DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Montoursville's Gage Wentzel was named Co-Wrestler of the Year this year alongside Montgomery's Brandt Harer. It's Wentzel's first Wrestler of the Year honor.

Montoursville’s Gage Wentzel had a simple goal in mind this year when the season started. It was a lofty one, a challenging one as well, but one Wentzel knew was possible: claim state gold. For the three years preceding this season, it eluded him.

He was a three-time state medalist entering this winter, but he wanted to be standing at the top of the podium when it was all said and done in Hershey.

Wentzel did just that, and capped his incredible career in a Montoursville singlet with a gold medal in his final high school match.

Wentzel’s outstanding senior campaign which resulted in state gold at 172 pounds earned him 2025-26 Sun-Gazette Co-Wrestler of the Year honors alongside Montgomery standout Brandt Harer. It’s Wentzel’s first Wrestler of the Year honor in his great career.

Wentzel was a solid wrestler from start to finish this year. He became Montoursville’s all-time wins leader, surpassing former Warrior great Gavin Hoffman’s mark of 176 wins.

Wentzel reached the state final for a second consecutive year and won his first career gold medal this year, his fourth career state medal. Wentzel was in the top-3 at his weight at 172 pounds for the entire season and ended the year ranked nationally at 175 at 16th.

The West Virginia commit went 49-2 this year, the wins being tied for the most in a single-season for him. The two losses are also the fewest he suffered in a year. He ended his career 188-32, the 188 wins the most of any wrestler to wear a blue and gold Warrior singlet. It also moved him to No. 4 all-time in District 4 history behind only Montgomery’s Brandt Harer (214), Warrior Run’s Reagan Milheim (195) and Montgomery’s Conner Harer (191).

Wentzel’s only losses came on Dec. 20 to Warrior Run’s Max Wirnsberger — who he’d run into and beat twice in the postseason at districts and regionals in back-to-back weekends — by a narrow 2-1 TB1 decision. he then lost on Dec. 30 to Maximus Fortier of University, West Virginia by decision, 4-1.

But in 2026, he never suffered a loss as he kept picking up win after win. From January 1 until the end of the year in Hershey, Wentzel went 38-0.

Wirnsberger proved to be a tough opponent for Wentzel, and he rose up to the challenge both times. At the District 4 championships, he beat Wirnsberger by decision, 5-1. He then had a big 6-3 win at regionals over the Defender, securing three huge points late in the third period to win.

At states, Wentzel cruised past Penns Valley’s Brayden Lisowski and Rocco Allegretto of Johnsonburg with back-to-back second-period pins. He gutted out a 4-3 UTB win against Bishop McCort’s Emory Gunby in the championship semifinals before winning gold with a convincing 11-2 major decision over Derry’s Mason Horwart. Gunby wound up taking fifth while Allegretto was an eighth-place finisher.

“You know you’re doing something right when you have the same amount of wins as somebody who was a three-time state champion,” Wentzel said in the postseason after beating Hoffman’s record.

Wentzel was doing something right the entire year: winning and making it look easy. He did it all the way to Hershey.

SUN-GAZETTE ALL-STAR TEAM

FIRST TEAM

Branden Eisenhour, Montoursville

(107 pounds)

Branden Eisenhour had an outstanding freshman season two years ago. As a sophomore, he only got better and it showed every time he was on the mat. Eisenhour went an impressive 51-6 this year and won the title at 107 pounds at the Central Sectional tournament and the District 4 championships. Eisenhour lost in the 107 final at regionals and at the state meet, went on to take home a fifth-place medal, his first career state medal after not placing as a freshman.

The Warrior had an .895 win percentage, had 16 wins by tech fall and 14 by pin en route to his fifth-place finish at states. Eisenhour noted after the sectional tournament that he always watches back film of his matches to see what he did wrong and how he can get better. It paid off between his freshman and sophomore years and no doubt the next two years will only show more growth and improvement from a talented wrestler in Eisenhour.

Zander Wilson, Williamson

(114 pounds)

After the Northeast Class AA Regional, Wilson noted that he felt pride being able to go to the state meet and represent a small school like Williamson on the big stage. And he more than made the Williamson community proud. Wilson took seventh this year at the state meet in Hershey at 114 pounds, his first career state medal after he didn’t reach the podium as a freshman. Wilson posted a second consecutive 40-win season as he went 41-6 a year after going 43-3. Wilson won the North Sectional title at 114, the District 4 title and took home regional gold as well to head to the state meet. Wilson only allowed six or more points twice in the postseason, once coming to Montgomery’s Gabe Oberheim at districts when he won 9-7, and then again to Oberheim a week later in a narrow 7-6 victory in the championship semifinals. Wilson wrestled against talented kids through the postseason, which included twice facing Southern Columbia’s Rowen Humphrey, Oberheim and Midd-West’s Mason Kerstetter.

