Thoughts on Gabriel, Burkett commitments

   Over the years, I've made it a habit to talk to wrestling people (coaches, fans, parents, other media), check message boards, ranking websites, and anything else basically year-round to keep up with who's coming up through the local programs that should be worth watching for the future.
   And in recent days, two of the best current varsity wrestlers in Bedford County — Jonathan Gabriel and Aaron Burkett — have made their intentions known to compete collegiately at the Division I level. Gabriel will attend the U.S. Naval Academy, and Burkett is headed to Lehigh. I wrote blog posts on each commitment which you can scroll down to.
   Given what each of them has accomplished so far both on and off the mat, it's no surprise to me that institutions such as the two that they chose were interested.
   But what I knew about them three years ago is different from the similarities that they have produced in that time frame.
   I'll start with Gabriel, who was very much as I would say a "known commodity" in my view when he began his varsity career at 106 pounds.
   I knew quite a bit about him. He had won a Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling state title, and he had placed highly in several national events. And I had seen him several times in junior high matches. Certainly, Gabriel was already thought of as the next great Bedford wrestler by many, and he hasn't disappointed.
   As a freshman, Gabriel was 32-4 and won a district championship. He didn't make it to the state tournament, but that 106-pound bracket in the Southwest Regional is one of the hardest individual brackets I've seen. It also featured Huntingdon's Collin Glorioso, Forest Hills' Triston Law, Southmoreland's Austin Griffiths, Burgettstown's Austin McDermitt, and Jefferson-Morgan's Brendan Howard, with three of them finishing in the top six in the state the next weekend.
   The last two years for Gabriel speak for themselves, being a state finalist and then Bedford's first state champion since 1964. He's also Bedford's first three-time Thomas Subaru Tournament champion, an event which the Bison wrestlers always look to shine being that it's in their home gymnasium.
   On the other side, I didn't know as much about Burkett back in late 2012 as official practices for that season began. By all accounts, the 106-pounder was solid in junior high and time would tell as to what would happen.
   In speaking with Greg Lazor after Burkett committed to Lehigh, the Chestnut Ridge coach told me that while not being as well known as say a Ryan Easter, a Justin McCoy, or a Gabriel, Burkett always had the skill set to become one of the best in his room.
   And Burkett has done just that. Two state medals, two district championships, and within reach of becoming the county's first 150-bout winner will talk yourself into any conversation about the top local athletes.
   Like Gabriel's state title winning peterson roll in the final seconds of his championship bout, I also recall Burkett's late cement job in the state quarterfinals as a sophomore to secure his first PIAA medal. Lasting memories for those involved.
   My point here isn't to compare Gabriel and Burkett. It's only to say that no matter the expectations, whatever you want to accomplish can be had. From my coverage standpoint, it's fun to see the expected happen, like Gabriel's career. And it's fun to get the occasional surprise, as I have in Burkett. Congratulations to both of them on their collegiate choices.