I wrestled in PA in middle school. And the level of competition in the state is outrageous. I also had my son wrestle in PA. And again, the level of competition even at ages 7-8 is ridiculous. The moms are screaming at their sons, dads are coaching their kids. Brothers and sisters are in the stands smashing popcorn down their gullets. It’s literally a full time all year round obsession for wrestling families. I couldn’t keep up the pace and my son wore out in two years. We were both tired of the grind and it stopped being fun. But I still will never ever forget the absolute enjoyment my son has when I took him to his first ever PSU wrestling match. What a memory In Rec Hall. Unforgettable. PA, NJ, OH, and MD are wrestling hubs. But there is nothing like a PA wrestling tournament.
I went to Nazareth HS. I almost went out for wrestling in middle school, but I was intimidated. I was already so far behind. In hindsight, I still should have done it.
I have 7 sons. My middle son met a friend in Kindergarten who "went to wrestling practice" - he asked if he could do it. He's 10, now. He's qualified or WON his Area Championship every year since he was 6. He's medaled at states every year (Never 1st, but a 2nd place finish, a pair of 3rds, and a 5th). He's so good that people just assume that I have him on a mat, at home, 12 hours a day. He set foot on a mat before I did. I knew nothing about wrestling ( Boy, I sure do now, though). They're always amazed when they find out he's my middle child and the only one who enjoys the sport (and the only one that does it). HE enjoys doing it. HE likes the challenge. It's hard to watch sometimes because these boys (especially in PA) are out here trying to rip one another limb-from-limb. I can't even play tickle with him anymore, either. His hands are so fast, anytime I even try, it turns into a hand-fight before I can even poke a rib. Even his 14 year old Brother (oldest) doesn't rough-house with him. Anyways, I never wrestled. My cousins did. I played Baseball, Football, and Swam. As do most of my sons. But one of them wrestles and he's an absolute MONSTER. Which brings me to my point: People always assume that we're a "full time year-round obsessed wrestling family." We're not, but he's so good, people assume we are. "How do you keep him Motivated?" I don't. He just... likes to do it. Sometimes they don't believe me... and it's probably because of the competition level in this area of the country. It's virtually a religion for some families. I get asked constantly "why don't you have him in Freestyle and Greco?" Because I have 6 other boys who DON'T wrestle but are athletes. PJW Area 8 (Youth) Area Champion / Keystone States NW Area Champion (Folkstyle) Sorry for the Rant.
Pennsylvania wresting is a birthright! I was handed a gym bag and was told I was going to wrestling practice at the age of 8. It is handed down through generations like a family treasure.
Grew up much more of a basketball fan, but went to Nazareth HS. As a kid, we were also ranked Top 25 in the country and great rivalries with other powers such as Easton and Northampton. It was hard not to get excited.
I think it's a farming, agricultural thing. Agriculture has always been the #1 economic engine in PA and farmers are drawn to it. But it's cultural in that kids who aren't on farms are drawn to it in the school programs. Just look at the college programs in the state. PSU, Lehigh, Pitt, Edinboro, Clarion, Lock Haven, Bucknell, and numerous D2 & D3 programs.
Just as a point of reference, of the 15 broad categories the US Dept. of Commerce ranks Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by, in Pennsylvania (with a GDP of $726 billion) agriculture is dead last - 15th out of 15 -- with $4 billion in economic activity. Agriculture is 0.6% of PA's economy. Not even 1%. Agriculture takes up land, yes, but not $. So, it's not, and hasn't been, the #1 economic engine in PA for eons.
PA has always had a lot of youth tournaments during the summer. Thats how i got started. The first couple years i was in the 10 and under age group i got my butt kicked. I began working out and at age 9 we were wrestling every day in my neighbors basement on a small mat. I was 95 pounds in 4th grade and bench pressing 150. I won the US Kids state championship. My friends in school started to train with me. Before you know it, we had over 20 kids working out inder the age of 13. Thise bonds lasted a lifetime. And they translated into excelling in other sports because we were fit, disciplined and willing to learn. By the time our kids got to high school, we were ready to compete with anyone, but usually the greatest competition was in our own gym. Im 58 now and the kids and grandkids of the kids I went to school with are continuing the tradition. Wrestling prepares you for so much in life. When your taking the mat with a gym full of people watching, it can be overwhelming. You learn real quick at a young age that preparation is key. And once you begin seeing positive results, it motivates you to do more. That mindset translated to other sports and into the classroom. It's a sport that will humble all but 1 in the weight class every year.
