Coming out of the Southeast Regionals with two contenders for States, seniors Alex Price and Jeff Reimel look forward to performing well and placing at Hershey. At Regionals, Reimel placed 2nd (152) and Price took 1st (182).
Price has been wrestling for 10 years and started wrestling to get better at football and stay in shape and then began to see it as a one on one sport. “You can’t blame anyone but yourself, and I love that,” explained Price.
This is not Price’s first run at States, having made it into the top 12 and being knocked out for the tournament losing 4-2 last year.
“This year is different because it is my last year and everything is on the line and just everything I worked for every long night in the gym where I closed it down is coming down to the next 3 days and its the greatest and worst feeling,” continued Price.
Price has wrestled 2 of the kids in his bracket before, pinning one of them and defeating the other 9 to 2.
Going into this tournament, Price looks to “leave everything out there because there won’t ever be ‘oh you can get him next year.’ This is my last shot at it and no matter what hurts you just gotta push through it.”
Reimel has been wrestling for 12 years first being drawn to the sport by his father and brother.
This is not Reimel’s first time at States either, last year he went 1-2, one match from placing. He explains that this year is different.
“I feel this year I’m more ready and prepared from working on my skills over summer I have wrestled my opponents. My mind set is to take one match at a time, open up, do what got me there. Anyone can be beat – wrestled like it’s your last match.”
Coach Robert Shettsline has faith in Price’s and Reimel’s abilities to medal this year commenting on how hard they have worked this season.
“[They have worked] extremely hard. They are putting in some extra practices. They’re our team leaders and every day on the mat they’re working, they’re busting their tails, they’re going full out, and these boys are ready for states this year.”
In the end, Shettsline knows being prepared for States isn’t just physical but also mental.
“We tell them in the past North Penn has always done very well in postseason. We actually have them visualize their match and they probably started two, three nights ago. They know what Hershey is like up there, they know how the mats are set up, they know what to expect…we have faith in them, they have to have faith in themselves,” concluded Shettsline.