The Last Hoorah
FAIRFAX, Va. – Ty Knepp of Paxtonville, Pa. took the mat at George Mason University for his last time this past Sunday. With only two more matches left in the season, and an 8-13 record this season, Ty knew he had to bring everything he had to the last home dual of the season—and his senior night.
Knepp was not the only one feeling the impact of the match. The three other graduating seniors, Jaaziah Bethea, Rich Lavorato and Drew Squires were also there to swallow the bittersweet pill alongside their teammate. In their last home dual of their college career, each one of the seniors were presented to the crowd accompanied by their family’s and with the support of a generous turnout from the Mason community, they each took the mat for the last time at home.
Held in the Recreation and Athletic Complex on the Fairfax campus, the dual started off with three consecutive wins for Bloomsburg in the 141, 149, and 157 weight classes. Kevin Hartnett of Bloomsburg won over Ty Knepp in a 1-0 decision in the 165 weight class, bringing Bloomsburg’s lead to 15-0. The George Mason wrestling team would ultimately face an upsetting loss to Bloomsburg 39-0 in the end, but it was not without passion.
After graduation, Knepp has decided he would like to begin looking for a career teaching Physical Education in the Northern Virginia area, most likely with Fairfax County Public Schools. He says “this area is flooded with opportunities, more than I could find back home—that’s why I’ve decided to stay in this area.”
Since wrestling has been his passion since high school, he also has aspirations to eventually coach a high school team in the area as well. He knows that even with his undergraduate career coming to a close, he will continue to love wrestling and he feels this is the best way to keep him in touch with this love for the sport.
His advice to the teammates he will be leaving behind, “Believe in the system, and believe in the coaches—they know what they’re doing and will lead you in the right direction,” he said in a recent video interview on Mason’s wrestling website highlighting the graduating seniors on the team.
Mason’s next match is Thursday for 7 p.m. dual against Old Dominion University, and their last match of the season against the University of Maryland on the 21st. The boys hope to claim victories over these last two matches to end their season off with some justice for all of the hard work they have put in.
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