Surprised that Jeff Byers did not know that John Fritz WAS from Pennsylvania. John Fritz wrestled at Bethlehem Liberty H.S., in the birthplace of Pennsylvania's High School wrestling dominance, the Lehigh Valley. Bethlehem Catholic, Faith Christian, Nazareth, Notre Dame (Green Pond), Easton, and more. They all surround tiny little Lehigh University, who has FOUR of their grapplers seeded in the Top 5 of their weight classes in next weekend's NCAA Championships -- including an unbeaten Ryan Crookham from Saucon Valley H.S. (another Lehigh Valley school), who beat the defending NCAA Champion, and WORLD Champion, Vito Arujau not once, but TWICE this year, and is unfairly seeded at #2. Hopefully, he'll FIX that (LOL) Saturday. As a PSU wrestler, John was part of an amazing competitive triumvirate, which included himself, Lehigh's Mike Frick, and Pitt's Rande Stottlemyer (RIP). John won one NCAA Championship, Mike won two, but Rande never won one -- although he was a 3x All-American. Fritz always beat Frick, Frick always beat Stottlemyer, yet Stottlemyer usually beat Fritz. Crazy. As a side note, John's sister, Bernadette, was my 8th grade English teacher. She was great!
Good job in listing all those powerhouse high school wrestling program in Eastern PA which have a rich tradition of wrestling as a sport. I want to add there are a couple outstanding smaller high school wrestling programs in the WPIAL such as Canon McMillan HS in Washington County and West Greene in Greene County which also are proud of their rich tradition. I've often enjoyed the Powerade Tournament in Canonsburg which brings together some of the best competitors.
Wasn't a wrestler but always enjoyed the matches in high school. (1970's) Lower Dauphin, east of Harrisburg, was essentially a large farming community. Many of my buddies were busy planting in the spring and harvesting in the fall. But....But....During the winter these young men would fill out the wrestling team. I hated wrestling, during the winter months, in gym class. I was a runner, not a wrestler. My buddies took great pleasure in twisting me up in knots! They never hurt me or banged me up but you got a sense of how good they were. Made me want to go to all the home matches. Been a fan ever since. Flipped out when State got Cael. Can't get enough! Advice....Wanna know what wrestling is to PA? Go to the high school finals at The Giant Center in Hershey. What a zoo and what great wrestling!
Farmers can wrestle because it’s winter time and they’re not as busy. That’s why wrestling is huge in the Midwest as well. That’s how it started. Now it’s a tradition handed down from parents. Like deer hunting.
PA is second all time in MOH recipients with 380. They are behind NY who has 676. Also, interesting that Ohio and Illinois rank fourth and fifth. A lot of people put PA, OH, and ILL in the top 5 toughest states to win state championships. Tough people who answer the bell if you ask me.
Back in the day, the state schools competed with the best in the nation, now most have dropped programs or dropped to D-2, Bloom, Lock Haven, Clarion, the FightingScots are not what they used to be. The PSAC champs could make a run for an NCAA title.
It’s because wrestling is the most godly sport known to mankind. Teaches empathy and the utmost respect to your fellow man. A father tells a son “you act like this is some kind of choice” it’s why our father in heaven is so strong. I trust that much. Father was the orginal holy roller and that stone got dropped somewhere on a high Pennsylvania mountain.
