This 160-pound PIAA champion is Bucks County boys Wrestler of Year after undefeated season
If there was any doubt that Collin Gaj would go down as the greatest wrestler in Quakertown history, he erased all of them with a remarkable senior season.
Not only did Gaj win a second PIAA Class 3A gold medal — something no other Panther has ever done — he went undefeated (44-0), again, and finished as the school's all-time leader in career wins with 182.
Add in four total PIAA medals, four Southeast Regional titles and four District One-North titles, and the case is closed.
"Collin is just a once in a generation kind of athlete," longtime Quakertown head coach Kurt Handel said. "There was so much expected of him even before he got to high school because people already knew about him.
"And he accomplished even more than anyone could have expected. He has just a truly phenomenal career and he's far from done with wrestling. He'll be a force in college (at Virginia Tech University) and beyond."
Gaj's efforts earned him his second Courier Times/Intelligencer boys Wrestler of the Year honors.
Quakertown's Gaj had remarkable senior season
His senior season included 20 pins, 17 technical falls, two wins by major decision and a pair of forfeit wins.
Not a win by decision in the bunch.
In fact, Gaj wasn't not taken down all season and was reversed just twice. That's it.
In Hershey, he won his first three matches by technical fall to reach the final and there he thumped Altoona's Luke Sipes, a North Carolina commit, 11-2 to secure the 160-pound gold, his second PIAA title.
His first PIAA title came two years ago when he went 49-0. As a freshman, he placed fourth at states and was a PIAA runner-up as a junior.
"I loved wrestling at Quakertown and having all of my friends here and really, really great coaches," Gaj said.
"I couldn't have asked for more. It all just went by way too fast, especially this season. I know I'm going to miss wrestling for Quakertown."
Virginia Tech next stop for Quakertown's Gaj
Up next, Gaj will become a Hokie at Virginia Tech, which just won the ACC title and is sending nine wrestlers to the NCAA Championships in Philadelphia this week at the Wells Fargo Center.
"I'm looking forward to wrestling in college and to see how far I can take it," Gaj said.
"Virginia Tech is not that far from home, which I like, and they have a really strong program that I'm looking forward to being a part of."
Drew Markol covers local sports for PhillyBurbs.com. Support our journalism with a subscription.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: High school wrestling: Quakertown's Collin Gaj named Wrestler of Year
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