Southmoreland has yet to have a state champion in wrestling. That can change Saturday in Hershey, at the state wrestling tournament as sophomore Tyler Griffiths and senior Jake Beistel battle it out to become the first state wrestling champion in Southmoreland history.

Beistel, a senior, looks to take his second place finish from a year ago and improve to a gold medal in his final state tournament.

““It’s my last go-round,” said Beistel. ”After this year there isn’t any more high school wrestling for me, and that makes me push myself harder.”

Beistel hopes his experience can translate into the confidence necessary to reach the top of the medal stand.

“I want to win and I’m pretty confident with where I’m at,” said Beistel. ”I have to go to states with the same mindset and confidence that I’ve had the whole season.”

Unlike Beistel, who competes in the heavyweight class, Griffiths continues to watch his weight as he gets ready for state competition.

Griffiths said keeping under the weight restrictions “definitely is the trickier part to wrestling. You have to watch, but if you’re passionate enough it just comes naturally.”

The sophomore looks to bring in more wins as he continues his race to the top of the podium.

“I want to try new moves to score some more points,” Griffiths said. ”More importantly, I need to just take it one match at a time, and I want to take it all this year. But it’s a lot of work to get there.”

Beistel said he gets a “rush” as he gets to the end of the season and knows he’s wrestling the best in the state.

“ It’s all up to me,” said Beistel. ”It doesn’t matter what anyone else does but yourself out there on the mat. It’s an honor to be there.”

The senior has already defeated the number two ranked wrestler in his weight class and looks to use that to his advantage.

“I have to stay focused and wrestle,” said Beistel.”I just have to use the same mentality that I used against him in the first match.”

Griffiths is going into states this weekend after taking third at regionals.

“I have to take what I learned from that match and apply it to my skills this weekend,” said Griffiths.

Both wrestlers agree that all the pressure is on them as individuals this weekend as they make their way to Hershey.

“With individuals it’s focusing on myself,” said Griffiths.”I don’t have to worry about scoring points for a team as a whole.”

With both athletes having impressive records – Griffiths 37-1, Beistel 36-0 – they still have their differences on the mat.

“Griffiths is better on top,” said Beistel.”We’re both pretty quick on our feet but that’s about the only place we’re the same.”

Each wrestler is predicting the other one will become Southmoreland’s first state wrestling champion.

“Truthfully, I think Jake has a better chance than I do,” said Griffiths.”He’s a senior and he’s already beaten the number two kid in his weight. Plus, it would just mean more to him.”

Beistel stays neutral as to whom will reach the top of the podium first.

“I think we both have a pretty good chance of winning, but if Tyler does win he’ll be the first state champ,” said Beistel. ”It would be pretty cool to win it together like a duo.”

Both Beistel and Griffiths are looking forward to experience states together for the second time because of the bond they share off the mat.

“It’s like big brother and little brother,” said Beistel.”We get irritated with each other, but we’re always there for each other. That’s someone you want as a teammate to experience this with.”