A lot of guys say Penn State dominate because they have a lot of money to sign on recruits we we're winning titles before the NIL i was looking at Penn State roster yesterday most of the team is from Pennsylvania or the state next to Pennsylvania this year was the greatest wrestling team in college wrestling history
Bc their mega tough and they wrestle incredibly hard. It's like why the Russians are so good. There're raised tough and start very early. I'll give you 1 example of why although in a different way. I've read about the Russians in battle all my life. Ya know how Patton got in trouble for slapping a U.S . soldier-- well at Stalingrad in ww2, the Russian commander-- to instill toughness and fear, lined up 100 soldiers and shot every 10th man in the face. One Combat hardened German soldier wrote in his diary how the Russians are not human and these are the people who also love wrestling.
You’ve obviously not been around the sport very long nor grew up with the sport in PA. For example, our local YMCA Youth Wrestling Program and parent volunteers ran the largest youth wrestling tournament on the East coast when I was an elementary wrestler in the late 70’s/early 80’s. One year it was 1100 wrestlers - so many kids that the tourney ran till after midnight. Three gyms and 10 mats were Full of passionate young wrestlers and their families that came from 6 states. Cael came to PA specifically because of our passionate wrestling culture and talent that was around decades before. Please know your subject and its history before you make such an insulting and ignorant remark.
@@JamesCorbin-d9e ummmmm......I spoke of The Penn State University fans. I attended PSU wrestling matches regularly, prior to Cael's arrival. Attendance was pittiful!
I wrestled in PA in middle school. And the level of competition in the state is outrageous. I also had my son wrestle in PA. And again, the level of competition even at ages 7-8 is ridiculous.
The moms are screaming at their sons, dads are coaching their kids. Brothers and sisters are in the stands smashing popcorn down their gullets.
It’s literally a full time all year round obsession for wrestling families. I couldn’t keep up the pace and my son wore out in two years. We were both tired of the grind and it stopped being fun.
But I still will never ever forget the absolute enjoyment my son has when I took him to his first ever PSU wrestling match. What a memory In Rec Hall.
Unforgettable. PA, NJ, OH, and MD are wrestling hubs. But there is nothing like a PA wrestling tournament.
Thank you for watching and a thoughtful response! - Darian
I went to Nazareth HS. I almost went out for wrestling in middle school, but I was intimidated. I was already so far behind. In hindsight, I still should have done it.
I have 7 sons. My middle son met a friend in Kindergarten who "went to wrestling practice" - he asked if he could do it. He's 10, now. He's qualified or WON his Area Championship every year since he was 6. He's medaled at states every year (Never 1st, but a 2nd place finish, a pair of 3rds, and a 5th). He's so good that people just assume that I have him on a mat, at home, 12 hours a day. He set foot on a mat before I did. I knew nothing about wrestling ( Boy, I sure do now, though).
They're always amazed when they find out he's my middle child and the only one who enjoys the sport (and the only one that does it). HE enjoys doing it. HE likes the challenge. It's hard to watch sometimes because these boys (especially in PA) are out here trying to rip one another limb-from-limb. I can't even play tickle with him anymore, either. His hands are so fast, anytime I even try, it turns into a hand-fight before I can even poke a rib. Even his 14 year old Brother (oldest) doesn't rough-house with him.
Anyways, I never wrestled. My cousins did. I played Baseball, Football, and Swam. As do most of my sons. But one of them wrestles and he's an absolute MONSTER. Which brings me to my point: People always assume that we're a "full time year-round obsessed wrestling family." We're not, but he's so good, people assume we are. "How do you keep him Motivated?" I don't. He just... likes to do it. Sometimes they don't believe me... and it's probably because of the competition level in this area of the country. It's virtually a religion for some families. I get asked constantly "why don't you have him in Freestyle and Greco?" Because I have 6 other boys who DON'T wrestle but are athletes.
PJW Area 8 (Youth) Area Champion / Keystone States NW Area Champion (Folkstyle)
Sorry for the Rant.
Pennsylvania wresting is a birthright! I was handed a gym bag and was told I was going to wrestling practice at the age of 8. It is handed down through generations like a family treasure.
Grew up much more of a basketball fan, but went to Nazareth HS. As a kid, we were also ranked Top 25 in the country and great rivalries with other powers such as Easton and Northampton. It was hard not to get excited.
