Quakertown's Gaj out to snag another PIAA state title; also see our latest team rankings
They don't come along too often, but when you hear the whispers, there's usually a good reason.
For example:
"Wait until you see this Neshaminy kid when he gets to high school (because) he's going to be something else."
Or: "This Pennridge kid, when he gets to high school, is going to be unbeatable."
Those "kids" are 2000 Neshaminy graduate Mike Pirozzola and 2014 Pennridge grad Scott Parker, who combined to win seven PIAA medals, appear in five PIAA finals, and win a pair of state titles (both by Pirozzola).
So, in other words, the whispers about them when they were still in middle school turned out to be right on the mark.
Watch this Quakertown kid Collin Gaj
The whispers started again three or four years ago about a Quakertown wrestler named Collin Gaj who was going to make yearly trips to Hershey and onto the podium at the Giant Center.
And those whispers, too, were true.
"You don't get too many Collin Gajs in your coaching career," said veteran Quakertown coach Kurt Handel, who is in his 23rd season leading the Panthers.
"On top of being an incredible wrestler, he's just a really good person. There's no arrogance or anything like that. He's humble and is just a joy to know and to coach."
Only a junior, Gaj already has a PIAA title under his belt (coming last season when he went 49-0 including a 7-1 upending of two-time PIAA champ Mac Church of Waynesburg in the state final) and a fourth-place PIAA medal as a freshman.
The 49 wins broke his own school single-season record of 45 wins he set as a ninth grader.
He also became Quakertown's fourth PIAA champ, joining John Rittenhouse (1987), John Hangey (1988) and Pat Flynn (2006). Those three all won in their senior seasons.
"I wake up every morning thinking about wrestling," Gaj said. "I just want another chance to go to Hershey and represent my team."
Gaj wanted to be four-time PIAA champ at Quakertown
Gaj aimed big when he got to high school as his goal was to be a four-time PIAA champ (something no District One wrestler has ever accomplished).
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"Yeah, I wanted to be a four-timer," Gaj said. "That didn't happen, but the sun still came up the next day. Not doing it just motivated me even more to try and win three."
Last season, Gaj won his state gold at 145 pounds and even though he's won a handful of matches at 160 this season, he'll be at 152 come tournament time.
"I'll wrestle wherever the team needs me," Gaj said. "Whether that's 106 or heavyweight, I don't care.
"But I'll be at 152 for the tournaments. My walk-around weight is like 155 and I don't look to cut weight because I love food."
Virginia Tech gets the nod
Gaj's success obviously didn't go unnoticed as the college offers came rolling in.
He narrowed his choices down to five programs with Virginia Tech getting his commitment because the Hokies reminded him of home.
"It's kind of far from home, but not too far," Gaj said. "I wanted to try to simulate what I have with Quakertown.
"And that's coaches who are my friends but also know when it's time to get serious at practice. It was a little weird making a decision as a 16-year-old kid about where I'd be spending the next five or six years of my life, but I know it's the right fit for me."
Handel also believes Gaj made the right choice.
"Collin and his family did it the right way," Handel said. "They visited different schools for five straight weekends going to Virginia Tech, North Carolina State, Lehigh, Nebraska and Missouri.
"When he came back from Virginia Tech, you could tell he loved it, and his parents loved it, but then he visited Missouri and also loved it there. It came down to those two and that's a good problem to have.
"Collin is an honor student and academics played a big part and he's going to succeed in a big way when he gets to college."
With his college choice out of the way, Gaj can focus on trying to win another state title or two.
"I try not change anything in the postseason," Gaj said. "I wrestle year-round and won't change the way I train. You just try and get better every day.
"My coaches always say just wrestle like you're in your home gym and give everything you have."
Quakertown's Gaj a friend to all
Win or lose in Hershey and Gaj will stay the same, according to Handel.
"Last year, he wins a state title on Saturday night in Hershey and the next day he's at a youth wrestling tournament in Upper Perk cheering on his niece and nephew," Handel said.
"That's just the way he is. We have a 'best-buddies' group for special-needs kids at school and he's a buddy with one of the kids in the program and he just loves doing it. And, if the youth wrestling club asks him to do anything with the young kids, he's there to help.
"You just don't see that kind of maturity and giving back from a lot of high school kids, but that's what he does."
Bucks County area team wrestling rankings
If the dual-meet rankings were ever going to get shaken up, it would have happened last week because of the PIAA Class 2A and 3A duals taking place.
Instead, our rankings remain the same because, simply, that's just the way things fell.
We'll explain.
Let's take a look:
1. Faith Christian (12-4)
The juggernaut Lions cruised to their second straight PIAA Class 2A dual-meet title in Hershey by dispatching Bishop McCort 46-18 in Saturday's title match. In their four matches in Hershey, Faith Christian scored 54, 43, 43 and 46 points and truly flexed its muscles.
2. Council Rock South (15-3)
The Golden Hawks keep a hold on the second spot ahead of Pennridge even though the Rams fared better at the state duals in Hershey by placing fourth while the Golden Hawks didn't place. However, on the mat, where it counts, CR South beat the Rams twice, including when the Golden Hawks claimed their seventh PIAA District One Class 3A dual-meet title a little over a week ago by edging the Rams 26-25 in an absolute classic.
Mutarelli dominating in return home: CR South's Mutarelli happy to be back home. Check out our latest wrestling rankings
3. Pennridge (21-6)
After placing second to CR South at the district duals, the Rams, under third-year head coach Brian Kuhns, made a sweet run in Hershey at the state duals by winning their first two matches before being edged by eventual runner-up Easton in the semifinals on the way to a fourth-place showing.
4. Quakertown (16-5)
The Panthers are having another solid season. Quakertown placed fourth at the district duals to qualify for the PIAA duals and also claimed another Suburban One League Liberty Division title.
5. Conwell-Egan (10-0)
The Eagles wrapped up their dual-meet schedule at the end of January with a 37-19 win over La Salle High in the Philadelphia Catholic League title match. The PCL crown was the fourth straight for the Eagles.
Others to watch (listed alphabetically): Council Rock North, La Salle High, Neshaminy, Pennsbury.
Faith Christian's Botero returns: After injury scare, Faith Christian state wrestling champion Gauge Botero happy to be back
Drew Markol: dmarkol@theintell.com; @dmarkol
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: More PIAA gold is the goal for Quakertown wrestler Collin Gaj
