Montoursville’s Vogel glad to be going to states yet again
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Montoursville's Blaize Vogel had an outstanding freshman season three years ago ago when he went 33-15, but he finished fifth at regionals that year and missed out on a trip to states. The following season was cut short after just 11 matches and he didn't get to wrestle in the postseason.
Last year? Vogel finally broke through and got to taste the state tournament in Hershey. But, Vogel's run at the state tournament didn't end with a trip to the podium.
Winning isn't everything, but Vogel wants to end his career with a state medal and he's more than glad he has one more chance at doing so after he took silver at this year's Northeast Class AA Regional Tournament.
"It feels good because I didn't make it my freshman or sophomore year, so it feels good to make it for a second time," Vogel said.
Vogel won his 133-pound championship semifinal against Towanda's Gage Evans by decision, 7-2, but in the championship bout, he wasn't able to defeat Mifflinburg's Ben Straub as he fell by a tough decision, 7-1, to take second. Vogel's ranked No. 19 in the state this year, and was one of four state-ranked wrestlers in the regional tournament. His last two bouts were against two of those other three state-ranked guys in Evans (No. 23) and Straub (No. 18).
"(Straub's) really good on top. He gets a lot of wrist control and he's good at cradles and stuff like that," Vogel said as to what was Straub's toughest strengths.
Vogel noted his strength as a wrestler is by being on top, and the Warrior has accumulated 32 wins this year as he has a sectional gold medal, district silver and regional silver to his name this season so far.
"I wanna place. I want to get a medal for my last year," Vogel said. "I'd love to reach the podium at Hershey."
That journey is right around the corner as the PIAA Class AA tournament begins on Thursday in Hershey.
The second-place finish at regionals as Vogel set to wrestle Southwest Class AA Regional bronze medalist Anthony Mucci of Derry in the first round, and Mucci is a tough first-round draw for the Montoursville senior.
The Derry senior committed to wrestle at Pitt-Johnstown a few weeks ago and is an impressive 42-6 after he won gold at sectionals and districts before bronze at regionals.
He has 24 tech fall victories this year as well.
Mucci lost in the championship semifinals at the regional tournament to Bald Eagle Area standout Caden Judice by decision in a close contest, 7-5. Judice is a returning PIAA Class AA seventh-place finalist. Mucci then earned a 17-1, 3:38 tech fall over Beth-Center's Mason Wright in the consolation semifinals, a returning state qualifier, and beat returning state qualifier Drake McClure of Bentworth by decision, 4-1.
A win by Vogel on Thursday would see him face either Northern Lebanon's Aaron Seidel, HIckory's Brody Bishop or McGuffey's Emmett Wolfe.
Vogel is one of seven Montoursville wrestlers heading to Hershey, and he's glad to be part of a large contingent heading to states alongside Branden Eisenhour (107), Teli Bobotas (121), David Kennedy (133), Hayden Harvey (160), Gage Wentzel (172) and Landon Morehart (285).
"It means a lot," Vogel said. "It's the most that we ever had I'm pretty sure and we worked really hard to get there, so it means a lot."