PA has good elementary, middle, & high school wrestling. Now they're a legitimate powerhouse in College. Incredible to behold.
I think it's a farming, agricultural thing. Agriculture has always been the #1 economic engine in PA and farmers are drawn to it. But it's cultural in that kids who aren't on farms are drawn to it in the school programs. Just look at the college programs in the state. PSU, Lehigh, Pitt, Edinboro, Clarion, Lock Haven, Bucknell, and numerous D2 & D3 programs.
Thank you for watching and a thoughtful answer! - Darian
So, wrestling cows and livestock is a thing?
Just as a point of reference, of the 15 broad categories the US Dept. of Commerce ranks Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by, in Pennsylvania (with a GDP of $726 billion) agriculture is dead last - 15th out of 15 -- with $4 billion in economic activity. Agriculture is 0.6% of PA's economy. Not even 1%. Agriculture takes up land, yes, but not $. So, it's not, and hasn't been, the #1 economic engine in PA for eons.
DYNASTY !!!! For Years to come !!!!
LOVE YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS, JB. PA WRESTLING IS TOP NOTCH, NO SECRET SAUCE, DO THE RESEARCH, FOLKS!
PA has always had a lot of youth tournaments during the summer. Thats how i got started. The first couple years i was in the 10 and under age group i got my butt kicked. I began working out and at age 9 we were wrestling every day in my neighbors basement on a small mat. I was 95 pounds in 4th grade and bench pressing 150. I won the US Kids state championship. My friends in school started to train with me. Before you know it, we had over 20 kids working out inder the age of 13. Thise bonds lasted a lifetime. And they translated into excelling in other sports because we were fit, disciplined and willing to learn. By the time our kids got to high school, we were ready to compete with anyone, but usually the greatest competition was in our own gym. Im 58 now and the kids and grandkids of the kids I went to school with are continuing the tradition. Wrestling prepares you for so much in life. When your taking the mat with a gym full of people watching, it can be overwhelming. You learn real quick at a young age that preparation is key. And once you begin seeing positive results, it motivates you to do more. That mindset translated to other sports and into the classroom. It's a sport that will humble all but 1 in the weight class every year.
There was passion even before Cael, that's why he came to PSU.
Surprised that Jeff Byers did not know that John Fritz WAS from Pennsylvania. John Fritz wrestled at Bethlehem Liberty H.S., in the birthplace of Pennsylvania's High School wrestling dominance, the Lehigh Valley. Bethlehem Catholic, Faith Christian, Nazareth, Notre Dame (Green Pond), Easton, and more. They all surround tiny little Lehigh University, who has FOUR of their grapplers seeded in the Top 5 of their weight classes in next weekend's NCAA Championships -- including an unbeaten Ryan Crookham from Saucon Valley H.S. (another Lehigh Valley school), who beat the defending NCAA Champion, and WORLD Champion, Vito Arujau not once, but TWICE this year, and is unfairly seeded at #2. Hopefully, he'll FIX that (LOL) Saturday.
As a PSU wrestler, John was part of an amazing competitive triumvirate, which included himself, Lehigh's Mike Frick, and Pitt's Rande Stottlemyer (RIP). John won one NCAA Championship, Mike won two, but Rande never won one -- although he was a 3x All-American.
Fritz always beat Frick, Frick always beat Stottlemyer, yet Stottlemyer usually beat Fritz. Crazy.
As a side note, John's sister, Bernadette, was my 8th grade English teacher. She was great!
Good job in listing all those powerhouse high school wrestling program in Eastern PA which have a rich tradition of wrestling as a sport. I want to add there are a couple outstanding smaller high school wrestling programs in the WPIAL such as Canon McMillan HS in Washington County and West Greene in Greene County which also are proud of their rich tradition. I've often enjoyed the Powerade Tournament in Canonsburg which brings together some of the best competitors.
Wasn't a wrestler but always enjoyed the matches in high school. (1970's) Lower Dauphin, east of Harrisburg, was essentially a large farming community. Many of my buddies were busy planting in the spring and harvesting in the fall. But....But....During the winter these young men would fill out the wrestling team.
