Quakertown's Collin Gaj is the Bucks/Montco Wrestler of the Year

Drew Markol, Bucks County Courier Times
·3 min read

As we all know, saying something and doing something can be two very different things.

Many wrestlers — heck, athletes in general — will say they're going to do this or that, and win this or that, and it doesn't happen.

But, when Quakertown sophomore Collin Gaj, just a few minutes after winning his second PIAA District One Class 3A Southeast Regional title, said he was going to Hershey for the PIAA championships to win a gold medal, you believed him.

Sure, he'd have to get past a returning PIAA runner-up in the semifinals and, after doing that, then have to knock off a two-time defending PIAA champ who's on his way to Virginia Tech, in the finals, but you still believed him.

And for good reason because all Gaj did was cap off a 49-0 season by doing exactly what he said he would accomplish.

Quakertown sophomore Collin Gaj went a perfect 49-0 in winning the PIAA Class 3A title at 145 pounds.
Quakertown sophomore Collin Gaj went a perfect 49-0 in winning the PIAA Class 3A title at 145 pounds.

He beat Lehigh-bound senior Matt Repos 5-3 in the semis and then dispatched senior Mac Church 7-1 in the title match at the Giant Center to earn the gold medal, becoming the fourth Panther to win a state title.

For subscribers:Where do Bucks/Montco wrestlers rank after the PIAA championships?

More:Here's the 2022-23 Bucks/Montco all-star wrestling team

More:Pennridge's Brian Kuhns is our Wrestling Coach of the Year

More:Faith Christian is our Wrestling Team of the Year

The other three — John Rittenhouse, John Hangey, and Pat Flynn — were all seniors when they won PIAA gold.

"When Collin puts his mind to something, he goes out and does it," Quakertown head coach Kurt Handel said. "He's wrestling all the time against the best kids in the country and he's always learning and trying to get better. He had a really tough bracket (at states) and did what he planned on doing.

"He was determined not to let what happened last year (when Gaj finished fourth in Hershey as a freshman) happen again this time. And, he's only a sophomore and is able to add to what he's already done."

Because of the PIAA gold, and the perfect season, Gaj is our Courier Times/Intell Wrestler of the Year.

"My goal was to win a state title this year, the same goal I had last year, and that didn't happen," Gaj said.

"But you learn more from losing and that makes you even more determined not to let it happen again. What happened last year, when I ended up fourth, bothered me a lot and really motivated me all season."

In addition to the biggie, the PIAA title, Gaj also won the Bethlehem Liberty "Hurricane" tournament over the holidays and followed that up with an Escape The Rock title at what is one of the nation's toughest events.

Take a look:Quakertown's Gaj caps perfect season with PIAA wrestling gold medal

"Collin wants to wrestle against the toughest competition he can find," Handel said. "That's one of the things that makes him different.

"And, as good as a wrestler that he is, with such a bright future in the sport, he's an even better person. And, academically, he does really, really well. That's a credit to him and to his parents and family. I couldn't be happier for him."

Quakertown's Collin Gaj became the fourth Panther to capture a PIAA title.
Quakertown's Collin Gaj became the fourth Panther to capture a PIAA title.

Drew Markol: dmarkol@theintell.com; @dmarkol

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: A perfect 49-0 season earns Quakertown's Gaj Wrestler of the Year