Gabriel selects Naval Academy

   While Jonathan Gabriel still has more goals to accomplish before his high school wrestling career is done, the first step in life after high school has already been determined. Over the weekend, as he also celebrated a birthday, Gabriel chose the United States Naval Academy as his next destination.
   It's the second Division I commitment for a local wrestler in the past month, after Chestnut Ridge's Aaron Burkett selected Lehigh - see Lehigh lands Burkett below in my blog.
   Gabriel says the Naval Academy stood out in a couple of trips to the campus.
   "When I visited, I felt like it could be a second home to me. I felt comfortable and like I was already a part of their family."
   Gabriel, well accomplished in both the classroom and on the wrestling mat, added that a couple of other schools had shown interest in the Bedford state champion.
   In March, Gabriel became only the third PIAA champion from his school with an 8-4 victory in the 126-pound Class AA championship bout, defeating Seth Hogue of Reynolds with a dramatic five-point move off a peterson roll in the closing seconds of the third period. He became the first state champ from Bedford since 1964, and broke a streak that included the Bisons having nine state runner-up finishes in a row since Ron Hamilton won his title 51 years ago.
   Gabriel is a three-time District 5 champion and a three-time Thomas Subaru Tournament champion, and was second in the state as a sophomore 113-pounder. He's also closing in on 100 wins for his career and is a two-time Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic team member.
   Other than wrestling, where he projects as a 125-pounder at Navy, Gabriel aspires to be a pilot, but is keeping his academic options open.
   "I just want to be the best wrestler and best student that I can be, and represent the Navy as best as I can," he said.
   Of course, there's still one more season left in his high school colors, and Gabriel wants to see his name above all others again.
   "I want to be the first two-time state champion at Bedford. That's what I can focus on now that this is out of the way."
   Navy's 2014-15 roster included wrestlers from several states, but it also did include a former area competitor in Westmont graduate Don Shovestull.

Bedford's Jonathan Gabriel is seconds away from winning his first state championship 

after putting Reynolds' Seth Hogue on his back in the Class AA 126-pound final in March. 

Gabriel will compete collegiately at the U.S. Naval Academy.