I hated wrestling, during the winter months, in gym class. I was a runner, not a wrestler. My buddies took great pleasure in twisting me up in knots! They never hurt me or banged me up but you got a sense of how good they were. Made me want to go to all the home matches.
Been a fan ever since. Flipped out when State got Cael. Can't get enough! Advice....Wanna know what wrestling is to PA? Go to the high school finals at The Giant Center in Hershey. What a zoo and what great wrestling!
I still haven't been but I need to go to the state tournament. I've heard it's a unique, cool experience. Thanks for watching. - Darian
Farmers can wrestle because it’s winter time and they’re not as busy. That’s why wrestling is huge in the Midwest as well. That’s how it started. Now it’s a tradition handed down from parents. Like deer hunting.
PA is second all time in MOH recipients with 380. They are behind NY who has 676. Also, interesting that Ohio and Illinois rank fourth and fifth. A lot of people put PA, OH, and ILL in the top 5 toughest states to win state championships. Tough people who answer the bell if you ask me.
Back in the day, the state schools competed with the best in the nation, now most have dropped programs or dropped to D-2, Bloom, Lock Haven, Clarion, the FightingScots are not what they used to be. The PSAC champs could make a run for an NCAA title.
It’s because wrestling is the most godly sport known to mankind. Teaches empathy and the utmost respect to your fellow man. A father tells a son “you act like this is some kind of choice” it’s why our father in heaven is so strong. I trust that much. Father was the orginal holy roller and that stone got dropped somewhere on a high Pennsylvania mountain.
Because wrestling is the toughest and best sport
It's like CA with surfing
This weirdly makes way too much sense. - Darian
A lot of guys say Penn State dominate because they have a lot of money to sign on recruits we we're winning titles before the NIL i was looking at Penn State roster yesterday most of the team is from Pennsylvania or the state next to Pennsylvania this year was the greatest wrestling team in college wrestling history
i have no idea
PA just loves wrestling. Pretty easy explanation.
You’re not wrong haha. Thanks for watching! - Darian
Bc their mega tough and they wrestle incredibly hard. It's like why the Russians are so good. There're raised tough and start very early. I'll give you 1 example of why although in a different way. I've read about the Russians in battle all my life. Ya know how Patton got in trouble for slapping a U.S . soldier-- well at Stalingrad in ww2, the Russian commander-- to instill toughness and fear, lined up 100 soldiers and shot every 10th man in the face. One Combat hardened German soldier wrote in his diary how the Russians are not human and these are the people who also love wrestling.
The same reason why Oklahoma and Iowa does. Pennsylvania doesn't have any more than than the people in the two states I mentioned!
Cuz it's pennsylvania
WE are PENN STATE
PA loves wrestling so much they haven't had an Olympic Champion since 1996....😅 Last century 😅
Penn Staters were NOT so excited about wrestling until Cael arrived. Fair weather fans.
You’ve obviously not been around the sport very long nor grew up with the sport in PA. For example, our local YMCA Youth Wrestling Program and parent volunteers ran the largest youth wrestling tournament on the East coast when I was an elementary wrestler in the late 70’s/early 80’s. One year it was 1100 wrestlers - so many kids that the tourney ran till after midnight. Three gyms and 10 mats were Full of passionate young wrestlers and their families that came from 6 states. Cael came to PA specifically because of our passionate wrestling culture and talent that was around decades before. Please know your subject and its history before you make such an insulting and ignorant remark.
@@JamesCorbin-d9e ummmmm......I spoke of The Penn State University fans. I attended PSU wrestling matches regularly, prior to Cael's arrival. Attendance was pittiful!
not as much as iowans love wrestling
Cause they can't win a title in any other sport. Same as Iowa.
So if PSU could win a football title then they would not care about Wrestling??? You dont know much about PSU or wrestling in PA then.
Keystone State is the best wrestling State in the country , PSU took it to another level with their success!!💙🤍💙🤍
Iowa has a better culture and history. If Iowa had the same population it would be on par
Yep, it always has been. Getting Sanderson there really ties it all together