During his time on the mat at Hempfield Area, Ty Linsenbigler carved his spot in Spartans’ wrestling history. After notching nearly 150 wins at the high school level, Linsenbigler has produced a winning record at the college level, initially at Lock Haven University and currently at Seton Hill University. Linsenbigler is featured in this edition of the Westmoreland Alum Q&A.

As a freshman at Hempfield Area in 2017-18, Linsenbigler competed at 138 pounds. He achieved a record of 33-7, including finishing as runner up in sectionals. In the WPIAL Class AAA tournament, Linsenbigler lost in the quarterfinals but rebounded for a third-place finish. As a result, he qualified for the PIAA bracket, but failed to place. Collectively, the Spartans went 19-2 that season, including 5-0 in Section 1B. In the WPIAL team tournament, the Spartans fell to Seneca Valley in the quarterfinals.

The following season, Linsenbigler improved to 38-7 overall, once again finishing as runner up in sectionals. Back in the WPIAL Class AAA bracket at 138, Linsenbigler reached the title bout, but finished as runner up. In the state tournament, Linsenbigler placed fourth. The Spartans went 13-3 overall, including 5-0 in Class AAA Section 1B. In the WPIAL tournament, Hempfield lost to Waynesburg Central in the quarterfinals.

In 2019-20, Linsenbigler bumped up to 145 pounds, and he achieved a mark of 42-4, claiming the sectional title. In the WPIAL Class AAA field, he notched a 2-0 decision against Mason Spears of Franklin Regional to claim gold. In the PIAA bracket, Linsenbigler finished in fifth place. Hempfield Area enjoyed another stellar season, going 22-4 overall, including 5-0 in Class AAA Section 1B. In the WPIAL Class AAA Tournament, the Spartans fell to eventual-champion Waynesburg Central in the semifinals.

As a senior in 2020-21, Linsenbigler compiled a record of 35-9, once again taking silver in the sectional. In the WPIAL Class AAA bracket, Linsenbigler fell in the semifinals, but notched a third-place finish. He also finished third in the state. Collectively, the Spartans failed to qualify for the WPIAL Class AAA tournament.

Linsenbigler, who finished his decorated Spartans career with a mark of 148-27, matriculated to Lock Haven University for the 2021-22 campaign. He took a redshirt and wrestled unattached that campaign at 157 pounds, achieving a record of 9-5. Collectively, the Bald Eagles went 10-5 overall, including 6-1 in the Mid-Athletic Conference (MAC). In the conference tournament, Lock Haven claimed gold with a team score of 123.5 points, the first MAC title in program history.

The next season, Linsenbigler dropped down to 141, and compiled a mark of 6-6. The Bald Eagles went 8-7 overall, including 5-1 in the conference. In the MAC Tournament, Lock Haven repeated as champs, as the Bald Eagles amassed 112.5 points.

Last season, Linsenbigler once again wrestled unattached for the Bald Eagles, going 16-9 at 141 pounds. The Bald Eagles took a step back collectively, though, going 7-11 overall, including 4-4 in the MAC. In the conference tournament, Lock Haven placed fourth.

During the offseason, Linsenbigler transferred closer to home, joining Seton Hill University. Competing at 149 pounds this season, he’s compiled a record of 6-4. To this point, the Griffins have achieved a record of 6-6 overall, dropping both of their matches in the PSAC.

Ty dedicated time from his schedule to respond to questions about his decision to transfer to Seton Hill, the best qualities of head coach Vince DeAugustine, and which wrestler he’d most like to face one more time.

Q: How have you evaluated your performance thus far this season?

A: This year has definitely been a learning process. I fought a couple injuries throughout the summer into the beginning of the season and I started out a little rusty, but every time I step out on the mat, I’m feeling better and better. I think my best wrestling is yet to come.

Q: How do you describe your wrestling style?

A: I’d like to say my style is very unorthodox - I like to scramble, I like to go upper body, but I can also hit you with a little sneaky shot if I have to; definitely not scared to get my pretty face beat up either.

Q: How have you improved throughout your time as a college wrestler?

A: I think I’ve improved tremendously over my couple years in college - I believe I’ve made big strides on my feet and mentally. But I think most importantly, I’ve become a better person overall in the process, thanks to my coaches.

Q: What team and individual goals have you established for this season?

A: Individually, my main goal for this season is to end the year on the podium as an All-American. My other goals I have set for myself are to always have a good attitude, stay consistent, and have fun. If I do these things, I believe my main goal will come. As for team goals, our team is fairly young, and it’s only Coach DeAugustine’s second year as the head coach, so really, one of our big goals right now is to really set the standard of how people see Seton Hill wrestling - maximum effort and commitment. If there’s maximum effort and commitment from everyone, over time, our team will flourish.

Q: What led to your decision to transfer to Seton Hill?

A: Honestly, I take nothing back from my time at Lock Haven. I really appreciate everything my teammates and coaches taught me there, but I just got to a point where I felt stagnant, not only in wrestling, but in life, too. I was going through some personal stuff and I just needed a change of scenery to really get myself back into the swing of things. When I saw Coach D got the head coaching job, I pretty much already knew I was going to be making my way back to Greensburg.

Q: What was your favorite moment during your time at Lock Haven?

A: My one-on-one workouts with Ashton Eyler. Whether I was laughing with him afterwards or in a pile of my own tears, I always looked forward to them a lot.

Q: What is your major, and ideal future profession?

A: I am going to school to earn a degree in sports management. My ideal future profession is to be an athletic director, whether it be at the collegiate or high school level. I have also thought a lot about getting into coaching after my career is over, so I guess we will see!

Q: What has been your most challenging college course?

A: Definitely my biology lab sophomore year; I’m not a big science guy.

Q: You wrestled under Vince DeAugustine, both at Hempfield Area and now at Seton Hill. What are his best qualities?

A: He’s blunt and to the point. You might not like what he has to say, but he knows what he’s talking about. IF you buy into what he’s saying, you’re going to get a lot better and peak at the right time. He also cares about our success as individuals a lot, honestly probably more than some people care about their own success.

Q: What was your best memory during your time at Hempfield Area?

A: Taking second at states as a team my senior year. The team race for second was crazy and we were all up in the stands sweating haha. It was a great way to go out with my brothers.

Q: What makes wrestling so competitive in the WPIAL?

A: The coaches and clubs, for sure. We have a couple of the best clubs in the nation right in our backyard. So many willing people giving back to our sport. I had a three-time national champion in Brian Kapusta as my MIDDLE SCHOOL coach. The WPIAL just has all the resources needed to make great wrestlers.

Q: If you could face anyone, past or present, for a match, who would you choose? What would be the result?

A: Gabe Willochell, no doubt about it. We are 1-1 against each other dating back to elementary school. He beat me in our last go around, and it keeps me up at night. We need that rubber match. I don’t think anyone could predict the result of that one, so I propose a battle to the death.

Q: Do you have any superstitions or rituals before, during, or after a match?

A: I listen to my walkout song on a loop! Try to envision the moment!

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

A: I don’t know about every line, but I am a big Kill Bill guy.

Q: If you were stranded on a deserted island with one current teammate, who would you choose? Why?

A: Don Lindsey or Niko Ferra - both mind their own business. Niko’s crafty, so I think he could be very helpful when it comes to the resources we need to survive. As for Don, I just know he could mess up a tiger or something if he had to. I don’t know if I could pick out of the two.