Happy is the man who knows how to distinguish the real from the unreal, the eternal, the eternal from the transient and the good from the pleasant by his discrimination and wisdom- B.K.S. Lyengar. 

Luke Sipes has been a man on a mission for the last several years at Altoona High School. A mission that he would say is still unfinished. Over his first two seasons, he’s placed 5th and 7th in the AAA PIAA state tournament. He has a career record of 77-8 entering his junior season. And he just committed to wrestle at Princeton. You may have heard of it. Needless to say, this is a young man who knows what he wants, and will work tirelessly to achieve it. 

Luke began wrestling at the age of 6. Like many in PA, he followed in his father’s footsteps. As he says, “I didn’t love the sport at the beginning. It actually took about a year, but there was one practice at Young Guns, I just came out and told my dad – I love it. That’s when it all clicked for me and I was all in after that.”

And then the success came. Success that included placing 6 times at the Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling tournament. He also found himself a spot on Team PA – traveling across the country, competing against the best out there.

Now training at Dave Taylor’s M2, he’s continued to grow and “level up”. Something for which he gives credit to his coaches there. Coaches like Mark McKnight and Brad Pataky. It should also be mentioned there’s some killer workout partners who can’t help but have an impact on a young wrestler’s growth. We’re talking a who’s who in the Keystone State, Pierson Manville (State College), Luke Simcox (Central Mountain), Dalton Perry (Central Mountain), and Tyler Kasak, now at Penn State.

Sipes is quick to acknowledge that the Western and Eastern sides of the state have had more success in the past, the venerable “hotbeds” as it were, but vows that Central PA is making a move, a move he’s proud to be a part of. “The opportunities that kids have now in the middle of the state are greater than ever before. There’s just way more opportunities to seek out great practice partners at various high level clubs than in times past.” Clubs like the aforementioned M2, attracting the best because let’s face it, it’s run by the best, who cut his teeth right over there in State College.

Coming off the heels of his recent Princeton commitment, Sipes will look to build on his first two seasons and step up as a real state title contender in the best state in the country. First, he’ll get his share of quality competition this weekend in North Carolina. He joins a deep PA contingent making the trip down to Super 32. An experience he’s looking forward to, “I look forward to facing great competition. I love to compete against the very best. It’s like a measuring stick for my progress and the work that I still have to do.”

One thing you learn as you talk to these young wrestlers, they are almost never satisfied. It’s impressive. And it’s why I enjoy learning more about them and sharing their journey and mindset. You might think once a kid commits to Princeton, once he’s achieved a particular goal, it’s time to celebrate. Time to bask in the glory of that success. But not these kids, and not Luke Sipes. He wants more. And if I were a gambling man, I’d say his work ethic, attitude, and drive will absolutely get him there. 

And this week that more will include some of the very best the country has to offer. Oh you know, #2 LaDarion Lockett of Oklahoma. He’s just a world champion. #4 Conner Harer, a fellow PA stud from Montgomery. #6 Cory Thomas of Pontiac, MI and #9 Leo Contino from Buchanan, CA. This field is stacked. And Sipes is set to show it’s also stacked because he’s in the mix with them. He’ll surely be a tough out for any, he’s out to show he has championship mettle. The kind that could result in championship metal, you know like a championship medal. Hold on, where else will you get “medal” wordplay like that? Nowhere. That’s what we do.

And who else but Luke Sipes is ready to crash the 157 party this weekend? No one. That’s what he does.