When people debate the greatest athletes in WPIAL history, the conversation usually centers around football stars, basketball legends, or Olympic-caliber track athletes.
But if we’re talking about the greatest pure athletes Western Pennsylvania has ever produced, Aaron Gatten’s name belongs near the very top of the list. In an era before social media, recruiting websites, and viral highlight videos, Gatten built one of the most remarkable athletic résumés the WPIAL has ever seen.
The Washington High School legend wasn’t simply great at one sport. He dominated three. Gatten lettered four years in football, wrestling, and track, a feat that alone separates him from most athletes. Excelling in three varsity sports is rare. Becoming one of the best in the state in all three is almost unheard of.
On the football field, Gatten was one of Pennsylvania’s premier running backs. He rushed for 3,245 career yards and 46 touchdowns while earning All-State honors three different times. Third Team as a sophomore and First Team as both a junior and senior. He was selected to play in the prestigious Big 33 Football Classic and helped lead Washington to a WPIAL championship and a trip to the PIAA championship game.
On the wrestling mat, he was nearly unstoppable. Gatten captured back-to-back WPIAL, Regional, and PIAA championships at 189 pounds in 1995 and 1996 while compiling an incredible 118-13 career record. At the time, those 118 victories were the most in Washington High School history.
Then came track and field. As a sprinter, Gatten possessed world-class speed. He won five WPIAL gold medals, including three consecutive WPIAL championships in the 200-meter dash, another title in the 100 meters, and helped Washington win a relay championship. On the state level, he captured PIAA championships in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes in 1995 before earning silver medals in both events the following season.
When his high school career ended, the list of accomplishments was staggering.
- More than 15 WPIAL championships between individual and team competition.
- Four PIAA gold medals.
- Three PIAA silver medals.
- Two PIAA wrestling championships.
- Three-time All-State football selection.
- Big 33 Football Classic selection.
- Wrestling USA All-American.
- Schutt All-American Wrestling Team.
- Blue Chip Illustrated Football All-American.
- Tom Lemming Prep Football Report All-American.
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 selection.
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Athlete of the Year.
Those accomplishments made him one of the most decorated high school athletes of his generation.
His success continued at Penn State, where he earned four varsity letters in football and was recognized as an Academic All-Big Ten selection. During his senior season, he received the prestigious Ridge Riley Award, presented annually to the Penn State senior who best exemplifies outstanding sportsmanship, leadership, scholarship, and friendship.
Following college, Gatten signed as a free agent with the Miami Dolphins, capping a football journey that began on the fields of Washington High School.
Trying to describe Aaron Gatten to younger generations isn’t easy. The closest comparison might be calling him the “White Deion Sanders of the WPIAL.” Not because he played both offense and defense like Sanders, but because he possessed the rare combination of elite speed, explosiveness, strength, coordination, and natural athletic ability that seemed to make every sport look easy.
He wasn’t just participating in multiple sports. He was winning championships in all of them.
His career is also a reminder of something that’s becoming increasingly rare. Today’s young athletes are often encouraged to specialize in one sport from an early age.
Gatten represented a different era, one where elite competitors played multiple sports, developed different athletic skills year-round, and became more complete athletes because of it.
Western Pennsylvania has produced countless legendary athletes over the years. Aaron Gatten belongs in that conversation. Whether you judge greatness by championships, versatility, athletic ability, or sustained excellence across multiple sports, few athletes in WPIAL history can match what he accomplished.
He wasn’t just one of the best football players. He wasn’t just one of the best wrestlers. He wasn’t just one of the best sprinters.
He was one of the greatest all-around athletes Western Pennsylvania has ever seen.