State College Sends Two to Big 33 Game
Tagged under: All-Stars, District 6, News, pfn
Noah Radio | February 22, 2025
Seniors Michael Gaul and Ty Salazer have been selected to represent State College in, “The Super Bowl of High School Football,” the Big 33 Football Classic between Pennsylvania and Maryland.
Gaul and Salazer were both two-time team captains and four-year starters at State High. Head Coach Matt Lintal has spoken glowingly about each of them in the past, often lauding aspects of them that don’t show up in the box score.
“[Gaul] has been, for lack of a better word, the alpha of this group for a long time, you know, he’s the guy that leads us on the field, and he’s earned the respect that his peers have for him,” Lintal said. “Mike is, to this day, the most competitive kid I’ve ever coached, and I don’t say that lightly. He wants to win at everything he does, he plays with an edge, and he’s a ‘team over everything’ guy. He plays with passion, and that passion is contagious, and I’m just so excited for him to have this opportunity.”
Gaul is the leading tackler and eighth-leading receiver in school history.
“To be selected to such a prestigious event is a blessing,” Gaul said. “For my talent and everything I’ve done in my career as a player to be recognized by the entire state is something I value. I’m excited to compete with the best and be next to the best and I’m honored to be able to play next to Ty for one last game.”
Salazer is also excited to take the field with Gaul in such a high-profile event. “It’s a great honor to be able to have the opportunity to play in a game like this. Not every guy gets the chance to be able to play with, and compete against, the best players from PA and Maryland,” Salazer said. “I’m just thankful for everyone around me who has helped me get to the point I’m at in my career.”
Salazer, the Coaches Select 6A Player of the Year, holds every relevant State High receiving record and is one of the most decorated athletes in school history.
Lintal coached in the Big 33 game in 2018 and called it, “an extremely special experience.”
“This is the biggest honor of Pennsylvania high school football, and for both Mike and Ty to have an opportunity to go represent us in that game, they’ve earned it. They’ve earned it with their success, they’ve earned it with their play, and they’ve also earned it in their leadership skills. I think you look at both of those guys as two-time captains, as guys that have been on the field for four years for us, you know, they’re special young men, and they really will leave a legacy behind of how you play this game.”
After the Big 33 festivities and their high school graduations, Gaul will play linebacker at Villanova and Salazer will play wide receiver at Delaware.
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