Liam Seeley, Montgomery

(121 pounds)

Seeley posted another season with a winning percentage of .750 or better as the Red Raider sophomore reached the state tournament for the first time. Seeley went 38-10 this year and wrestled well throughout the postseason. He won the Central Sectional title at 121 pounds before taking bronze at the District 4 championships and bronze at the Northeast Class AA Regional tournament. At the state meet, Seeley had an unfortunate 0-2 trip as he fell by major decision to Penns Valley’s Max Dingest in the first round and was eliminated from contention wtih a pin in 4:10 against Bermuda Springs’ Cole Schisler. Dinges went on to take silver at the state meet. Seeley posted three wins by major decision at the regional tournament against Honesdale’s Brody Walsh (19-8), Milton’s Bryson Walter (10-0) and Berwick’s Carmen Walt (10-1). Expect Seeley to be motivated next winter to get back to states and reach the podium for the first time in his career.

Carden Wagner, Montgomery

(127 pounds)

Entering the year, Wagner had never been able to break through at regionals and reach the state tournament. He had two fifth-place finishes as a freshman and junior and didn’t qualify as a sophomore. But his senior year was a memorable one as he finally punched a ticket to Hershey. Wagner went 42-13 this year and reached the state tournament after taking third at the Northeast Class AA Regional tournament. Wagner won 12 matches by tech fall and 18 by pin this year. He took home a Central Sectional gold medal, District 4 gold medal and bronze at regionals. At states, Wagner went 0-2 after being pinned by Cameron Baker of Burrell in 23 seconds and pinned by Conner Myers of Penns Valley in 4:30. Baker wound up taking sixth at states. Wagner had good wins throughout the year, including beating Muncy’s Gage Swank at sectionals, Mifflinburg’s Jack Gramly at districts and regionals, and narrowly losing to Warrior Run’s Chase Wirnsberger in extra time at regionals, 5-2. He also beat Blue Ridge’s Brice Woodruff for third at regionals 6-5 UTB.

Landon Michaels, Lewisburg

(133 pounds)

Much like Montgomery’s Carden Wagner above, Lewisburg’s Landon Michaels had a similiar career where states eluded him until his senior year. After an opening loss to Justin Scanlon of Honesdale by decision, 12-8, Michaels battled through the consolation bracket at the Northeast Class AA Regional and strung together four wins to take bronze and qualify for states. That included getting revenge on Scanlon in the third-place match with a pin in 2:45. He also had a tough 7-4 decision win against Wyalusing’s Cole Patrick in the consolation semifinals to ensure a state trip. Michaels went 43-14 this year, the most wins in his career and highest single-season win percentage (.754). He didn’t medal at states, but took silver at sectionals, fourth at districts and third at regionals. He ended his career as a 100-win wrestler, reaching 118 for his career.

Chase Boozer, Muncy

(139 pounds)

Chase Boozer put fans on notice this year as a freshman. The Indian had one of the bets seasons you could hope for as a freshman and ended his first year of varsity competition with a fourth-place finish at the state tournament at 139 pounds in Class AA. Needless to say, Boozer will be a problem for opponents the next three years on the mat after showcasing his talent this year. Boozer went 45-5 with an impressive .900 win percentage and claimed a gold medal at the Central Sectional tournament, District 4 tournament and the Northeast Class AA Regional tournament.

At the state meet, Boozer had a 5-0 opening decision win vs. Trinity’s Carter Kinard before earning a 12-3 major against Grove City’s Tanner Hamilton. In the championship semifinals, he suffered a super close 4-3 decision loss to Bishop McDevitt’s Camden Baum, the eventual state champion who will wrestle at Purdue. Boozer defeated Bentworth’s Drake McClure by decision in a tight matchup, 2-1, before falling narrowly to Bishop McCort’s Owen McMullen in the third-place final, 1-0. Boozer showecased how talented he was all year and he only will get better as next winter rolls around.

