When Selinsgrove freshman Nate Schon saw Hunter Catka warming up with a teammate he wondered if the sophomore was in his weight-class. He later found out, first hand, that the Sun Valley wrestler and 2017 PIAA State Qualifier was in fact competing at 220 lbs.

The road to his opening weekend wasn’t an easy one, in fact – it was Nate’s first time officially competing in almost eight months. In the 2017 Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling State finals at 187 lbs. Nate tore his ACL and was forced to take a considerable amount of time off from the mat.  “I lifted all summer because I couldn’t really do anything else. I wanted to take it lightly but playing football helped.”

The lifting has paid off. Schon went from a young 187 lbs. youth wrestler to a stout 220 lbs. freshman who came into the season ranked #41 in PA Power Wrestling’s Top Incoming Freshmen Report. At the Penn Manor Tournament Schon did anything but take it easy, blowing through the competition at 220 lbs., picking up a major decision and two falls en route to the Championship finals.

Schon said he takes a lot of what he does on the mat from one of his favorite wrestlers – Olympic Gold Medalist Jordan Burroughs. “From my feet I love to hit blast doubles and on the mat my go to is a near-side cradle.” 

In the finals Schon took on someone who had a similar trajectory a year earlier. Last season Hunter Catka was a freshman for Sun Valley, flew under the radar going (34-7) in his first season, and qualified for the PIAA State Tournament at 195 lbs. Now up at 220 lbs. Catka was the top seed at Penn Manor and also cruised into the finals with a major decision and two falls. 

Schon got the butterflies out earlier against Catka who entered the Tournament ranked #2 in the State. “I was a little nervous going into the finals but I got a good feel for him early on. I hit a blast double right into a half and stuck him.” Just like that, in (0:37) seconds, Nate Schon introduced himself to the State of Pennsylvania.

“I’ve been wrestling with Team PA basically my whole life. I just love the adrenaline rush you get when you get the crowd going and everything, I love it.”

Schon was not the only Selinsgrove rookie who shined for head coach Seth Martin with freshman Coy Bastian finishing as the runner-up at 160 lbs. Schon gives Bastian, who was ranked #68 in the TIF Report, a ton of credit for his hard work and toughness. “He is really quick and strong as hell, so I really enjoy wrestling with him in the room.”

In terms of his rookie season Schon still has a lot to accomplish. “I want to see how far I can make it. I plan on making it the State Tournament and doing well there.” Well, based on his performance at Penn Manor Schon has certainly put his name in the conversation at 220 lbs. after pinning the #2 ranked wrestler in the State.

 

Penn Manor Final Brackets

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