Quakertown's Weibel is facing a tough decision off the mat

Quakertown senior Jon Weibel has a major decision to make tomorrow, but first there is the matter of a big wrestling match tonight with Suburban One League rival Methacton.

A win tonight at 152 pounds would give Weibel 114 wins in his career, putting him fourth on the Panthers' all-time list. He is only the 10th Quakertown wrestler to reach the 100-win milestone since 1954.

Tomorrow, Weibel will choose whether to have season-ending surgery on a torn shoulder joint. He suffered the injury last summer at the freestyle national tournament in Fargo, N.D., and then reinjured his shoulder earlier this season. He has been wearing a brace on the shoulder during matches.

Weibel has a 15-3 record going into tonight's match. Two of those losses are by injury default.

For a wrestler ranked No. 1 in his weight class by the District 1 Web site, surgery is the last thing Weibel wants to contemplate.

"I promised my father I'd make a decision Friday," Weibel said. "We've mapped out all the options. Now it's up to me."

Weibel, who was a PIAA medalist last season, recently committed to wrestle for Columbia next season. He chose Columbia over Lehigh, where his older brother, Paul, competed.

"I love the city," Weibel said of New York, explaining his college choice.

Weibel is planning to study business, economics or political science. He admits to having a penchant for politics, including the current presidential campaigns.

"Maybe I'll become president some day," he said with a laugh.

Speedy Miller.

With most of his veteran sprinters having graduated last summer, Central Bucks East girls' swim coach Tom Kane turned to senior Lindsey Miller.

Primarily a backstroke swimmer in years past, Miller has turned out to be a good choice. Miller, who finished fourth in the 200-yard individual medley at last year's District 1 championships, has the team's fastest times in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle events. Her district finish in the 200 IM qualified her for the PIAA championships.

"She'd probably have the fastest time in the 500 free, too," Kane said, "but she hasn't swum it yet."

Miller has her sights set on returning to the PIAA championships. A good bet to qualify, she faces a decision on which event to compete in. Her best time in the 100 freestyle is 56.09 seconds, but she feels she is capable of 55 or better. She also has gone 26-flat in the 50 freestyle and 2:02 in the 200 freestyle.

"I'm not sure about swimming in college," Miller said, "but I am looking into it. I've visited the University of Florida twice. I like it. It's warm there."

Two named finalists.

Two members of Merion Mercy's unbeaten PIAA Class AA championship volleyball team have been named finalists for national player of the year honors by Prep Volleyball.

Danielle Carrozza, a 5-foot-9 outside hitter, is among the 21 junior-player-of-the-year finalists. Teammate Stacey Manthorpe, a 5-foot-11 middle blocker, is one of 15 freshman-of-the-year finalists. She was the only freshman named to the Pennsylvania all-state team.

Carrozza led the Golden Bears in kills and digs this past season. She is a three-time all-stater.