While Westmoreland County has produced countless talented college wrestlers over the years, very few of them have posted a record as impressive as Logan Seliga. The former Belle Vernon Area standout won his first 18 matches of the season for UNC Pembroke. Consequently, Seliga is the featured athlete in the latest edition of the Westmoreland Alum Q&A.

As a freshman for Belle Vernon Area in 2015-16, Seliga competed at 113 pounds, posting a mark of 22-19. He finished third in the Class AAA Section 2 tournament, and qualified for the WPIAL bracket. Seliga failed to place, however. Collectively, Belle Vernon Area had a season for the record books, as the Leopards cruised through the WPIAL Class AAA team bracket. Top seeded BVA overwhelmed Greensburg Salem, Seneca Valley, and North Allegheny to reach the championship match. Against Canon-McMillan, the Leopards left no doubt, prevailing 42-18 to win district gold. In the PIAA Class AAA bracket, the Leopards ousted Exeter Township and Council Rock South, but fell to Bethlehem Catholic in the semifinals. BVA rebounded to defeat Kiski Area and Nazareth, securing third place.

The following season, Seliga went 12-4, but did not participate in the postseason competitions. The Leopards returned to the WPIAL Class AAA team bracket, defeating West Allegheny, but falling to Canon-McMillan in the quarterfinals.

In 2017-18, Seliga bounced back, compiling a record of 33-8. Wrestling at 126 pounds, he won the section tournament, defeating Connellsville Area’s Mason Franks via medical forfeit. In the WPIAL bracket, Seliga failed to place. Belle Vernon Area reached the WPIAL Class AAA team tournament, but came up short against Armstrong in the preliminary round.

As a senior, Seliga posted a mark of 30-9. He dropped down to 120 pounds and captured the sectional, defeating Peters Township’s Bryce Wilkes via a 1-0 decision in the final. In the WPIAL tournament, Seliga reached the championship bout, but came up short, dropping a 4-1 decision to Norwin’s Kurtis Phipps. His performance allowed him to qualify for the state bracket for the first time, but he did not place. Belle Vernon Area, meanwhile, did not qualify for the team postseason.

After concluding his high school career with a record of 97-40, Seliga opted to continue his career on the mat at UNC Pembroke.

Wrestling at 133 pounds with the Braves as a freshman in 2019-20, he went 15-6, including eight falls and one major decision. He also captured the NCAA DII Super Region II Championship, which qualified him for the NCAA Championships, which were cancelled as a result of COVID. For his performance, Seliga was named an All-Mountain East Conference honoree. Collectively, the Braves went 14-9, winning the Mountain East Conference (MEC) title.

During the abbreviated 2020-21 campaign, Seliga posted a mark of 7-6, including two pins and a tech fall. He placed second at the MEC tournament, and third at the NCAA Super Region II event. Subsequently, he again qualified for the NCAA Championships, where he failed to place. UNC Pembroke collectively posted a mark of 7-0, placing second at both the MEC and Super Region II championships, while finishing 19th at the NCAA Championships.

Last campaign, Seliga did not compete. In his absence, the Braves went 7-8, including a 5-3 mark in the South Atlantic Conference Carolina. UNC Pembroke finished second in the Super Region II, and came in 33rd in the NCAA Championships.

This season, Seliga has dropped to 125, and has enjoyed a banner campaign. He captured 18 consecutive wins to begin the season, including five pins, three tech falls, and six major decisions. As a result, he ascended to the No. 1 ranking in Division II for his weight class. Seliga was sidelined late in the season, however, and he went 1-2 in the Super Region II, including an injury forfeit on February 25th. The Braves have posted a mark of 12-2, including 9-1 in the conference. UNC Pembroke placed fourth in the Super Region II Tournament.

Prior to his injury, Logan answered questions about the biggest factors in his undefeated start to the season, his fondest memory during his time at Belle Vernon Area, and what he’d do if he woke up tomorrow with $1 million.

Q: What have been the biggest factors in your undefeated record to this point?

A: Getting the extra in; it can be extra workouts, seeing the training room to get extra rehab, or even getting extra sleep in when you need it.

Q: What have been your most significant areas of improvement from the time you started at UNC Pembroke?

A: I have gotten a lot better on my feet while here at UNCP. I am always moving and always attacking.

Q: What is your go-to or signature move?

A: Coach Tim Ayersman's crossface cradle.

Q: Your team's record has improved drastically from last season to this year. What have been the key aspects of that turnaround?

A: Just creating a brotherhood, on and off the mat. We are one big family down here at UNCP with all of us having the same goal.

Q: What team and individual goals did you set for this season?

A: Our team goal is to qualify all 10 guys to the national tournament. My goal is to win a regional and national title.

Q: What led to your decision to attend UNC Pembroke?

A: Creating a great relationship with our head coach OT Johnson. He is a great role model and leader. He is like a father to us, on and off the mat.

Q: There are several other WPIAL wrestlers on the roster. Did you have relationships with any of them prior to college?

A: I was high school teammates with Logan Hoffman and Chad Metikosh. We also have Mason Diemert from Quaker Valley. It is awesome to have some WPIAL wrestlers down here with me, and I can't wait to have more!

Q: What is your major and ideal future profession?

A: I am an exercise phys major. I am looking to pursue a career in sport psychology.

Q: What has been your most challenging college course?

A: Microeconomics.

Q: What was your fondest memory during your time at Belle Vernon Area?

A: My most memorable moment while being a wrestler at BVA was probably my freshman year being the starting 113-pounder on the No. 1 public school team in the country.

Q: Do you still follow Belle Vernon Area athletics or WPIAL wrestling?

A: Yes, I still follow BVA wrestling and athletics. Every time I am home, I love getting back in the BVA wrestling room and giving back. I also have one sister who plays basketball for the Leopards, one brother who plays baseball, and also two step brothers who play sports for the Leopards.

Q: Western Pennsylvania, particularly Westmoreland County, is known for elite high school wrestling. How did that mold your career?

A: It molded me by growing up wrestling with the best wrestlers in the country. From 6U to high school, we learned how to wrestle in all three positions. I feel like that is where other states lack in wrestling. To be the best, you have to be great in all three positions.

Q: If you could change one rule about college wrestling, what would it be? Why?

A: I would change the ride out rule. If the top guy rides out the bottom guy in the first OT period, he then can go neutral, forcing the guy who got ridden out to get a takedown in 30 seconds to win the match.

Q: To which movie or TV show can you recite nearly every line?

A: My family and I can recite every single line to the Step Brothers movie with Will Ferrell.

Q: If you woke up with $1 million tomorrow, what is the first thing you'd do?

A: I would call my friends and see if I can borrow money. If they say no, they don't get a cut of the $1 million dollars. If they say yes, they get the cut out of the million dollars. Then, I would take my friends, girlfriend, and family on a super nice cruise.