Tournaments Pay Tribute to Fallen Alum

Two major December high school wrestling tournaments, the Ironman in Ohio and the Beast of the East in Delaware (both of which Blair won) paid tribute this year to the late Major Ray Mendoza ’87 by presenting new awards in his name. The Major Ray Mendoza Award, presented at both major tournaments, is bestowed on the wrestler who earns the most team points (for his team) at the respective competition. Ray, a talented wrestler while at Blair, was killed in action in Iraq four years ago. Congressman Jim Jordan made the presentation in Ohio; Jim was a two-time NCAA champ and coached Ray at Ohio State. The inaugural Major Ray Mendoza Award was won by Nick Sulzer of St. Edward, the 2009 Ironman 160 lb. champion, who indicated he will enter UVA next fall.

Ray took second at Preps in 1987 and matriculated to Ohio State, where he also wrestled and was the 1991 USA University Freestyle champion. He lettered for the Buckeyes in 1992 and 1993 and was a ’93 Big Ten runner-up at heavyweight. At Blair, Ray was also the captain of the varsity football team, and former Coach Hazen described him as an “outstanding leader.”

Past parent David Ritterpusch, whose son Kurt ’87 is serving in the army and roomed with Ray at Blair, conceived these new awards and has written a book about Blair’s storied wrestling team (proceeds of the sales will benefit Blair).

Updated 12/21/2009

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