Senior Cale Bastian arrived at Milton Area High School in January of his sophomore year from Selinsgrove High School. The following year, he joined Milton’s Football team as a quarterback and also competed as a wrestler.
Cale said his favorite memory was scoring the first touchdown in the new Milton Alumni Stadium against South Williamsport High School last year. “All the excitement around the game, and it being my first game at Milton was one of my favorite memories of sports,” he explained.
Cale said even though he moved here two years ago, it feels like he has been with Milton Area School District his entire high school career. “It seems as if I’ve been friends with everyone in Milton my entire life and haven’t known anything differently,” he added.
Cale was awarded the PHAC-3 All-Star Honorable Mention quarterback both his junior and senior football seasons.
He was also a state qualifier for wrestling during his junior year. During his senior year wrestling season, Cale was a regional qualifier and joined the “75-wins club,” adding that milestone win was against a Kutztown wrestler on Jan. 20. However, he finished with 85 wins during his high school career.
“Wrestling is a sport that tests a person in the face of an audience and more importantly themselves,” said Cale.
“Cale definitely increased the level of success in both our football and wrestling teams,” said Milton Athletic Director Rod Harris. Cale has great sportsmanship and cares about people, he added.
According to Cale, his father has been his lifelong mentor through football and wrestling. “My dad was a two-sport athlete most of his life and spent a lot of time wrestling, as did my brother, so I have always been surrounded by sports throughout my life,” he added.
According to Cale, a major challenge he had with wrestling was staying on top of his game and training. The “mental brutalness” of wrestling also took a toll on his body during the season, he explained.
“A challenge with football was being quarterback and making sure everyone is doing their right jobs and responsibilities at the same time,” said Cale. “It felt like it came down to me to make sure my teammates were in their spots and to make things happen.”
Cale said he believes sports make people a better version of themselves, as well as helping with their body image and getting in shape. Through sports, he said he gained a lot of leadership skills.
“A lot of times you will find yourself in adversity, and you must find ways to get out of it and move on and not shut down,” said Cale. “I pride myself on being able to let go and move onto the next play or touchdown.”
Before every football game, Cale has the superstition of wearing the same outfit to school whenever he competed, he said. Cale added that he also wore a hat before every football game that teammate Senior Luke Goodwin gave him.
Cale said that as of April, he is undecided on a college and his career plans. He added he would love to pursue a career in the medical field, more specifically as an anesthesiologist.
College sports are on the table for him, said Cale. He has been recruited for football by a few schools, but he is currently keeping his options open, he added.
“From the discipline, mental and physical toughness, dedication, to grit, sports have shaped me into who I am today,” said Cale.
