Hamburg multi-sport athlete Mason Semmel

Mason Semmel is a busy guy.  He's on the football, wrestling, and track & field teams at Hamburg.  The 6'3 rising senior is up to 230 pounds and college coaches have started to take notice.  Semmel received his first Division I offer from Saint Francis.  The H-back/LB has always been focused on playing college football.  "It's been a dream of mine ever since I was a child throwing football with my day," he said.  Semmel racked up 68 tackles, 16.5 TFL, and five sacks last year.  He also made 21 catches for 246 yards and five touchdowns.  "I'm definitely more of an offensive guy, but I like hitting people too. I like going up and getting the ball," he told SV Sports' Paul Roberts.  Micah Parsons and Travis Kelce are two of his favorite players.  Semmel did admit to being a Cowboys' fan.  He noted that competing in multiple sports has helped him on the football field.  "Wrestling is the hardest sport. It gets you so tough and it gets you stronger mentally and physically," he emphasized.  Semmel throws the shot put and javelin.  He also participates in the high jump.  The Hawks went (9-3) on the gridiron a season ago and reached the District 3-3A semifinals before falling to eventual champion Wyomissing.  Hamburg has won a District 3 playoff game in each of the past two seasons.  The Hawks averaged 42 points in 2022.  Daniel Brady, Cohen Correll, Ty Werley, and Bryce Kamp all return.  Correll and Werley combined for 74 receptions and 9 TD last year.  Plus, running back Aiden Readinger is back from a knee injury that cost him all of last season.  Tyler Shuey and Ethan Horvath are in the mix to replace Xander Menapace at quarterback.  Menapace is headed to Columbia University after setting 14 individual school records.  Semmel is optimistic about the 2023 squad.  "I think we can be just as good as we were last year, if not better. We have everybody coming to the weight room. We have 20 more kids than last year," he stated.