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Williamsport’s Bower twins continue to impress on the mat

The twins don't just love beating up on their opponents. They love beating up on each other.

Seniors Braden and Riley Bower, two returning state qualifiers, have been wrestling side-by-side -- and one-on-one -- their whole lives. Williamsport's dynamic duo packs a one-two punch in its lineup with Braden at 138 pounds and Riley at 145.

The two do everything together, so naturally, the pair won out their respective weight classes at the Tom Best Memorial Top Hat tournament and both became champs to start the season. But with all their similarities, the two have had different journeys on the mat.

Braden won a Top Hat title his freshman year while Riley did not. On the flip side, Braden missed his sophomore season due to a torn labrum. While Riley got after it in the mat room, Braden got after it with his recovery.

"It was kind of hard to get back into it because I had to worry about my shoulder, but after I pushed through that and I worked on my rehab and stuff, I was ready for the next season and it felt great," Braden said.

With Braden coming off the injury, did Riley take it easy on his brother?

"Nah, I still beat him up in practice," Riley laughed.

In a return to form, Braden pieced together a solid junior campaign, finishing fifth at the Class AAA West Super Regional tournament. Riley, however, went on to place sixth in states at 145. The deep postseason run for Riley came after advancing to the blood round at Hershey the year prior.

"I was happy for him, but disappointed in myself I guess," Braden said on watching his brother compete in the state tournament. "He got to that stage and I was one step away from it. I was more motivated to get back in the mat room."

After coming up through the ranks in the Williamsport Area School District together, the Bower brothers will stay in state and head 30 miles south to Bucknell upon graduation.

There's much to look forward to in going to the same Division 1 institution together. The atmosphere, competitiveness and new band of brothers all sound appealing for the Bowers.

"Someone to push around up there and mess with and get another team," Riley said when asked what he was most excited for at Bucknell. "We'll wrestle the hardest up there."

Braden added, "I just like to get in the mat room and come out here and scrap. Competition's great and a DI program is the best there is."

Williamsport's wrestling program has been elevating to new heights recently, much in part by what the Bower brothers have been able to accomplish thus far. Riley's state finish last season, along with teammate Cael Nasdeo's at 106 pounds, was the first time since 1995 the Millionaires produced multiple state medalists.

Add in the fact that with both Bower brothers taking titles in the Magic Dome on opening weekend, Williamsport had multiple Top Hat champs for the first time since the mid 90s as well.

And as of Saturday, the Millionaires won the King of the Mountain tournament for the first time in school history, in part by Riley earning his 100th career win and Braden dropping down to 132 and winning out the championship bracket.

That's the spark Bucknell will receive amongst its incoming freshmen class.

"I can't wait to compete with Braden," Riley said on the move to Lewisburg. "We've been wrestling next to each other. He'd wrestle before me, then I'd wrestle normally every match (after) and to be able to do that in the next step too, it's gonna be nice."