specimen of athletic prowess, the hard hit that Plevretes took in his fourth game following the initial injury left him extremely disabled and barely able to speak.  Today he spends most of his time silently sitting in a wheelchair in his parents’ home.

To help avoid second-impact syndrome among GMHS students, Galliher became a pioneer in the adoption of “neurocognitive” testing among high schools.  Using a computer-based program developed at the University of Pittsburgh Health Center, Galliher tests GMHS athletes before they begin high-risk sports in order to form a “baseline” of their healthy-state cognitive abilities, allowing her to retest an affected athlete later if a concussion is suspected in order to look for changes in their cognitive abilities which would indicate a brain injury.  One parent and youth coach related that it was Galliher’s testing, rather than a doctor’s examination, which detected his son’s concussion.

An significant part of the presentation focused on detection and recovery.  When Galliher’s testing methodology shows a concussion has occurred, Galliher has the athlete retake the test periodically until he or she has again reached the baseline performance level, indicating full recovery.  In the interim, the Mason trainer supervises a modified study curriculum for the student, excluding physical activity and brain-draining everyday activities like using a computer or watching television.

But it was the words of two current GMHS athletes who have suffered concussions, and the accounts of their parental care requirements, that left the audience spellbound and teary-eyed.  One of the young men, still recovering from the injury, described the difficulties he has faced while his brain heals.  The second student, a victim of four concussions, related his decision to give up a sport he loves rather than risk long term memory loss.

The video, provided courtesy of FCC-TV, is one hour 30 minutes long.

Despite few opportunities for match play this year, George Mason High School 8th grader Hunter Sulc captured second place in the Virginia Middle School State Wrestling Championships in Richmond last Saturday.

Sulc, who trained with the GMHS Varsity this season, didn’t get a lot of matches because 8th graders are ineligible for varsity competition.  Aside from the occasional exhibition match, he was limited to practice sessions.

But Hunter was eligible to wrestle in the Virginia Middle School State Wrestling Championships in Richmond on February 25^th and took full advantage of the opportunity.

Hunter Sulc

The best youth wrestlers in Virginia converged on the Arthur Ashe Center in Richmond last Saturday and Hunter was among them in a field of 22 wrestlers at the 126 pound class.  Hunter won his first match 15-6 only to be caught in a first period pin in the second round by Amherst’s John Collins.

Once in the consolation bracket, Hunter went to work to get back to even place, starting with a first period pin and then digging out methodical wins in the next six matches to include the consolation final.  The victory in the consolation final earned Hunter a chance for true second against the loser of the championship final.

To win the consolation final and the right to wrestle for true second, Hunter had to take on Virginia Patriots’ Roberto Aguilar, fresh off Aguilar’s 9-2 drubbing of Collins, who had pinned Hunter back in the second round. Yet, Hunter soundly defeated Aguilar 4-0.

In the consolation final, Hunter bested Fredericksburg’s Xavier Darensbourg 4-1 to earn second place in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  When Hunter stepped on the podium at 1230 AM to receive his medal, he had wrestled nine matches.

Success in wrestling is not new for Hunter.  He has participated in the sport since he was five, was New Hampshire state champion in 2008, and represented the U.S. in Austria in a 2009 international freestyle tournament.   Hunter placed 3rd in the Virginia State Championships as a 6th grader and took last year off to focus on Mixed Martial Arts.

Hunter’s dad, Brian Sulc, who will be coaching the new Falls Church youth wrestling program next season, says the youngster’s morale was challenged at times in keeping to a varsity practice schedule with only the rare exhibition match as short term pay-off for his work.  But he attributes Hunter’s success to his faith, hard work, tenacity and the benefits of wrestling under George Mason coaches Bryan Harris and John Pitas as well as working out with his George Mason teammates such as Senior and 3rd place state finisher Danny Seidita and other George Mason varsity wrestlers.

“Hunter may have not had much match time this season, but he sure had a lot of quality mat time,” said Brian Sulc.  “I think that made all the difference.”

Hunter Sulc plans to plans to compete at the varsity level for the Mustangs next year.