Some come between freshman and sophomore years. Others happen during the sophomore-to-junior transition.

Blaise Bressler’s big jump came between his junior and senior campaigns.

Bressler’s development, evolution and maturation as a wrestler has been and continues to be prominent. It’s almost like he’s a different wrestler this season.

At this weekend’s annual Lancaster-Lebanon League Wrestling Championships at Garden Spot High School, Bressler’s improvement as a wrestler was very apparent. The new Bressler captured the championship of the 152-pound weight class in impressive fashion.

Bressler, a senior, logged four falls on the way to his title. In the championship bout at 152, Bressler took opponent Max Martin of Cocalico down ten seconds in, put him on his back and then completed the pinning combination in 35 seconds.

Bressler has become somewhat of a pin master. The fall was the 22nd of his season and it moved his personal record this year to 32-6.

Not bad for a competitor who had a .500 record as a junior.

Bressler’s performance also helped the Vikings to their second straight team championship at the L-L league meet.

Bressler’s future plans include wrestling in college and perhaps becoming a pilot one day. Bressler also competed on the Northern Lebanon football team in the fall.

– Jeff Falk