Mirror file photo Joel Gilbert has been the Mirror Coach of the Year for four straight years.

In the last three years, the Altoona wrestling program has climbed to new heights, setting season records and making history at the state tournament.

In 2023-24, the Mountain Lions went 12-6 — their best record since 2016-17.

In 2024-25, Altoona set a program for wins with a 15-4 record and won its first District 6 Class 3A Tournament for the first time since 1981.

This season, the Mountain Lions tied the wins record with a 15-3 mark, finished second in the District 6 Duals for the second straight year and second in the individual district tournament despite injuries. They celebrated as Gavin Ciampoli won Altoona’s first state title since 1974.

Coach Joel Gilbert has steered Altoona’s ascension of the District 6 and statewide power.

Gilbert, who has a career record of 173-159 in 18 years as head coach, has been named the Mirror’s Coach of the Year for the fourth straight season on the 43rd annual Mirror All-Star Team.

“We have a great program, great kids, great people within the program,” Gilbert said. “When you have good people around you it makes life a whole lot easier. It’s a great award, but I think it’s an award all the kids, parents, community and administration have achieved.

“It’s really nice to be named Coach of the Year again this year for the Mirror, but it’s the people around you that make the difference and the athletes who put your name there.”

“Coach Gilbert is the foundation of our team,” Ciampoli said. “He truly cares about the guys on it, and he spends countless hours helping everyone get better. He has taken the program to heights I would have never imagined just a few years ago.”

Gilbert has not only gained recognition from the Mirror but also from District 6. He was named District 6 Class 3A Coach of the Year for the second straight year and third time in his career.

He was also named the District 6 Man of the Year by the district coaches. The Altoona coaching staff was voted the Class 3A Staff of the Year.

“For the opposing coaches to vote for you for Coach of the Year, they have a lot of respect for the program that we have and the product that we put on the table,” he said. “I think a lot of people see what we’re doing.

“I think we’re putting kids in an environment and giving them an opportunity to be the best they possibly can in this sport, and the best opportunity later on in life too.”

Gilbert will also be inducted into the District 6 Hall of Fame next season.

“That’s a culmination of a whole career,” he said. “I’ve been at Altoona for 28 years now. I’ve coached kid’s fathers when I first started, so it’s kind of gone full circle for me.

“I think we’re putting our name on the map as one of the best programs — not just in the district but also in the state. It means a lot to me and all the people who helped me along the way. I’ve had a lot of support from my family and my wife to be able to do this.”

Altoona’s season began with an intense 38-31 win over District 5 power Chestnut Ridge — a feat that would have been inconceivable in past years. The Mountain Lions won the Hampton Dawg Duals, finished third at King of the Mountain and fifth at Mid-Winter Mayhem.

Altoona lost to State College by a point, 34-33, in the District 6 Duals championship. But the Mountain Lions had four District 6 champions, including four-time winner and Outstanding Wrestler Braiden Weaver and three-time champ Ciampoli.

“It went pretty well,” Gilbert said. “We lost a few matches that were really close. That happens sometimes. Sometimes it comes down to the (pre-match) flip. Sometimes it comes down to one or two kids making a mistake out there. When you put up 15 wins, that’s a really good season.

“We haven’t gotten over that hump yet in the district duals, but we’ve put forth a great product and our kids are wrestling hard. I think for the most part two second places aren’t too shabby in District 6.”

Altoona had seven wrestlers lose in the state finals since Steve Maurey won gold in 1974, and four of those were coached by Gilbert. So Ciampoli’s state title was truly something to celebrate for Gilbert.

“It’s nice to get over that hump for me,” Gilbert said. “For me personally, it was just nice to see one of our guys win it. I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to see it or not.

“I know a lot of people reached out to me and said ‘Hey, I’m just as happy for you as I am for the kid.’ The kid had to go out and do it. He earned it, worked very hard. He’s an outstanding student. He was a great representative for us.”

Gilbert and the Mountain Lions will look to keep the ascension going next year. How much does the success motivate them to want to do more?

“I think they are motivated just to do better,” Gilbert said. “They don’t want to take too much time off because there are some big tournaments this spring. They know how good they are. I think they want to prove it out on the mat. Our philosophy at Altoona is let’s just get better today.

“We’re supporting them every way we can. We’re opening up the room for them. We’re sticking around for an extra hour and letting them work out. They’re in there trying to get better, and that’s all we can ask of them.”

Past coaches of the year

Mirror Coaches of the Year

Year Name School

2025-26 Joel Gilbert Altoona

2024-25 Joel Gilbert Altoona

2023-24 Joel Gilbert Altoona

2022-23 Quentin Wright Tyrone

Joel Gilbert Altoona

2021-22 Quentin Wright Tyrone

2020-21 Brian Storm Glendale

Terry Tate Tyrone

2019-20 Josh Deputy Chestnut Ridge

Billy Dubler Glendale

2018-19 Greg Lazor Chestnut Ridge

2017-18 Greg Lazor Chestnut Ridge

2016-17 Greg Lazor Chestnut Ridge

2015-16 Jon Mykut Huntingdon

2014-15 Greg Lazor Chestnut Ridge

2013-14 Jon Mykut Huntingdon

2012-13 Greg Lazor Chestnut Ridge

2011-12 Greg Lazor Chestnut Ridge

2010-11 Brian Creps Bedford

2009-10 Brian Creps Bedford

2008-09 Brian Creps Bedford

2007-08 Brian Creps Bedford

2006-07 Brian Creps Bedford

2005-06 Jim Clark Chestnut Ridge

2004-05 Blair Packer Tyrone

2003-04 Blair Packer Tyrone

2002-03 Jan Clark Northern Bedford

2001-02 Doug Fogel Penn Cambria

2000-01 Dave Caslow Philipsburg-Osceola

1999-00 Dave Marko Claysburg-Kimmel

1998-99 Dave Marko Claysburg-Kimmel

1997-98 Bill Creps Bedford

1996-97 Bill Creps Bedford

1995-96 Jan Clark Central

1994-95 Bill Creps Bedford

1993-94 Dave Caslow Philipsburg-Osceola

1992-93 Tom Vaux Central Cambria

1991-92 Fred Wilson Huntingdon

1990-91 Harry Murphy Cambria Heights

1989-90 Harry Murphy Cambria Heights

1988-89 Randy Bussard Central

1987-88 Jan Clark Tussey Mountain

1986-87 Chris Harr Claysburg-Kimmel

Jan Clark Tussey Mountain

1985-86 Doug Brumbaugh Everett

1984-85 Tony Yaniello Tyrone

1983-84 Jan Clark Tussey Mountain