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Glendale's Zeke Dubler has been talking with the Division I Lehigh University wrestling coaches for some time as they made their recruiting pitch.
And when Dubler made his official visit to Lehigh, he was impressed with the campus and the Mountain Hawks' wrestling program. On Monday, he verbally committed to wrestle for Lehigh coach Pat Santoro.
"When I went there, it just felt like a college that is meant for me," he said. "All of the guys, coaches and facilities are just awesome. I went to a few other ones, but none felt like home like Lehigh did. They (Lehigh) were super excited. They were just so glad I chose there to be the place.
"They were like 'Now you've got to do us a favor -- work harder than you ever have before. Keep doing what you're doing, stay on the right path and be the best version of yourself.' I will. That's the least they can ask of me."
Dubler made unofficial visits to Clarion University, University of Pennsylvania and Bucknell University.
If he had chosen Clarion, Zeke would've joined his brother, Suds, on the wrestling team. Zeke and Suds were named the Mirror's Wrestlers of the Year after they both finished fourth at 160 and 172, respectively, at the PIAA Championships. Suds signed to wrestle for Clarion in March.
"I'm so happy for Zeke," Suds said. "You need to go to a place that feels like home, and where the guys will treat you like their own. I mean obviously it would have been cool if Zeke chose Clarion, but he had his eyes set on different schools from the beginning. And there's nothing wrong with that."
"He was supportive of wherever I wanted to go," Zeke said. "He thought it would have been super cool for us to stay together, but I didn't feel the same way about Clarion that I did about Lehigh."
Lehigh and Clarion didn't wrestle in a dual meet last season, but there's a chance down the road the highly competitive brothers could wrestle each other in the NCAA Championships or other tournament.
"That would be pretty weird," Zeke said. "The whole thing about the next level is you've got to be ready to wrestle anyone at any time. There are no hard feelings at the end of the day."
Zeke went 38-5 season with a school record 28 pins, won his first District 6 Class 2A title and lost, 1-0, to state champ Grant MacKay in the Southwest Regional finals.
He could have waited until after his senior season to commit, but Dubler wanted to do it now.
"I just felt it was the right time," he said. "A lot of people commit a lot earlier than their junior year, but I just thought that was the place for me. I've been talking to them for awhile. I had been closer with everyone down there."
Lehigh, located in Bethlehem, PA, has a reputation for having very high academic standards. So, Dubler will face challenges on and off the mat.
"That's one of the reasons I really like Lehigh," Dubler said. "Not everyone's athletic career lasts forever. You have your David Taylors and Jordan Burroughs, who have made it their life. But it's always good to have a real good backup plan with a very good education at Lehigh."
Dubler will be aiming to continue his success on the wrestling mat. Not every high school star can make the jump to college wrestling a successful one.
"I want to go in there and surprise everyone," he said. "I want to be the best version of myself and be a top guy. I obviously want to make the nationals, be a national champion, be an All-American, build friendships and have a good time."
Dubler will take an 85-19 career record and 53 career pins into his senior season. He'll most likely break Suds' career record of 73 pins. But Zeke's main goal is to capture a state title.
"I'm just grateful that my junior season went well, and I was able to sign with such a great college before my senior season," he said. "This year, I'm just going to go out there and let it rip and look for that gold medal. It makes me want to work harder and doing well for the future."
Before wrestling season starts, the football season looms. Suds and Zeke made a heck of a 1-2 punch on both sides of the ball in leading the undermanned Glendale football team to the District 6 Class 1A playoffs for the first time since 2010.
Dubler says he plans on playing football this season for Glendale.
"I'm probably still going to end up playing," he said. "I don't want to leave any of my teammates and coaches down. I would feel like I let them down if I didn't play. I'll still enjoy every moment of it. Obviously they all know my heart's in wrestling. They'll understand if anything does change, but it probably won't."