Boys athlete of the week

Sam Hillegas North Hills wrestling

The past week:

Hillegas won the PIAA Class 3A wrestling championship in the 113pound division at Giant Center in Hershey with a 5-2 victory against Louis Newell of Seneca Valley.

Check this out:

Hillegas is only a freshman and became the first PIAA champion in North Hills history. He is only 5 feet 6, but is gigantic in the high school wrestling world, finishing the season with a 43-0 record. He beat Newell four times. Hillegas’ father, Jason, is a North Hills assistant coach.

Your coach [Jose Martinez] said before the season you were good enough to win a state championship. What did you think?

I felt like I was a top contender, and after a couple tournaments, I felt like I could win states. After every time I beat [Newell], I felt stronger about winning states.

Was becoming North Hills’ first state champion motivating at all?

It never really crossed my mind, but something that was pretty cool once I found out.

What kind of role has your dad played in things?

He helped keep me motivated. He would send me text messages with quotes, reminding me of things and what my goal was.

What kind of quotes?

Just something to look at the first thing in the morning, or at night before practice. Just quotes from past wrestlers or someone famous, just to keep me going throughout the day.

OK, how shocked was the wrestling world that [Franklin Regional’s] Spencer Lee lost in the finals?

Everyone was shocked. I’d say some people were actually hoping he would lose, but I think he’s still one of the best athletes in the country in any sport. Him losing is a big deal, but for what he wants to accomplish in the future, I don’t think this will end up meaning a whole lot to him.

Now that you have a title and an undefeated record, is it in your mind at all to go undefeated for your career? I

mean, it is now. Now that I finished things off undefeated this year, in my mind I want to be undefeated my whole high school career. But you have to take one step at a time.

A food you love, but are not allowed to eat a lot?

That’s a tough one. Pretty much anything that is unhealthy.

Give me one?

I’d go with milk shakes.

Any nicknames for you?

I’ve heard a bunch of people this year calling me “The Bull.”