Quakertown's Gaj aiming for top step of podium at PIAA Wrestling Championships
In the nearly 90-year history of PIAA wrestling, there have only been 13 four-time state champions.
Collin Gaj wanted to be the 14th.
"That was my goal, to win four state titles," said Gaj, a Quakertown sophomore who placed fourth in Hershey a year ago at 132 pounds. "It didn't happen, but now I want to win three state titles and I want to get the first one now."
Winning one PIAA title is a monumental task in itself; winning multiple ones is that much more difficult; but Gaj seems primed to give it a go.
He takes a 45-0 record to Hershey and is one of just 12 wrestlers in Class 3A still unbeaten. The PIAA tournament begins Thursday and runs through Saturday at the Giant Center.
"Collin has wrestled everybody," Quakertown head coach Kurt Handel said. "He's moved up a couple of weight classes to wrestle really good kids and has just been phenomenal.
"The state bracket is loaded like it always is, but he's absolutely right there with anybody — not just in Pennsylvania but all over the country. He goes to all of the big-time tournaments in the offseason and just wants to get better and better."
Gaj's 45 wins ties his own school record for victories in a season set last year and is likely to fall Thursday.
"You have to be ready for every match and give everything you have," Gaj said "I'll be ready to go."
He'll be looking to be Quakertown's first state champ since Pat Flynn won in 2006.
But, like Handel said, PIAA brackets are always loaded and Gaj's 145-pound class is no exception.
Sitting atop the bracket, on the other side from Gaj (so they wouldn't meet until the final if both make it) is Waynesburg Central senior Mac Church, a two-time defending PIAA champ who also placed third as a freshman, from District Seven.
In Gaj's lower half of the bracket is Central Dauphin senior Matt Repos, who lost to Church 3-1 in the 132-pound final last season. Gaj has not wrestled either of them in his high school career, but could meet Repos from District Three in the semifinals.
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"Everybody is really good at states," Gaj said. "And he (Church) is the best of the best. To be the best, you have to beat the best."
Gaj hopes that wrestling two weight classes higher than a year ago will pay off in the end.
He spent the first two months of his freshman season alternating between 138 and 145 before cutting down to 132 in early February. It was a move he regrets.
"I made a big cut down to '32 and that hurt me," Gaj said. "I feel so much better now. I really don't cut weight at all where I'm at now.
"I can eat and I feel stronger and just much better than last season."
Now, three days in Hershey is what's next for him.
"Collin has wrestled all of the elite-level kids. He placed third at Fargo, and just continually works at it," Handel said.
"He's a great wrestler, does really well academically, but is an even better person. He's just been a breath of fresh air for the program."
A capsule look at the PIAA championships at Giant Center in Hershey:
What: PIAA Class 3A tournament
Where: The Giant Center, Hershey
When: Thursday, beginning at 4 p.m.; Friday, beginning at 2:15 p.m.; Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. The finals and consolation finals are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Area teams competing: Central Bucks East, Central Bucks South, Central Bucks West, Council Rock North, Council Rock South, Neshaminy, Pennridge, Pennsbury, Quakertown, Souderton.
How many receive PIAA medals: The top eight finishers in each weight class.
Wrestlers to watch: Collin Gaj (Quakertown), Mason Ziegler (Quakertown), Bek Sadriddinov (Council Rock South), Eren Sement (Council Rock North), Joe Collins (Central Bucks East), Mac Church* (Waynesburg Central), Nathan Desmond* (Bethlehem Catholic), Dylan Evans* (Chartiers Valley), Vinny Kilkeary* (Greater Latrobe), Sean Kinney* (Nazareth), Pierson Manville* (State College), Dalton Perry* (Central Mountain), Sonny Sasso* (Nazareth), Ty Watters* (West Allegheny), Rocco Welsh* (Waynesburg Central).
* denotes returning PIAA champion.
For subscribers:We reveal where area wrestlers are ranked headed to Hershey for PIAA Championships
What: PIAA Class 2A tournament
Where: The Giant Center, Hershey
When: Thursday, beginning at 9 a.m.; Friday, beginning at 9 a.m.; Saturday, beginning at 2 p.m. with the finals and consolation finals.
Area teams competing: Palisades, Conwell-Egan, Faith Christian.
How many receive PIAA medals: The top eight finishers in each weight class.
Wrestlers to watch: Gauge Botero (Faith Christian), Cael Weidemoyer (Faith Christian), Adam Waters (Faith Christian), Kevin Bagnell (Conwell-Egan), Daniel Haubert (Palisades), John Haubert (Palisades), Holden Garcia* (Notre Dame-Green Pond), Conner Harer* (Montgomery), Scott Johnson* (Muncy), Rune Lawrence* (Frazier), Jaden Pepe* (Wyoming Area), Aaron Seidel* (Northern Lebanon), Riley Robell* (Bishop McDevitt).
* denotes returning PIAA champion
Take a look:An impressive eight area wrestlers capture Southeast Regional titles
Drew Markol: dmarkol@theintell.com; @dmarkol
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Quakertown's Gaj headed to Hershey with goal of winning PIAA title
