WINGATE — Many people know Quentin Wright as a wrestler — the defending PIAA Class AAA 160-pound champion from Bald Eagle Area to be exact. It is not a far stretch to say that he may be the best wrestler in his weight class in the entire country. Going into his senior season, he is nationally ranked second at 160 pounds and 12th overall by InterMat.

Perhaps that is why he has been heavily recruited by so many Division I wrestling programs, including Clarion, West Virginia, Illinois, North Carolina and Stanford. He was also recruited by Virginia, Penn, Cornell, Edinboro, Army and Lock Haven, where his brother Landis currently wrestles. He was even offered a full scholarship and participation in a cooperative program from Drexel where he would have a good job and actually make money while at school.

Despite all this, not one of those schools will have Wright’s services. That is because none of those schools could offer him what he wanted — a chance to stay in the area and stay at his church, the Christ Community Church in State College. On Thursday, Wright verbally committed to wrestle for Troy Sunderland at Penn State University.

Growing up in State College, the son of two teachers in the State College Area School District, Wright moved with his parents to a farm in Wingate. Ever since, he has helped his father on their whitetail deer farm and learned a work ethic that has served him well.

“I’ve always told my sons that they can do whatever they want, as long as they put their best into it,” said Wright’s father, Paul. “I always tell them that winning isn’t the most important thing. It’s about doing everything you can do. If the other guy is better, so be it, but I only want my sons to do their best all the time.”

Wright had some advice to consider when making his decision, but his father said that it was all on Wright to decide what was best for him.

“His mother said that it had to either be Penn State or Lock Haven so he’d be close to home,” Paul Wright said. “But, I told him that this was one time that he didn’t have to listen to his mother. He needed to pick which school was best for him. I never made any of my desires apparent because it was all about him.”

“I chose Penn State because they are going places,” Wright said. “They’re bringing in good kids and have the facilities to be successful. They also have the alumni support to make the program explode and be at the top of the podium every year.

“It also allows me to stay close to home and stay involved in my church, which is important to me because this church is going places and will be doing some wonderful things that I want to be a part of.”

Wright’s faith is a big part of his life. Not only is it something he mentions a lot, he also is very involved in his church as a member of the youth group. Aside from enjoying such fellowship activities as paintball, a trip to HersheyPark and a barbecue, the youth group is trying to do more in the way of community service.

“We want to do things around the community without anyone knowing that it was us who did it,” Wright said. “We want to do things just to do them. We’re not looking for any credit. It’s really not work because when you’re around the right people. It’s a lot of fun.”

Not only is Wright’s faith a big part of who he is, he says it helps him become a better wrestler.

“When I’m out there wrestling, God is speaking to me and telling me what to do,” he said. “If I don’t do what he’s telling me or I rush it, I don’t do so well. If I listen, I do well so the better my relationship is with Jesus, the better wrestler I’ll be.

“It helps me in other ways, too. As a Christian, I’m out there to show my skills, not to beat the other guy up or anything. It’s an honorable sport. No matter whether you win or lose, you always go out there and shake the other guy’s hand.”

It also helps him to appreciate every match he wrestles in.

“There are a lot of people out there in hospitals who would do anything to just have a leg back or be able to get up and walk. Wrestling is a blessing because I have been given the physical ability to do it.”

This season, Wright is looking to improve upon his undefeated season from last year.

“I am always working to get better,” Wright said. “I’d like to go 41-0 this season with all tech falls and pins, at least major decisions. I just don’t want any close matches if I can help it.”

As far as he has come, he knows he couldn’t do it himself.

“First, I need to thank my parents. They have sent me all over the country to wrestle and have made me better,” Wright said.

“I also want to thank my coaches I’ve had, Ken Chertow and Neil Turner, because they have pushed me to be my best.”

When all is said and done, Wright is just glad to be staying close.

“I love the area, I love the people in the town of Bald Eagle…and its suburb of State College,” he said.