Aiden Kunes, Central Mountain

(145 pounds)

Kunes put together a superb junior season which saw him break through at the state meet. After back-to-back years reaching Hershey but not medaling, the Wildcat had a great run through the 145-pound Class AAA bracket to take silver. At the state meet, Kunes beat Souderton’s Dominic Ramos by tech fall (18-2, 4:21), Nazareth’s Jack Campbell by decision (8-1), Gettysburg’s Myles Grossman by fall (5:08) before he lost against Connellsville’s Kai Vielma with a decision, 4-0.

Kunes went an impressive 41-3 throughout the year with 12 wins by tech fal and another 17 by pin. He surpassed the 100-win threshold to reach 114.

There was only one wrestler who beat Kunes, and that was Vielma. The Connellsville standout beat Kunes on Dec. 6 by decision, 5-2, before beating him at the regional tournament by decision and then again in the state final. Vielma is commited to wrestle at Stanford. Kunes pinned two of his opponents at the District 6 championships and had a dominating 18-2, 2:44 tech fall over Seneca Valley’s Zach Hill to win district gold.

Landen Wagner, Lewisburg

(152 pounds)

Wagner wrapped up his career in a Green Dragon singlet with one final run at the state tournament and ended up capturing his highest medal yet when he took home sixth at Hershey at 152 pounds. Wagner ended his career as a two-time state medalist, three-time state qualifier and a four-time regional medalist with three top-3 finishes at regionals.

Wagner went 47-8 this year, the 47 wins being the most he’s had in a single season. His eight wins are the fewest he’s suffered in a year and his .855 win percentage was the highest he’s posted as well. He had 14 tech fall wins and 12 by pin and ended with 147 career victories. He ends his career in high school as the third all-time wins leader in Lewisburg history behind only Derek Reber (165) and Nathaniel Brown (149).

He took bronze at the South Sectional championships, District 4 championships and Northeast Class AA Regional. Wagner posted wins in the postseason against some talented wrestlers such as Southern Columbia’s Brayden Andrews at regionals and Line Mountain’s Dalton Schadel at states. Schadel went on to place eighth at the state tournament.

Reagan Milheim, Warrior Run

(160 pounds)

Milheim had one of the most outstanding seasons any wrestler could hope for. The Defenders’ all-time wins leader came just shy of his ultimate goal in Hershey of winning a state title, but still was dominant throughout the year. The runner-up for Wrestler of the Year was ranked nationally at 157 pounds (14th) and went 52-1 this year, the lone loss coming in the state final to Bishop McCort’s Melvin Miller by narrow decision, 5-4. In the postseason alone, Milheim won ten bouts by fall and two by tech fall. At districts, he won the title with a 19-second pin. At regionals, he needed just 51 seconds to win the title at 160. Milheim’s 195 career wins puts him No. 2 all-time in wins in District 4 history behind only Montgomery’s Brandt Harer (214). He’s also one of just three District 4 wrestlers to reach 190 or more, the other being Montgomery’s Conner Harer (191).

Milheim won 31 bouts this year by fall, ending his career with 92. He became a four-time state finalist this year, claiming his third career silver medal.

Max Wirnsberger, Warrior Run

(172 pounds)

Wirnsberger went 44-6 this year and had a fantastic senior year. The Defender won a South Sectional gold medal, District 4 silver medal, Northeast Class AA Regional silver medal and capped his final trip to Hershey with a fourth-place medal at 172 pounds. Wirnsberger wrapped his career tied for sixth all-time wins leader in District 4 history with 176, tied with former Montoursville great Gavin Hoffman. The Defender posted 12 wins by tech fall and 19 by pin and wrestled well throughout the year, being a standout that the Defenders knew would get bonus points any time they competed in a dual meet. Wirnsberger met up with Montoursville’s Gage Wentzel twice in the postseason: once at the District 4 championships and again at the Northeast Class AA Regional. Wentzel went on to win state gold, but Wirnsberger gave him a tough match in regionals and only lost 6-3, with three key points coming from Wentzel late in the third period. At states, Wirnsberger beat Cochranton’s Cash Morrell (4-1) before a quarterfinal loss to Derry’s Mason Horwat (7-2) to fall into the consolations where he would battle to take fourth.

