NTL WRESTLING: NEB'S KOLESAR TAKES FOURTH AT REGIONALS, HEADED TO STATES (March 1, 2026)

Northern Tier Sports Report
WILLIAMSPORT — Not many freshmen get through to the PIAA Championships, especially at the heavier weights. NEB’s Asher Kolesar defied the odds, though, taking fourth at the Northeast Regional Tournament to punch his ticket to Hershey on Saturday.

“It feels pretty good,” Kolesar said about making states.

Kolesar lost by fall to Montoursville’s Hayden Harvey in 1:07 during the semifinals, but bounced back with an 11-2 win over Milton’s Michael Runkle.

“It’s just the process of getting to my shots and my takedowns,” he said. “I’m not thinking about winning or losing in the long run. It doesn’t really matter if I win or lose, that’s my mindset. Believing in God, and just trusting the process of all the things I’ve been doing to get to this point, all the work I put in, and then just the outcome will be what it will be.”

The win against Runkle was an improvement from districts, where he beat him 4-2.

“I was moving him, I could get to my offense,” Kolesar said. “This week I kind of just opened up. After the second period I think I broke him mentally, and just kind of took it after that.”

He lost a close one to Line Mountain’s Cade Feger, 10-8, setting him up for a preliminary bout this weekend.

“I’ve definitely improved from last week to this week,” remarked Kolesar. “Just mentally, believing in myself, trusting my training, and all the people that have helped me to get to this point. Just knowing, that win or lose, my family and everyone still loves me no matter what.”

He’s likely to be one of a kind at states - a freshman amongst the upper weights.

“I’m just going to do the same thing I did last weekend, and trying my best,” Kolesar said. “Win or lose doesn’t matter, but I’m trying my hardest.”

Hunter Comstock (127) and Mason Alexander (114) both fell in the second round of consolations.

Comstock got a forfeit win over Mifflinburg’s Jack Gramley, but then got pinned by returning state qualifier, Blue Ridge’s Brice Woodruff, in 3:39.

Alexander pinned Benton’s Kaleb Collae in 2:19 in his first bout of the day, but then lost 10-9 to Tunkhannock’s Gunnar Faux in the next round.

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PHOTOS BY LANCE LARCOM

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