NBC’s Pressel jumps to gold
Name: Zach Pressel
School: Northern Bedford
Age: 18
Grade: Senior
Sport: Track and field
Athlete of the week achievement: Pressel won the gold medal in the Class AA high jump at the PIAA Track and Field Championships in Shippensburg with a height of 6 feet, 8 inches.
Season update: Pressel earned his third state medal in the high jump, placing fourth as a junior and fifth as a sophomore.
Coach Jeff Batzel’s quote: “I knew he was capable of winning the gold medal, but it was a loaded field in AA. Zach made a clutch jump on his first attempt at 6-8, and that won it for him. I am very excited for him and was pretty emotional when he won. It was such a great moment and a great culmination to his high school career.”
Favorite teacher: Mr. Little
Favorite subject: Automotive Technology
Favorite movie: “Band of Brothers”
Favorite food: Hot wings
Favorite music: Country
Outside interests: Playing basketball and football, working on cars
Favorite professional team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Favorite college team: Penn State
Pro athlete most admired: No preference
Best athlete I ever played with: My brother, Tayler
Best athlete I ever competed against: Tyrone’s Charles Wilson-Adams
Most influential person on my athletic career: “My parents [Brad and Stacy].”
Proudest athletic achievement: “Winning the gold medal at states.”
How I got my start in track and field: “I came out in junior high, and they threw me in the high jump, and I got better and better.”
Future goal: “I plan on going to college at Penn Tech, study Land Surveying and have a successful career in that.”