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Tanner Mask, wrestling in the Area Duals last year, is now a senior who is 41-1 in his career at Oglethorpe County. He’s been wrestling since he was in the seventh grade. (Donny Faust/For the Oglethorpe Echo)
Steve Mason saw potential in Tanner Mask more than five years ago.
Mask was in the seventh grade and new to wrestling, but Mason, who was the Oglethorpe County Middle School coach at the time, soon realized he had a gem.
Now a senior at OCHS, Mask has a 41-1 singles mark and is a team leader at 157 pounds.
“He has turned into an absolute hammer on the wrestling mat,” said Mason, who is now the varsity assistant coach. “He’s one of those guys that I just know he’s going to win. I don’t know how he’s going to do it, but I know he’s always going to find a way to win. He’s a great leader, he works hard and he has fun every second of every day.”
Mask was selected as a team captain as a junior last year. Coach Tim Stoudenmire praised Mask’s leadership alongside his abilities.
He recalled recently how the team felt lost when Mask was out for a meet with an illness.
“He’s the definition of a solid high school wrestler,” Stoudenmire said. “He does all the little stuff. He checks all the boxes. He puts into it what is needed to be successful and to also be a real big leader for us.”
Mask, in addition to his teammates, pointed toward Stoudenmire and what he’s learned from his longtime head coach. Mask said Stoudenmire has taught him how to find a work ethic and grind, but also how to relax and find a way through situations calmly. Mask also praised his coaches and how much Stoudenmire, Mason and assistant coach William Ballard have helped his development.
“It’s two top-tier coaches,” Mask said. “Two high-level coaches, some of the best coaches in Georgia, and you get both styles of that. You get double the growth because you’re not stuck with one stagnant routine every day.”
Mask, especially with being his final year, has worked to get the best out of the younger wrestlers. He said he’s preached a message to “lay it all out there,” and find a way to be successful.
That confidence is one Mask possesses. He said: “I can beat anybody out there,” and that if he does lose, it’s not that he’ll be “outwrestled.”
As Mask enters the final stretch of the year, he’s running out of goals.
He wanted to finish the year undefeated at home, which he’s already accomplished, and serve as an excellent captain.
Mask also wants to earn the dual title and win a championship. The Patriots finished fourth in the Class A team duals last year.
“With the coaching staff we have, we’re going to make it happen, so I look forward to figuring out how it’s going to happen,” Mask said. “I know that we’re not going to make the same mistakes we did last year and we’re gonna go get that duals title back.”