Joe Waltko will be visiting his brother, Rob, at Bucknell University next week, but it's not a pleasure trip.

"Rob is spending the summer at Bucknell to continue his training regimen and work at summer wrestling camps," said Waltko, who recently completed his junior year at North Allegheny High School.

"He lives in a big house with nine other wrestlers. I will be staying with Rob and working out with him and some of his teammates."

Rob Waltko is preparing for his sophomore year at Bucknell, while Joe Waltko is approaching his final year at North Allegeny.

"Rob had a 13-12 record, competing at 174 pounds, during his freshman year," Joe Waltko said. "I'm really looking forward to my week at Bucknell. It will help me get ready for [USA Wrestling] Junior Nationals."

Joe Waltko will be making his third consecutive trip to North Dakota State University in Fargo, the site of Cadet and Junior Nationals, and will be making his first appearance in the Junior Division. Waltko's other two appearances were in the Cadet Division and he earned All-American status both years by placing among the top eight in his weight class.

"I placed sixth in Greco-Roman my first year, then finished seventh in freestyle last year," Waltko said. "But an injury hindered my progress both times."

Waltko's first trip to Fargo two years ended prematurely when he sustained a concussion.

"I had placed sixth in the Greco-Roman tournament [at 112 pounds)]and had a 4-0 record in the freestyle tournament," said Waltko. "I hit my head during the last match and had a headache. I asked the trainers for some Advil before my fifth match and they said I couldn't wrestle. My coach agreed, and that was it.

"It was so frustrating, because I could have placed in both tournaments. I think I could have wrestled, but they wouldn't let me. It was probably a good decision, because you don't want to take a chance with possible head injuries, but it was still very frustrating."

Last summer's appearance at Fargo came one month after Waltko incurred a separated shoulder.

"The injury healed by the time I got to Fargo, but I couldn't train the way I normally train," said Waltko, who competed in the 125-pound weight class. "It was disappointing, because I could have been a double All-American."

Waltko fell short of All-American status in Greco-Roman after posting a 5-2 record, then finished seventh in freestyle after winning seven of nine bouts.

"I will be competing at 130 this time and feel I have a good chance of becoming an All-American in both styles," Waltko said. "My ultimate goal is to win a national title, and I feel I have a legitimate shot of reaching that goal now that I'm healthy."

Waltko also has a goal set for the high school season.

"I've joked with my coach [North Allegheny's Jamie Kyriazis] that I'm going to be the WPIAL's first four-time runner-up," said Waltko, who has lost three consecutive WPIAL finals matches. "I'm going to throw my match in the finals so I can be a four-time runner-up."

Waltko uses the joke to cover his obvious frustration.

"Losing in the WPIAL finals again was very frustrating," said Waltko. "That's the reason I'm wrestling over the summer. I'm working hard every day, while everyone else is sitting at home on vacation during the summer."

Waltko broke into North Allegheny's starting lineup as a 103-pound freshman. He won a Section 3-AAA title, then placed second in the WPIAL and fourth in the PIAA en route to a 30-7 record.

He moved up to 119 as a sophomore and won another section title, then placed second in the WPIAL, losing to Hempfield Area's Nico Cortese, 3-1, in the final. He finished the season with a 35-7 record after posting a disappointing 1-2 record in the state tournament.

Last season, Waltko once again placed first in the section, second in the WPIAL and third in the PIAA. He lost in the WPIAL final to West Mifflin's Sam Sherlock, 3-2. His only loss at Hershey was to the eventual champion, Blue Mountain's Cortlandt Choate, in the semifinals.

Waltko finished the season with a 38-5 record, which gives him a 103-19 mark going into his senior year.