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By Todd Irwin
sports@altoonamirror.com
Soon Altoona's Braiden Weaver will begin his quest for his second PIAA medal, but the Mountain Lion junior already has achieved one of his goals before the wrestling season has started.
Weaver verbally committed to wrestle on full scholarship for the University at Buffalo, a Division I program that competes in the MAC.
Weaver visited Buffalo over the weekend, including going to the Buffalo Bills game against the Kansas City Chiefs, and was so impressed that he decided to commit.
"The coaches really stood out to me," Weaver said. "They really made it feel like home for me and basically made me a part of their family. I was lucky enough to enjoy my time there and to be able to connect with these coaches that much. Second, I really like the campus. I think it will be a good fit for me.
"My sister (Gracie) lives in Brockport, which is about an hour away, and she's going to Buffalo for her master's (degree). Family is very important to me, so being in college with my sister is very cool."
"I'm real happy for him," Altoona coach Joel Gilbert said. "He's a hard work, is dedicated. He's worked diligently to get to his position. They have a good staff at Buffalo. I think the sky is the limit. I think he's going to grow not only as a wrestler but also as a great a young man. I think it's a great fit for him."
Weaver said he had also considered Clarion, West Virginia and George Mason. He has another year before he has to sign to wrestle in college, so why commit now?
"Basically I wanted to secure the offer and make sure all the money is where it is," Weaver said.
"It gives him an opportunity to focus more on his wrestling skills this year," Gilbert said. "It's one less distraction for him. The coaching staff is ecstatic for him. The other wrestlers are happy for him."
Weaver joins teammate Luke Sipes in committing to wrestle in college. Sipes initially verbally committed to Princeton University before decommitting and signing with North Carolina University.
"Luke was one of the first guys I texted first," Weaver said. "He's super pumped about me. I'm super pumped he's going to UNC. We've been dreaming about this since we were about 4 or 5 years old. Now it's coming to reality. It's super cool to fulfill the goals we had since we were little."
The Bulls went 10-12 last season and are currently 1-3 this season under first-year head coach Donnie Vinson.
"They have such a good coaching staff, who will bring in a bunch of good guys and turn the program around," Weaver said. "They'll probably be on top of the MAC by the end of the year.
"Buffalo just feels right. They believe in me, and I want to be part of getting Buffalo to the top level and turn this program around."
Weaver, who is 73-13 in his first two years at the high school level, has won two District 6 titles, a Northwest Regional title as a freshman and was a runner-up last season at 114. He went 1-2 in Hershey last season after placing fifth at 107 as a freshman.
Weaver and Sipes were the Altoona Mirror Wrestlers of the Year two years ago.
Weaver, who went 34-7 with 19 falls last season, said he'll likely begin the season at 127 and drop to 121 for the postseason. Weaver and the rest of the Mountain Lions will be wrestling the new West Regional, which combines the wrestlers would normally wrestle in the respective Northwest and Southwest Regional.
"I'm looking forward to it the most," Weaver said of the season. "I think this is going to be one of the best two years I have left. I'm very confident in my training processes in the postseason and preseason. I'm going to be able to achieve way more than I did last season and hopefully secure a bunch of goals that I have.
"I'm super confident that I'm going to go get (a state title) either this year or next year or both."