Photo courtesy of TJ Piluso
Botetourt County has a new Eagle Scout.
Lord Botetourt senior Theodore “TJ” Piluso will soon receive the honor of Eagle Scout at an upcoming ceremony. He’s been in scouts since first joining Pack 82 of Fincastle in 2011 when he was 6 years old. Joining Boy Scouts was a good way “to go camping and make friends,” Piluso said in a recent email.
Piluso is a Botetourt native who attended Greenfield Elementary and Read Mountain Middle schools during his journey through the Boy Scouts of America. He is the son of Kristina and Josh Repass and brother to his twin sister, Skyler.
“It was not evident at the time that my fellow Cub Scouts, Alex Doherty, Ethan Frank and I would stick together throughout our whole scouting journey and achieve our Eagle,” Piluso wrote. “When our troop faced challenges or had to move locations, we committed to the program together and saw this journey through and I am happy about that.”
Piluso explained that the scouting program laid out each expectation at their fingertips. Ranking is determined by merit badges and role responsibility in a troop. He went on to explain that it is a scout’s responsibility to complete all the merit badge material, be able to speak to and prove that the requirements have been fulfilled at a scoutmaster conference and a board of review. There are seven scout ranks that a scout can achieve throughout scouting, each holding their own specific criteria and responsibility. Each rank requires a scout to sharpen and retain skills from previous ranks.
“Scouting is self-guided and there were times where I did not make much progress,” Piluso explained. “Showing up to troop meetings and attending scouting outing does not further you. It is through patience and actions that you further your rank. My most favorite advancement in scouting was during scout camp at Camp Ottari and Camp Powhatan.
“During camp, you can dedicate time to earning many merit badges and advancing due to the leadership facilitating those merit badges. Some of my most memorable experiences were at camp and earning my Arrow of Light which is one of the only cub scout patches that transfers to your Boy Scouts uniform. Our troop held a ceremony that signifies a cub scout earning the highest rank achievable also known as crossover. Once I achieved that, I knew I wanted to be an Eagle Scout. I had come to far just come that far.”
Piluso explained that he attributes his time as a Boy Scout being important in defining his personality and character by applying scouting principles and values in the way he interacts with others and the standards he holds myself accountable to.
He is also a member of the Lord Botetourt High School wrestling team where, last season, Piluso finished second in the Region 3D and 3A State competitions. Additionally, he is also a member of the Cavaliers competition cheerleading team.
“As an athlete I always try to provide leadership and mentorship for my fellow teammates,” Piluso said. “I treat my (wrestling) opponents and all coaches with respect. I help my family and friends and treat others with dignity and respect. I am passionate about serving others and have found an outlet to do that by being part of the Botetourt Buddies program that serves special needs students in the Botetourt community.”
Lord Botetourt wrestling coach Paul Craft shared his thoughts on Piluso becoming an Eagle Scout. Craft has watched Piluso grow as an athlete, student, and person.
“I’ve coached TJ since he was in seventh grade,” Craft said when asked about Piluso. “He’s always been a good athlete. As a junior he blew up. I knew he was going to be good but he exceeded my expectations from the beginning of the season. His work ethic greatly improved and he really jumped in with both feet. He started living the wrestling lifestyle that we’ve been preaching. He quickly became a leader on and off the mat.”
Craft shared that Piluso is an exceptional student and that Piluso’s dedication to the Boy Scouts is a difficult balance that Piluso manages well.
“Wrestling at such a high level is incredibly difficult,” Craft continued. “For him to be able to earn his Eagle Scout on top of that is nothing short of remarkable. Being successful in wrestling and earning that Eagle Scout are things you don’t just luck into. They are extremely difficult to achieve. Both take discipline, planning ahead, sacrifice, and hard work. I wish we had more TJ Pilusos running around here.”
Piluso looks back on his time in scouts and recognizes those individuals within the program that helped him along the way.
“The most important advocate for me throughout my scouting journey would be my den leader and scout master, Mike Doherty,” Piluso noted. “His son Alex and I were great friends and through scouting the Dohertys became our family. Vicki Krisntiski was an important mentor. She held me accountable and guided me through extensive paperwork and challenged me on many merit badge sign offs. She was someone that taught me to do it right, or not to do it at all.
“Suzanne D’Agelico and Larry Etzler became critical resources in my high school years and held our troop together when many kids fled from scouting. I am thankful for each of those that believed and helped me along the way. My Eagle Scout project fundraiser raised nearly $1,300 and allowed me to build benches and plant shade trees at Greenfield Elementary. My project wouldn’t have been as memorable to community without those supporting fundraising and Dry Branch Farms in Troutville donating shade trees for my project.”
Piluso has applied to join the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. He plans to complete his educational career with the Navy and become an officer.
“My Eagle Scout [honor] is recognized by the military as a high achievement and will serve me in that regard,” Piluso added. “I promote scouting fully and plan to support the program for years to come. While scouting has its own stigmas, my experience was nothing but positive and awarded me lifelong skills that I will use daily and pass along to my future children.”
