This upcoming season the wrestling team will have a new Head Coach, Mark Weader.
In his first season here at WS, Weader is looking to build and improve the wresting program. Over the years, the wrestling program has grown, and Weader hopes to continue this trend.
“I want to grow the program for the younger ones… to build for the future,” said Weader.
Weader is also hoping to apply what he learned from his former head coaching position at George Mason University here at WS. Weader head coached for five years, and six as an assistant coach.
During his tenure at George Mason, Weader lead multiple nationally ranked wrestlers as well as having many of his wrestlers make the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships throughout his 6th.
“I have gained a lot of experience from coaching at D1,” said Weader.
Weader coaches almost year round, running camps and clinics at GMU and around the country. He even spent his time after his head coaching job a Mason helping out at a local Junior High program.
Before his coaching career, Weader also wrestled at GMU. In his senior year, Weader went 17-11 and won a Colonial Athletic Association Championship for his weight class. By the time he graduated, he ended in the top-20 all-time in victories at GMU.
Weader seems to have made a good impression with the wrestling team so far. The team in ready to build around him and the wrestlers are buying in to what he is teaching.
“He’s bringing an attitude to the team this season,” said senior varsity wrestler Junior Ramos.
The attitude changes seems to be one focused on improvement. Weader hopes to have every wrestler on the team makes an improvement somewhere in their game this season.
“As a coach, I want the guys to improve and become better wrestlers,” said Weader.
Weader is inheriting an experienced team with a lot of senior leadership looking to help him in his first year.
Weader describes himself as a “players coach”, as he plans to focus on helping every player reaches their own personnel level of success. He also wants the players to have success outside of wrestling.
“It’s my best interest to help them on and off the mat… to use wrestling as a way for them to grow as people” said Weader.