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Powerade, PHAC finishes has Wentzel’s confidence high

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville’s Gage Wentzel competes against Towanda during a match earlier this season. Wentzel medaled at both the Powerade and PHAC Championships and has a lot of confidence as the postseason is just weeks away.

It was late in December when Montoursville made a trip to the Powerade Tournament at Canon-McMillan High School, arguably one of the toughest tournaments on the East Coast.

Many wrestlers competing at the Powerade can get overwhelmed with some of the competition. But Gage Wentzel isn’t most wrestlers. The Montoursville standout has a drive to compete and wrestle no matter who he’s facing.

When he got to the Powerade, Wentzel suffered a third-round loss to Baylor School’s Max Norman of Tennessee by major decision, 8-0. From there, he began a brutal run through the consolation round.

Wentzel had to beat South Walton’s Gibson Moore of Florida, Wyoming Seminary’s Brian Chamberlain, Great Bridge’s Caleb Neal of Virginia and Cy Fowler of Cleveland, Tennessee to get to the consolation semifinals.

Not only does it take talent, it takes mental toughness, and that’s precisely what Wentzel has.

“It just means you can hang with anyone at the country because you’re wrestling the best guys in the country. A lot of guys go you can hang with anyone in the state, like alright here we are, now I can hang with anyone in the country now,” Wentzel said on Saturday at the PHAC Championships in Milton. “Having the confidence and knowing your ability and just trust the plan and go out after it.”

Wentzel ended up with a sixth-place finish at Powerade after falling to Notre Dame-Green Pond’s Dominic Sumpolec, but it gave Wentzel an enormous confidence boost going into the heart of the season before the postseason begins.

It was during the Powerade Tournament as well that Wentzel reached his 100th-win milestone and was later honored alongside teammate Teli Bobotas, who also earned his 100th victory.

“When you want to be great, it’s just one of those things that you accomplish. Like yeah I’m doing what I’m supposed to do. That 100th win and finally breaking through at Powerade and getting a medal there, everything’s starting to click my junior year,” Wentzel said. “I think I’m going to be a lot better this year than year’s before just because of mindset I have.”

Wentzel is 23-4 this year after Saturday’s PHAC Championships and sits at 113-27 for his career. He’s also a two-time state medalist and continues to get better. The Warrior is ranked No. 4 in the state, just one ranking behind Warrior Run’s Max Wirnsberger.

One can point to a number of things that makes Wentzel an outstanding wrestler on the mat, but he attributes it all to his mental toughness. And, after his run through the consolation bracket at Powerade to reach the medal round, it’s tough to argue against it.

“I got a lot of reach, but honestly my mindset. I think not even wrestling wise, just my mindset issue after Powerade. For example Round of 16, I have no offense, whatever. After that, I just focused on wrestling and that carries with you throughout life, how you focus throughout life and you just have to be 1% better every day with what you do,” Wentzel said.

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