It’s no secret that to the victor go the spoils, especially to Grove City’s Caleb Kolb, one of the all-time great wrestlers in Mercer County annals.

Already a PIAA Class AA champion this past season at 171 pounds who will continue his wrestling career collegiately at Nebraska, Kolb has now been ranked among the nation’s best along with his practice partner, Wesley Phipps.

Kolb (39-0) was named to the Asics High School All-America wrestling team, the only national all-star team for which wrestlers enrolled in all four high-school grades are eligible.

He was also listed as the No. 20 recruit in the nation by Intermat. Kolb had been ranked No. 78 before his senior season, but moved up significantly after clawing his way to the state title in an undefeated season, Grove City assistant coach Deven Dittrich said.

Kolb is also ranked as Intermat’s No. 7 wrestler in the nation at 171 pounds, while Wrestling Insider Magazine lists him at No. 5 for the weight class.

Kolb had notched a 3-2 decision over Octorara’s Josh Smith for the title in Hershey after placing third as a junior at 160 pounds in the championships a year before.

He also beat 4-time Oregon state champion Alec Ortiz, 8-3 in the prestigious Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic. Ortiz had been 115-0 in his high school career before Kolb handed the wrestler his first taste of defeat. Kolb was also recognized as the classic’s “Outstanding Wrestler” for the Pennsylvania team.

Kolb finished his Grove City career 122-27.

Phipps, a rising sophomore, placed fifth in the 160-pound grouping at the PIAA Class AA championships and was second in April at the National High School Coaches Association freshman nationals in Virginia Beach.

With the finish, he broke into the national rankings for his weight class as Wrestling USA’s 4th best in the country.