Cael Crebs became the PIAA Class AA State Wrestling Champion at 189 pounds after defeating Ethan Finch from Sheffield.

The victory came during the PIAA Class AA finals held at the Giant Center in Hershey when Crebs scored a fall in the third period. Along with Crebs, Dylan Bennett and Branden Wentzel also won medals, with Bennett taking 2nd place at 215 pounds and Wentzel taking 3rd place at 106 pounds. Montoursville was also able to take 2nd in the team standings.

Cael Crebs started wrestling when he was six years old. “I always wanted to be a state champion,” said Crebs. The 18-year-old senior from Montoursville said that his family certainly influenced him, specifically, his older brother Gable, who currently wrestles for Lycoming College, and his father, Roger, who has been the head coach of Lycoming College Wrestling for the past 28 years.

When asked if he knew he was going to do well this season, Crebs replied, “I felt it was my season and knew guys would be chasing me. I felt confident, though.” Crebs had every reason to feel confident. After admittedly overlooking a few good wrestlers at the beginning of the Powerade Tournament, Crebs was determined not to make that mistake again and moved through his season with decisiveness, ending his high school career with 137 wins and 18 losses. When asked about why he has been so successful and was able to take the state title this year, Crebs said, “Wrestling is a year-round sport. It’s a lifestyle. You have to be able to make sacrifices. My friends know that I can’t hang out with them much during wrestling season. Good wrestlers have to give up a lot of social things. In the off-season, I spend a lot of time lifting. Everyone is so good now it’s hard to set yourself apart. The rest is attitude.” Cael also was clear to point out that he did not achieve his success alone. “It helped a lot to have good training partners, teammates, and coaches. I’d like to thank many people, but specifically my father, Roger Crebs, Matt and Jamie Yonkin, my brother, Gable, Wyatt Lutz, Gavin Hoffman, and Dylan Bennett. There are so many others that have helped me as well.”

Like all wrestling moms, Tara Crebs, Cael’s mother, also deserves recognition. “I was the only woman in a house of wrestling-crazed men, and it was certainly a challenge to keep enough food in the house,” Tara laughed. “Wrestling is a passion that all four of us enjoy. I don’t know what I’d do with my time if we didn’t have wrestling. There has been a wrestling mat in the basement since Cael was born, and wrestling has always been a part of life.” With the COVID-19 pandemic came mixed blessings. “This year was heart-breaking in some ways. Wrestling for Gable and Roger was cut short due to the pandemic. It turned out to be a blessing as well, though, as we were all able to be a part of Cael’s state championship journey. In a regular year, Roger and Gable would not have been able to make it.” Citing their own collegiate wrestling obligations during this time of year.

After graduating from Montoursville High School, Crebs plans on attending the NAPS, Naval Academy Preparatory School, in Newport, Rhode Island, for one year, then moving on to the United States Naval academy, where he will wrestle. Unsure of a major, Crebs is considering computer engineering. “The US Naval Academy has one of the best computer engineering programs in the country,” said Cael. Another deciding factor in choosing the US Naval Academy was coach Cary Kolat. “Cary and his coaching team were a big part of my decision, and it was their idea that I take a year at NAPS,” said Cael.

When asked about Cael’s journey and future plans, Tara Crebs said, “Cael was always interested in military service,” said Tara. “He was always interested in history books and war documentaries. I am humbled to be a parent that helped raise two such great kids. Certainly, like all parents, I have some level of anxiety when they leave to the house to go to college, but I feel good about Cael starting at prep school first. Academics were interrupted with COVID, and this will help Cael both academically as well as athletically.”

Crebs is not the only local wrestler to win a state title and attend the US Naval Academy. Local wrestling legend Dan Muthler, from Jersey Shore, whose accolades include back-to-back PIAA state championships in 1970 at 133 and 1971 at 138, and a national championship in 1973 at 142 pounds wrestling for the Naval Academy. Muthler, who still follows PA wrestling closely, was asked what he thought of Crebs and the differences in wrestling then versus now. “I was really impressed with his abilities,” said Muthler. “The Academy is next level and will be tough, but he’ll do well.” When asked about what has changed in the sport, Muthler said it was not any tougher now than in the 1970s, though it is certainly more sophisticated. “Wrestling now is more technical. There are more moves; there is more scouting. Back then, we didn’t have videos to watch of our opponents. I also think it’s easier to get to the states now. The difference is that it’s harder to win states. Back then, once you beat someone, that was it. Now, you wrestle the best guys more than once. People are also training year-round now.”

Muthler wanted to be a fighter pilot and later went on to study aviation at the Naval Academy. After flying several different aircraft, he ultimately settled upon flying helicopters. He later flew with the marines in Beruit, was deployed to Kosovo twice, and flew as a Life Flight pilot.