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Glendale brothers Zeke Dubler and Suds Dubler have been excelling on the wrestling mat and football field their whole lives.
They certainly excelled and matched their feats this season.
Both won District 6 Class 2A titles. Both lost by a point to returning state champions in the Southwest Regional finals. Both earned their first state medal by finishing fourth at the PIAA Championships
For their accomplishments, Zeke, a junior, and Suds, a senior, have been named the Altoona Mirror's Wrestlers of the Year. It's the first time in the 39-year history of the award that brothers have shared the honor.
"That's just great," Suds said. "We even got fourth at states together, so we're doing everything together right now. So, it's really cool we got Wrestlers of the Year as well."
"Oh, that's super cool," Zeke said. "Not too many people get to share that special moment with their brother."
Suds was visiting Clarion University on Thursday when he was contacted for this story. He signed his letter of intent on Friday to wrestle for Division I Clarion.
Suds went 40-5 this season at 172 and finished his career with a 127-21 record. Zeke posted a 38-5 record at 160 pounds.
"I'm super happy with it," Zeke said. "We both wrestled tough all year-long. Just the fact that we get to see the results be rewarded is pretty cool. Us both getting fourth is something to be proud of. Neither of us is too satisfied with it, but it's still pretty special."
The Dublers have been teammates at the high school level for three years, which has been special for them both.
"It's so awesome," Suds said. "It makes things so easier too. We can just train together all the time. I know I have a high placer at states as a brother, and we can practice any time we want. We work out a decent amount. Sometimes, we lay off because we fight a lot. That's just what brothers do."
Suds' real name is Solomon. The name Suds Dubler was one of the favorites in Hershey this season. Doug Belgin, the best friend of former Glendale coach and the Dublers' dad, Billy Dubler, gave Suds the nickname after The Mirror's longtime prognosticator Suds Solomon.
One of the things that has driven them to succeed is they're competitive with each other.
"Zeke and I are always competing," Suds said. "That's just what brothers do too. We'll see who can run down the hallway the fastest, just stupid things. If he gets more successful than me, that's fine with me. I just want to see us both succeed."
"We're both super competitive with anything we do," Zeke said. "It doesn't matter what it is. That just makes us both better."
Take for instance the penchant for pinning their opponents. Zeke had 28 pins, setting a school record Suds set when he had 24 as a freshman, while Suds had 27.
"(The pin record) was something we both tried to beat this year," Zeke said. "I ended up beating him, 28 to 27. It's just cool that I took the record from him. If I would get a pin, I'd just give him a smirk or something before he went out and wrestled. I'll pick on him for a little bit because he had the record for a little while now. Hopefully I just set the bar higher next year."
"That was another competition," Suds said. "We wanted to see who got more pins this season. He actually beat me by one."
Suds is the career record holder at Glendale with 73. Zeke has 53 career pins and an 85-19 record, meaning he'll likely break his brother's pin record again next season. Three-time state champ Brock McMillen holds the school's win record with 144.
Suds did have more wins this season.
"He always says he had more wins, but I just say those wins are from the consy semis matches after he lost," Zeke said. "So, I just mess with him."
Zeke wrestles in front of Suds in the lineup, both they watch each other wrestle. When Zeke earned a fall in the state quarterfinals, Suds was on the mat at the same time. He watched as Suds dropped a 2-1 decision to Southern Columbia's Garrett Garcia.
"I watch his matches all the time," Suds said. "I remember right before our quarterfinal matches, I was watching him while I was getting ready. I was reacting to everything. I was jumping up and down after he got his pin. It was just awesome seeing that."
"We have such a good relationship, and it's always important that I'm watching him wrestle," Zeke said. "Even after I pinned my kid in the quarterfinals at states, I sat in the corner with our coaches and watched him wrestle his quarterfinal."
After Zeke beat Forest Hills' Dustin Flinn, 4-1, for his first district title, Suds pinned Bald Eagle Area's Caleb Close in 5:14 for his second in his third finals appearance.
They reached the regional finals, where Zeke lost to state champ Grant MacKay, 1-0, and Suds lost to Frazier's state champ Rune Lawrence, 2-1.
"That gave me confidence that I could beat him," Zeke said. "Wrestling a returning state champ is something not too many people go into believing they can win. I believe I was just as good as him before going into that match, but I didn't know if I had what it took to beat him. I was hoping I'd get a third match at states."
While Suds will be wrestling for Clarion next year, Zeke will be looking to capture state gold next season as a senior.
"I can't wait," Zeke said. "I'm already super excited for it. As of now, I've got to just focus on my training, getting better and fix some of the things I can improve on. I just want be the best version of me next year so I can bring home another state title for Glendale."