Chambersburg senior Luke Nichter came back from a week of extensive training at Drexel University in July with a situation.
Nichter was a fourth-place medalist at 170 pounds last season, but was suddenly tipping the scales around 165. That number was a solid 10 pounds less than he weighed earlier that summer, so Nichter came away believing he had to eat, lift and start bulking back up.
The trouble was, no matter what he tried, the gains didnt happen. Nichters metabolism was legendarily fast already and must have gotten even faster that summer because he kept losing weight instead. At his lowest point, he said he weighed in at 154 pounds, which nudged him toward a drop to 160.
There might have been a little change for him because his body changed, Chambersburg coach Matt Mentzer said. He had burnt off some body fat, and when he dropped those couple pounds, we couldnt tease him anymore about being fluffy.
Nichters teammates did what teammates do and ribbed him about the weight loss. His younger brother, Tate, led the charge after they switched roles and Luke became the little one. There was a point where Tate outweighed Luke before they settled in at their homes at 152 and 160 pounds.
Tate always makes fun of me, Luke said. Ill have a huge meal or something, and hell gain 3-4 pounds from it. Ill check my weight and its like I didnt eat, which is nice for wrestling.
Nichter went from reacting to his new weight to planning for it and adapting, which wasnt always the smoothest transition.
He entered the Super 32 national tournament in October at 160 and had a weekend he would rather forget. Nichter went two-and-out and left wondering what that performance meant.
I did horrible there, he said. I kind of rethought it, like, Is this really where I need to be to win a state title? I eventually just started feeling better naturally there than 170.
The lesson Nichter did learn is that he had some work to do. His game was good enough to not require a massive overhaul, but he began to realize he needed to move his feet more and have more active hands.
The 10-pound drop meant his average opponent was a little quicker and more athletic, so the strategy of standing in their face primed for a hand fight didnt work out.
I had to make adjustments, move my feet and be more active, Nichter said.
Nichter worked through those adjustments to the tune of a 40-5 record this season, the No. 2 ranking in the state by PA Power Wrestling and a No. 19 national ranking from Intermat. Four of his five losses came to wrestlers ranked among the top-8 in the country in Lower Dauphins Clayton Ulrey and Notre Dame-Green Ponds Andrew Cerniglia.
Nichter and Ulrey have wrestled three times this season, including a split this postseason with a Nichter win at sectionals and an Ulrey win at districts. The two wrestlers are hoping for one more run at the PIAA tournament, which would likely happen in the finals.
Its the kind of challenge Nichter has always embraced, but hes especially comfortable in his own skin now, Mentzer said. He is in his comfort zone in tough matches.
Hes a tough competitor, but he enjoys the competition, Mentzer said. He doesnt dread it. I think when you go out with that kind of mentality, youre more likely to open up and score points and have some fun while youre doing it.
Experience will also be on Nichters side as a wrestler who has three medals to his credit. He wrestled in the state finals as a sophomore and was put in a position where he had to wrestle the whole way back through consolations after losing in the first round last season.
Nichter knows just about every inch of the Giant Center floor and is ready to visit the one area he hasnt seen: the top of the podium.
My goal is to go in there and win, Nichter said. Thats what I think Im going to do is go in, win and even dominate my way through the bracket. There hasnt been a position in that tournament I havent been in before. Nothing is going to be a shock to me. Nothing will catch me off guard. I know what to do.
