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Panther pair is Princeton’s prize

Albert, Stohl commit to Tigers

By Eleanor Bailey 7 min read
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Michael Albert
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Nate Stohl is a three-year starter that should anchor the offensive as well as defensive lines for Upper St. Clair. An all-conference defensive tackle, he recorded 65 tackles and seven sacks during last year’s 8-2 campaign. He is a Princeton recruit.

Second place doesn’t sit well with Michael Albert and Nate Stohl. The Upper St. Clair senior linemen were sophomores when the Panthers lost the WPIAL Class 5A title to Pine-Richland. Additionally, Albert was a runner-up on USC’s baseball team that lost to Mt. Lebanon, 2-1, in 2022.

“Too many silver medals in my room,” moaned Albert.

“I’m tired of silver,” agreed Stohl. “Ready for gold,” he added.

“While both are highlights, they are points that remind you that you were that close,” Albert continued. “It’s great that you made it that far but the end goal is not second place.”

Hence the game plan is simple for the Panther pair. Both want to win a WPIAL championship and contend for a PIAA title this fall after being denied a playoff berth during last year’s 8-2 season.

“We made big mistakes and we can’t be mad at anybody. (Not making the playoffs last year) is on us,” Albert said. “We are using that as fuel.”

Stohl agreed. “That motor is inside all of us. This season is about revenge for last year. We want to make a statement in the WPIAL.”

Recently, the duo issued a huge declaration. They both verbally committed to Princeton University.

In Albert, the Tigers get a 6-3, 245-pound defensive lineman that will also be utilized by USC as a tight end on offense.

In Stohl, the Tigers recruited a 6-3, 265-pound offensive guard and defensive end that earned all-conference honors at both positions.

Both maintain 4.2 GPAs in the classroom. They are involved in the student council and belong to Stand Together. The invitation-only, school-affiliated club deals with mental health and substance abuse issues.

“Princeton is getting two outstanding young men,” said USC field general Mike Junko. “They are hard workers and respected leaders that handle themselves well on and off the field.”

Albert, whose older brother, Ed, attends Dartmouth and pitches for the Big Green, drew scholarship offers from Furman, Maine and the University of New Hampshire. All the Ivy League schools, except Harvard and Yale, also expressed interest in the 17-year-old son of Ed and Nicole Albert.

“My brother took it well when I picked Princeton,” Albert said. “It was the best fit for me and that’s what matters most.

“Honestly, what attracted me to Princeton were the athletics and academics. Princeton has been very successful in the Ivy league the past few years. and it’s also been one of the most prestigious universities in the U.S. Those two things were both important.

“I also liked the coaching staff. I could see myself enjoying being there,” he added.

Stohl, like Albert, envisions himself as an economics major in the classroom and a success on the football field at Princeton. Stohl, who also was a Natural Helper and Junior Mentor at USC, had 18 Division I offers.

“With Princeton, you get invested in the best of both worlds. It’s a No. 1 university with one of the most dominant football teams in the Ivy League,” explained the 17-year-old son of Mathew and Carrie Stohl. “It was an opportunity that was very hard to pass up. The goal is to get a great education. Hopefully make lots of money. That’s the plan.”

If the pair continue to put in the hard work, with their size, then they could be looking beyond playing college football. They were both familiar with Justin Watson from neighboring South Fayette. A wide receiver, Watson played at the University of Pennsylvania before being drafted into the NFL. Four seasons into his professional career, he had already won three Super Bowl championships at Tampa Bay and Kansas City.

“Definitely think the NFL is a possibility,” Stohl said. “If I excel, then coaches will find me.”

By selecting Princeton Stohl explained his mental approach, “My main thinking was that football will end at some point so it’s silly not to get an Ivy League degree. So I am set up for life after football.”

Albert said that he has a ‘similar’ thought process. He used the words ‘cautious optimism’ regarding a potential professional career.

“You don’t count yourself out. Anything can happen,” Albert said. “But you don’t want to count on it because if football falls through, then you want to have something to fall back on. A Princeton degree is a pretty good plan. So work hard while you are there.”

Albert worked hard to elevate his game.

After lettering in baseball for two years, Albert returned to wrestling his junior year. He was 35-6 as a heavyweight, a section runner-up and a fifth-place finisher in the regional this past winter.

“By switching back to wrestling, I felt my goals for football were more aligned. It’s helped me tremendously. Makes me a better player,” Albert said. “Wrestling correlates with the D-line because of the leverage you need to make tackles.

“While I enjoy playing both sides of the ball, I look forward to continuing playing defense (in college),” Albert continued. “Defense is extremely physical. It’s a lot of hard work. Collisions on every play but the contact is what attracts me to football.

“So I am going to continue focusing on my training. I try to be 100 percent because you cannot take plays off. While I always know what I am doing, I need to get to know better what others around me are doing to elevate my play. That can be very useful at the next level.”

At Princeton, Stohl will be utilized as an offensive lineman. For the Panthers, however, he will see double duty, starting on both sides of the line.

“Honestly, I am fine playing anywhere because I love the game of football,” he said. “I feel my strengths are that I am a very physical, high-motor type of player. I have a good football IQ and know what is going on.”

Because of his experience, Stohl is expected to be the leader of all the linemen. As the anchor, he takes his responsibility seriously.

“We are expecting to have a big year and I need to be a big contributor. Play hard the whole game,” he said. “I always worry about my guys in the trenches. It all starts up front. If we aren’t doing our job, then the other guys can’t do theirs. It’s a very important role and that’s ultimately what will lead this team to success.”

Camaraderie and focus will propel the Panthers, too. While Stohl and Albert are competitive in the classroom and on the field, they enjoy ‘hanging out’ together and with their teammates. Often the players visit each other’s homes for food and entertainment. They also share after-practice meals at restaurants like Bob Evans and Chick-fil-A.

“This team has a strong bond,” Stohl said. “The nice thing about the team is that everybody is really close.

“That’s why I feel like we will have a successful year because of how close we are. It’s definitely a strong bond. How much we love each other,” Albert agreed. “I really like our odds.”

On a daily basis, Albert and Stohl are reminded of their prospects. Albert made a personal chart out of two sheets of people, outlined his objectives and placed it on his nightstand.

“It has goals and what did you do today that helped you get there penciled at the top. It doesn’t help just to write down goals, he explained. “I look at it every day.

For inspiration, Stohl seeks out a sign, affixed to a tunnel that leads from the locker room to the field.

“It says play like a champion,” he said. “The players slap that before going out for games or practices.”

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