Hayden Harvey, Montoursville

(189 pounds)

Harvey made a run at 189 this year through the state tournament and ended up placing fourth in Hershey. But what’s perhaps more impressive is the fact Harvey wrestled up throughout the year competing at 215 and even 285 and having success against wrestlers heavier than him. He earned a fall in 65 seconds at 215 against Harlow Little of Williamson in late January and also pinned Southern 215-pounder Cayden Noblin in 58 seconds. On Feb. 3, he posted two wins by fall against 285-pounder Palmer Reber of Berks Catholic (1:22) and Saucon Valley’s Eekiel Deily (5:39). It speaks to the talent Harvey has to be able to wrestle up and have success.

The Warrior went 48-4 this year and took a gold medal at the Central Sectional tournament, District 4 tournament and Northeast Class AA Regional tournament. At states, Harvey suffered a first-round loss by decision, 2-0, to Bishop McCort’s CJ Pensiero and rattled off four consecutive wins, including a 7-3 TB2 decision in the consolations against Greenville’s Hunter Cox and a 4-1 SV decision over Northwestern Lehigh’s Luke Fugazzotto to reach the third-place match where he lost by a tight decision, 4-2, against Derry’s Brady Brown. Harvey is only a junior and the Warrior will no doubt be even better as he enters his senior year.

Colton Woolever, Hughesville

(215 pounds)

Woolever made his sophomore year an impressive one. A year after going 17-21 as a freshman, the Spartan secured 38 wins as a sophomore and reached the Northeast Class AA Regional for the first time and came shy of advancing to states as he ended with a sixth-place medal at regionals. He advanced to regionals after a sixth-place finish at districts and took home a gold medal at the Central Sectional tournament. Woolever posted 19 wins by decision and 12 by fall, showcasing that he can dominate an opponent, but also pick up key points and wrestle well in close matches with little room for error.

At sectionals, Woolever pinned Bloomsburg’s Malcolm Tagba and beat Noah Musselman of Central Columbia in extra time, 3-2 SV, to secure a title. He suffered a tough 4-1 decision loss at districts to eventual state qualifier Jacob Schwalm of Line Mountain and at regionals, lost to state qualifier Daniel Fox of Wyalusing by decision, 5-3.

Luke Sottolano, Williamson

(285 pounds)

Sottolano had an outstanding senior campaign this past winter and went an impressive 45-4 with a .918 winning percentage, both of which were single-season highs for him. He reached 129 wins for his career — second in school history behind only Logan Everett’s 143. Sottolano won his first career North Sectional, District 4 and Northeast Class AA Regional gold medals this year on his way to his second-ever state tournament appearance.

Unlike last year’s state trip, Sottolano finally reached the podium as he took home a seventh-place medal in his final appearance in Hershey. At states, he fell into the consolations with a 2-1 TB2 loss to Fairfield’s Caleb Tyler and advanced with a tough 4-2 decision win over Warrior Run’s Noah Johnson, a talented wrestler for the Defenders. Sottolano would lose another tight contest to Upper Dauphin’s Eoghan Savage (2-1 TB2) before beating Conneaut Area’s Drew Dygert by decision, 3-0 SV, in the seventh-place final.

SECOND TEAM

107–Jordan Piselli, Williamsport

114–Gabe Oberheim, Montgomery

121–Bryce Pequignot, NP-Liberty

127–Chase Wirnsberger, Warrior Run

133–Patrick Tarantella, Central Mountain

139–Kaden Kleinman, Montoursville

145–Ivan Baker, Loyalsock

152–Trace Furman, Montgomery

160–Kile Hartman, Hughesville

172–Jayden Hamm, South Williamsport

189–Michael Runkle, Milton

215–Evan Hugar, Montgomery

285–Noah Johnson, Warrior Run

HONORABLE MENTION

(IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

Garrett Bacorn, South Williamsport (107); Teli Bobotas, Montoursville (133); Steven Bott, Williamsport (133); Jonathan Dincher, Jersey Shore (172); Raiden Felix, Montgomery (172); Gabriel Fisher, Jersey Shore (121); Blake Fry, Montoursville (160); Cole Gerber, South Williamsport (189); Andrew Kapec, Sullivan County (133); Kayden Keefer, Loyalsock (152); Josh Knoebel, Montgomery (160); Cade Lusk, South Williamsport (160); Tobias Morgret, Jersey Shore (160); Colin Nasdeo, Williamsport (127); Tommy Preston, Canton (145); Jackson Raker, Williamsport (215); Carson Rockwell, Canton (160); Gabe Spagnuolo, Williamsport (107); Louden Spotts, Jersey Shore (152); Gage Swank, Muncy (127); Lauger Waldman, Williamsport (139); Bryson Walter, Milton (121).