Gage Wentzel of Montoursville walks back to the center of the mat during his match against Jayden Hamm of South Williamsport at 172 pounds during the 2026 PIAA District IV Central Section at Hughesville High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

HUGHESVILLE — Gage Wentzel knew entering this year that he was within striking distance of a huge accomplishment and milestone. But the Montoursville senior and West Virginia commit wasn’t stressing about if he would or wouldn’t reach it.

Wrestling is all part of a journey for Wentzel, and that journey has ups and downs and milestones along the way. Saturday was the latest milestone on that journey for the three-year state qualifier.

“I wouldn’t say it was a goal, it just is part of the journey. Everything goes back to the mat room. I’m not trying to emphasize the mat room so much, but that’s literally what it is,” Wentzel said on Saturday after receiving his Central Sectional gold medal at 172 pounds. “You don’t focus on things like that, you focus on being the best abilities you possibly can get. Whenever you do that in the mat room, hard week of practices, you have fun on the weekends and fun in the dual meets. Those things all come together.”

Everything came together on the road to Saturday and in the 172-pound Central Sectional semifinals, Wentzel secured a quick 12-second pin against Central Columbia’s Logan Miller. That fall gave Wentzel his 177th career victory, moving him into sole possession of the school’s all-time wins record. He passed former Montoursville great Gavin Hoffman, a three-time state champion at 195 pounds (2016-18).

Wentzel sits at 178 wins and counting as we enter the District 4 championships this weekend with a chance to keep increasing that win total as the Northeast Class AA Regional and PIAA Class AA tournaments are on the horizon if Wentzel continues his outstanding year.

“I think it’s awesome. People will probably get mad at me, but as coaches, that’s the stuff you look at and reflect on when the season’s over. It’s a great step and a great milestone in an amazing career. It’s something he should definitely be proud of and something that’s just fantastic,” Montoursville coach Matt Yonkin said after the PIAA Class AA Duals tournament in Johnstown in early February. “It’s awesome and incredible. When the season’s over, he’s going to see his name on the wall in the high school and it’s something he’ll look at for rest of his life and be proud of.”

Wentzel noted that he looked up to Hoffman when he was coming up as a younger wrestler and now he’s surpassed his win total. It’s almost surreal for the Warrior.

“It was just part of the journey. It was one of those things I thought was going to happen and it just did. I’m where I’m supposed to be,” Wentzel said. “Gavin Hoffman is a great guy that I look up to. You know you’re doing something right when you have around the same amount of wins as somebody who was a three-time state champion.”

Wentzel and Hoffman’s career are similar in numbers. Hoffman graduated with 80 career pinfall victories. Wentzel is at 82. Hoffman had 33 tech fall victories and Wentzel has 37. But the one thing that’s eluded Wentzel that Hoffman made look easy was state gold.

Wentzel is a three-time state medalist and earned fifth as a freshman at 145, fourth as a sophomore at 152 and silver last year at 172. That 172-pound final last year in Hershey saw Wentzel fall via major decision, 12-3, to Faith Christian Academy’s Nick Singer, an Ohio State commit.

The Montoursville 172-pounder defeated South Williamsport’s Jayden Hamm by tech fall, 17-2, 3:52 to win sectional gold and sits at 178 victories.

Wentzel saw three of his teammates take home gold medals on Saturday with Branden Eisenhour (107), Teli Bobotas (133) and Hayden Harvey (189) joining Wentzel at the top of the podium. In total, Montoursville had seven district qualifiers and that success is contagious.

One wrestler wins, the others feed off that energy.

“It’s definitely a team thing. Once you see your teammates do it, you want to do it. Practice hard together in the mat room, cheering each other on whenever everybody’s wrestling and going out and wrestling for Montoursville and glory to God as a whole,” Wentzel said.

Wentzel is ranked No. 2 in the state at 172. Who is he behind? Well, Singer of course.

It seems lined up for those two, if they continue taking home gold in the postseason, to meet up once again at the state tournament. But for now, districts awaits for Wentzel and his chance to keep piling up wins and increasing that all-time win mark.