Bald Eagle Area senior Jon Gingrich’s favorite sport changed with the season. In the fall, Gingrich viewed himself as a football player. In the winter, his attention shifted to wrestling. Between the two sports, multiple track events, schoolwork and a job at a Bellefonte grocery store, finding time to sit and ponder his future proved difficult. Once Gingrich started envisioning life after a hectic high school schedule, two wrestling losses bothered him. Gingrich, a three-sport standout, will join the Penn State wrestling team as an accomplished and motivated walk-on after experiencing contrasting sensations during his high school career. His junior season ended with a fourth-place finish at the PIAA Class AAA Championships. His senior season ended with an 0-2 showing in the same 215-pound weight class. “It’s kind of helped motivate me to take up wrestling in college,” said Gingrich, who dropped two overtime bouts in Hershey in March. “It’s always been close between football and wrestling. Whatever season we were in, I liked that sport more. The end of states gave me one final drive to complete my wrestling career.” Snagging Gingrich as a walk-on could reap future rewards for Penn State. West Virginia, Pitt and Buffalo were among the other Division I schools to ask BEA coach Steve Millward about Gingrich.

Some schools backed away because of Gingrich’s affinity for football. Gingrich was mulling a football offer from Bucknell until the Bison changed coaches after last fall. Penn State assistant coach Casey Cunningham followed Gingrich’s progress this past season. For the first time in his career, Gingrich started regularly attending Nittany Lion Wrestling Club practices this spring. The club’s coach is former NCAA runner-up Aaron Anspach, who relayed Gingrich’s interest in joining the Nittany Lions as a walk-on to Cunningham and head coach Cael Sanderson. Penn State also fits Gingrich’s academic agenda because the school offers an architectural engineering program. “I’m glad he made that choice to continue his career,” Millward said. “I know what he’s capable of doing, and I think Penn State is a nice choice for him with the personnel they have right now.” Gingrich, who weighed as much as 240 pounds during the football season, will likely wrestle heavyweight after spending his BEA varsity career at 215. A two-time District 6 Class AAA champion, Gingrich went 84-26 in three varsity seasons. His weight class was one of the state’s best — and most athletic — the past two years. Gingrich’s other athletic pursuits prevented him from wrestling throughout the spring and summer. He started at fullback and linebacker last fall and throws the shot put, discus and javelin and runs the 110-meter hurdles in the spring.

Gingrich’s trips to the Lorenzo Wrestling Complex this year have served as a college primer, with workout partners ranging from former Penn State All-American Dave Hart to PIAA Class AAA 215-pound champion and Maryland recruit Spencer Myers of Selinsgrove. Gingrich also has been lifting with BEA assistant coach Jade Thompson. “Once track is over I’ll be more focused on getting into better shape,” Gingrich said. “I need to do some offseason wrestling. I want to be on the mat getting that experience.” Millward, who wrestled at West Virginia, said Gingrich’s athletic ability could be an asset at the Division I level. At his best in high school, Gingrich controlled bouts on his feet, using an effective double-leg to score points. “He wrestles the way Kurt Angle did,” said Millward, referring to the former Olympic and NCAA champion. “The reason why Kurt was so good was that he didn’t wrestle like other heavyweights. He was constant movement and pushing and shoving. He would get the stall call. “Jon is one of those guys. He’s going to get bigger. I think 197 is out of the question for him. He can get as big as 235, 240, and with as agile as he is ... I’m excited to see what he does.” Gingrich’s decision will increase the local presence on the Nittany Lion roster. BEA graduate Quentin Wright, a 2009 All-American, will start at either 184 or 197 next season. Penn State’s recruiting class also includes Central Mountain stars Andrew and Dylan Alton. “I’m intrigued to see what happens with how many great athletes we have,” Gingrich said. “It’s going to be tough to break the lineup.”

Thanks to Guy Cipriano and the "Centre Daily Times" (State College, Pa.) for the article