Trevor Gallo had plenty of options.

It was a mild surprise to the Slippery Rock High School graduate that so many college wrestling programs were clamoring for his services.

And there were some big schools in there, too. Schools like Kent State University, a traditionally strong Division I program. There was Slippery Rock University in his own back yard as well as Clarion University.

Gallo may still end up at one of those schools. But for now, he will attend Mercyhurst College.

"It was mostly financial," said Gallo of his college decision. "It was the best school for me right now."

It was good for two reasons. Mercyhurst offered Gallo the best scholarship package, and he wanted to try his luck in Division II during his freshman season.

After that, who knows? Gallo may transfer to some of the bigger schools that contacted him.

"It depends on how well I do this year," Gallo said.

Kent was one of the more intriguing offers. But Gallo said the scholarship money offered by the Golden Flashes wasn't enough to make up for the out-of-state tuition he would have had to fork over.

The University of Pittsburgh also had interest in Gallo.

"It was really hard not to go to one of the top schools," Gallo said. "I wanted to go to Kent State."

Gallo burst onto the high school wrestling scene as a junior with Slippery Rock, advancing to the PIAA tournament and placing sixth. He finished that year 30-4.

Last season, Gallo was ranked No. 1 in the state for a time at 171 pounds, cruised through the regular season undefeated and placed third in the PIAA tournament. He finished with a 31-2 record his senior year and with a career mark of 109-24.

"I'm real proud of what he accomplished," said Slippery Rock wrestling Fred Powell.

For the most part, Gallo was a late bloomer in the sport. He had wrestled in middle school in the Butler school district, but didn't put it all together on the mat until his junior season.

"He was limited in what he could do," Powell said. "With him, it was 'I can do that. That's it.'"

But Powell worked with him and Gallo committed himself to the sport, staying after practice for an extra hour each day to further hone his skills.

Suddenly, Gallo was winning matches, and winning them handily.

"He got more and more respect in the wrestling world," Powell said. "He was noticing, 'No one is beating me. I might be good at this.' And his confidence kept improving."

Gallo was particularly focused during his senior season as he set out to win a state title.

That didn't happen, but he plowed his way through one of the most successful seasons a wrestler at Slippery Rock has enjoyed in the program's short history.

"He was just dedicated," Powell said. "He was a very focused wrestler. He might have been the best wrestler in the state at his weight class."

Now Gallo is focusing on being his best at Mercyhurst.

It won't be easy. Every match in college is a grueling one. And Gallo said he realizes that.

He is also aware of the more intense training regime.

"I've been going to the gym every day," Gallo said.

Gallo is up to 205 pounds this summer and Mercyhurst figures to plug him in the 184-pound weight class. Dropping that much weight, though, shouldn't be a problem, Gallo said.

"I was 195 and dropped down to 171 in high school," he said.

Gallo was also a standout fullback and linebacker for the Slippery Rock football team, rushing for 1,055 yards on 202 carries and eight touchdowns during his senior season.

He toyed with the idea of trying to play football as well as wrestle at Mercyhurst.

But Mercyhurst coach Tony Cipollone nixed that idea.

"He said not in the first year," Gallo said. "He said they had too much money in me."

Gallo admitted that he would miss football this fall. But he should have plenty to do to occupy his time, like his criminal justice major and preparing for the rigors of his first year of college wrestling.

"Freshman year is always the hardest," he said.