Gabe Ballard was a season ticket-holder as a youngster at Lehigh wrestling matches.
As the Northampton junior developed into a Division I talent, he also enjoyed his time in the Lehigh wrestling room. So it should come as a shock to no one that Ballard committed recently to Lehigh.
“I really enjoyed talking with all the other programs,” the Konkrete Kids junior said. “But Lehigh felt like home. I like the coaches. The room gets really competitive. Everyone likes to go hard and hold each other accountable.
“Coach Santoro, I love him. He’s a great guy. He’s always watching practice and when he sees something wrong, he immediately helps with feedback or gives new ideas around your style of wrestling.”
Ballard’s style of wrestling admittedly is all over the place. The Allen Township resident has loved a non-stop pace and rolling around on the mat since seventh grade.
The 17-year-old’s high school results have played out well so far.
Ballard was fourth in the state as a freshman at 114 pounds. He was 39-11 and finished second in District 11, Northeast Region and the state at 127 to Bethlehem Catholic’s three-time PIAA champion and fellow Lehigh commit Keanu Dillard. He is 80-14 in his career.
“Gabe embodies everything we want our program to represent: integrity, toughness, and constant growth as both a wrestler and person,” Northampton coach Joe Provini said. “Lehigh’s getting a remarkable young man who will fit right in with their winning tradition and culture, and I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather have guiding and supporting one of my athletes at the next level than coach Santoro. I am thrilled with Gabe’s decision, and I think it is a perfect fit for both Gabe and Lehigh wrestling.”
Ballard, who also considered Princeton and Penn, will continue to wrestle up in weight. He’s currently competing at 145 pounds.
The son of Michael and Elizabeth Pflugfelder expects more of himself despite moving up three weight classes from a year ago.
“I definitely feel a lot stronger than I did at the end of last year,” he said. “I feel like I can go harder, longer. It’s made me realize that not a lot of those [at 145] can hang at that pace, it’s not as easy for them to do.”
Ballard left Fargo this summer empty-handed but felt he was able to take a lot of lessons from competing against the nation’s best at 145.
He is skipping Super 32s but will compete at the ESU Open on Nov. 2.
Ballard will join other locals on the Lehigh roster: Saucon Valley product Ryan Crookham, Quakertown’s Mason Ziegler and Calvin Lachman. Plus, Faith Christian seniors Jason Singer and Cael Weidemoyer also have committed to coach Pat Santoro’s Mountain Hawks.
“I’ve been impressed with the way Gabe has handled the recruitment process,” Provini added. “It can be overwhelming for a teenager to have to make such a consequential decision at such a young age, and I’ve seen too many athletes come to regret their commitment decision after feeling pressure from parents or coaches to choose a certain program or school.
“Gabe’s parents gave him the space, guidance and support to make his own decision, and he has shown real maturity in choosing the school, program and coaching staff that felt right for him.”
Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com
