Northampton junior high district champion headed to Europe’s biggest event
Trey Wagner walked into the Pocono Summit youth wrestling room a decade ago, following the path of brothers Carson and Gunnar.
He rose from novice to varsity after two years. He has traveled to North Carolina, Tulsa and Reno for some of the nation’s biggest tournaments and returned with medals to show for his commitment and performance.
The 15-year-old on Saturday will blaze a new trail. And he’s flying solo.
Wagner is headed with a group of wrestlers from across the United States to Estonia in northern Europe for the 2022 Tallinn Open, where 2,700 competitors from more than 30 countries will wrestle in Greco-Roman and Freestyle. A four-day International Training Camp follows in Finland.
“During the summertime, my dad asked me if I wanted to go on a world trip,” the Northampton eighth-grader said. “I was nervous at first, but I really wanted to go. It’s going to be a great experience. It should be a lot of fun.”
Wagner, who moved to the Northampton Area School District in fourth grade, recently finished third at the Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling Championships at 112 pounds. His only loss was to eventual champion Lukas Littleton Mascaro of Conestoga in the semifinals.
A week later, older brother Carson earned his third PIAA medal, finishing fourth at 113 pounds for the Konkrete Kids. Wagner is excited to become a varsity wrestler next season and be on the same team as his brother for one year.
For now, however, he is relishing another opportunity to learn and grow as a wrestler.
“I’m curious to how the kids wrestle there, what kind of styles they have,” Wagner said, “and how I’ll be able to counter those styles. Maybe I’ll adapt some of their styles into mine.
“I’m really excited to get there and show what I have.”
Work ethic is Wagner’s strongest asset right now. He has enjoyed the sport since he first walked into a wrestling room. Putting in the time has never been a problem for him.
“I’m always on my feet doing something,” the son of Chris and Ashley Wagner said. “I’m
always training, always going. I never rest. I’m always looking to improve on something, my shots or from the bottom, whatever it is.”
Wagner’s determination has paid off. He pinned his way to the 115-pound title at February’s District 11 junior high tournament. The five-time VEWL youth league champion was a state Greco-Roman and Freestyle gold medalist and a Greco-Roman finalist at last summer’s Fargo 16U national tournament.
His father wrestled for Allen and exposed his three sons to the sport. Wagner’s two older brothers helped him get through the initial experience. Determination and talent are taking care of the rest.