- 2017 Match Highlights #2
Personal Statement
My name is Blaise Bressler and I attend Northern Lebanon High School. I live in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania with my mother Sonya, father Gerry, younger brother Chase and our dog Daisy. My GPA is currently a 3.25.
I have been wrestling most of my life. When I was 2, my dad would take me to the Tulpehocken High School practices where he was a varsity coach and I would watch the high school practices. When I turned 4 I started wrestling. At first I didn’t wrestle for any specific team, but at 6 years old I joined the Northern Lebanon elementary mat club. I like wrestling because of the mental and physical challenge it provides as well as the determination that you need to be better than the next guy. I also enjoy wrestling because it provides a way for me to stay fit, it allows me to bond with my friends and is an easy way to meet new people. In Northern Lebanon, our wrestling program is not referred to as a team, we are a Family. Every level works together. The High school guys stay after practices to help the elementary guys and some even come early to help the Middle school guys. Our team motto is, “Family. For he today that sheds his blood with me, Shall forever be my brother.”
I have wrestled for quite a few teams in my life but some of the more prominent ones are the Bucks County Wrestling Academy, coached by Coach Tamburrino, PA Rampage coached by Coach Swaggart of the Central Dauphin Rams, Boondock Brawlers coached by Rusty Wallace Jr. and the Northern Lebanon Vikings also coached by Rusty Wallace Jr.
As a 9th grader I wrestled the first half of the year as a JV wrestler where I won the JV League tournament and placed 1st at the Tennessee Air Force Classic JV division. The second half of my freshman year I beat out a senior for a varsity spot at 132 lbs. and accumulated a record of 10 – 14 with 5 pins and placed 6th at the Varsity League tournament. That year I also played a role in our team achieving a District Runner-up title, and a team state qualification and a spot on the PIAA AA Elite 8.
In the 2016 season I once again started varsity at 152 lbs. I ended this season with a 25-25 record with 13 pins. I Placed 3rd at Sectionals and 5th at Districts, qualifying for Regionals. I placed 6th in the Lancaster Lebanon League tournament. I also placed 4th at the Ohio Shamrocks tournament. Our team made history as the 1st AA team to win the Lancaster Lebanon League tournament, not only winning but sweeping the tournament by 100+ points. We won our school’s 1st ever team district title in any sport and qualified for team states.
In addition to wrestling, I also play football. I start varsity as a line-backer on defense and am a back-up running back for the offense. I have been playing football since I was 6 years old. I started in peewee football then pony, midget, middle school and now varsity. This past season our team won its second consecutive section title. I also played 1 year of arena football for the Jr. Express Pain Train out of Reading.
When I am not wrestling I am an outdoors person. I enjoy fishing and will go anytime I can. I frequently fish in the pond across the street and will travel to just about any stream or creek in the area if there are fish there. I am also an avid hunter and am skilled with a compound bow and rifle. As a family, one of our favorite things to do is go camping. We have a camp in Tioga County, Pennsylvania and frequently travel there to camp, hike, fish, and hunt.
I am also very actively involved in the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program. My rank is Cadet Chief Master Sergeant, in Alpha Flight, out of Squadron 307, in Group 2 of the 31st Pennsylvania wing. I have recently been appointed as Cadet Commander. My Squadron Commander is Lt. Underkoffler. I frequently attend meetings and have gone on 3 crash site security missions. This past summer I attended Basic Encampment at Fort Indiantown Gap.
The goal I have set for myself is to serve my country by joining the military. I am hoping to attend a school with military science programs or an ROTC program, and wrestle for that school.
