Four area teams qualify for district duals

The postseason is here.

Well, almost.

While the individual tournament won’t begin until the end of the month, several area wrestling teams will get a taste of that environment this week in the District 11 Team Championships.

Northwestern, Lehighton, Panther Valley and Tamaqua all made it into the Class 2A field, which included the top-12 teams based on the district’s power rating system.

The Tigers and Indians are the top area teams in the event, earning the third and fourth seeds, respectively, and both will have a first round bye when action begins tonight. The Panthers are the sixth seed and will wrestle No. 11 Catasauqua in the first round. The Blue Raiders, the ninth seed, will face No. 8 Notre Dame Green Pond in the first round.

Northwestern will face either Panther Valley or Catasauqua in the second round. Lehighton will take on the winner of the first round match between fifth seed Mahanoy Area and No. 12 seed Palisades.

So, what does it mean? More quality mat time.

“Qualifying for duals really gives all of our guys a few extra matches against quality competition,” said Indians’ head coach Floyd Brown. “It helps them get ready for the postseason. We have the opportunity to get at least two to three extra matches. Not every team has that opportunity.

“We want them to go out there, be relaxed, have fun, and improve with every match. I think it gives our guys more confidence going into the postseason.”

Match-by-match, period-by-period, improvement and experience remain the focus for Blue Raiders’ head coach Jim McCabe.

“The main goal I told them was that they need to look at their match and expect to wrestle three periods,” said McCabe. “We can’t get experience if we are scared, and in return, get pinned quick. And that goes for everyone, even if I’m expecting a win from one of our guys. I’ve seen too many wrestlers lose a match because they expected an easy win. Three periods, and if the opportunity arises, then capitalize and get the fall.

“I think the team benefits by qualifying because it helps them to understand the speed of wrestling and the intensity of our district. Also, I explained to them if we can win our first match, we are guaranteed three matches at minimum that was not expected for the season. Three extra matches, wrestling three periods, equal experience.”

Some teams have already gotten that experience – and perhaps a confidence boost.

Northwestern knocked off a solid Wilson team - the No. 2 seed in the district tournament - in the semifinals of the Colonial League Team Tournament earlier on Monday. The Tigers fell 37-24 to Saucon Valley, the top seed in the district tournament, but got a little bit closer after losing to the Panthers 47-22 in a regular season meeting just a week earlier.

“I think we wrestled very confidently at league duals,” said Northwestern head coach Jim Moll. “I hope that continues. Part of that comes from all the hard work these guys have put in this season. That hard work helps build confidence.”

The Tigers are also coming off a strong showing over the weekend at the Coal Cracker Tournament, crowning two individual champions in Caleb Clymer and Matt Peters, while also placing second out of 32 teams.

Moll knows this weekend presents another opportunity for his team to take another step forward.

“The more we see tough competition the better,” he said. “The only way to place high in the postseason is to beat good kids. So having the opportunity to get a look at some of the tough kids now is huge.”

That preparation is both physical and mental.

“Confidence breeds success, it’s painted on our wall,” said McCabe. “You can’t be afraid to make mistakes; if you are, the likelihood of a victory is null. Our coaching staff tries very hard to help build the mental aspect of the sport so that we can have confidence. It’s all a mindset.”

Does that strategy change in a tournament where a first-round loss can mean an early exit?

“District duals is great, but I don’t think you treat it any differently than the season,” explained McCabe. “Every match is just as important as the next. I still want my wrestlers to wrestle three periods, no matter the competition. They should be proud to have qualified but not afraid because it’s district duals.”

Not scared or timid. Poised and prepared.

“The goal is to win districts and qualify for team states,” said Moll. “We will have to wrestle our butts off like we did at leagues, and there are a few teams in the tournament that will be very tough to beat.

“But we won’t do anything different. The goal is always to go out and compete as hard as you can. If we do that, then I like our chances.”

Let the games begin.

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MARK IT DOWN … Below is the schedule and pairings for this week’s District 11 team tournament:

Thursday, Feb. 1

Weigh-ins: 5 p.m. (Scratch weight)

Preliminaries: 6 p.m.

Quarterfinals: 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 3

(at Freedom High School)

Session 1

Weigh-ins: 8 a.m. (Scratch weight)

Consolation Quarterfinals: 9 a.m.

Semifinals: 10:45 a.m.

Consolation Semifinals: 12:30 p.m.

Session 2

Championship, Consolation Final: 5:30 p.m.

True Second-Place Match (if necessary): 7:30 p.m.

Class 3A

at Liberty: (9) Freedom vs. (8) Easton, 6 p.m.; winner vs. (1) Bethlehem Catholic, 7:30 p.m.; (10) East Stroudsburg South vs. (7) Blue Mountain, 6 p.m.; winner vs. (2) Liberty, 7:30 p.m.

at Nazareth: (11) Bangor vs. (6) Pottsville, 6 p.m.; winner vs. (3) Nazareth, 7:30 p.m.

at Northampton: (12) Whitehall vs. (5) Stroudsburg, winner vs. (4) Northampton, 7:30 p.m.

Class 2A

at Nazareth: (10) Pen Argyl vs. (7) Pine Grove, 6 p.m.; winner vs. (2) Wilson, 7:30 p.m.

at Northampton: (9) Notre Dame vs. (8) Tamaqua, 6 p.m.; winner vs. (1) Saucon Valley, 7:30 p.m.

at Panther Valley: (12) Palisades vs. (5) Mahanoy Area, 6 p.m.; winner vs. (4) Lehighton; (11) Catasauqua vs. (6) Panther Valley, 6 p.m.; winner vs. (3) Northwestern Lehigh, 7:30 p.m.

Ticket prices for the preliminary and quarterfinal matches will be $3 for students and senior citizens, and $6 for adults. Prices will be the same for the first session on Saturday. For the second session, all tickets will be $6.

Saucon Valley won last year’s Class 2A title, while Nazareth captured the 3A crown.

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ICYMI … The Times News area was well represented on the medal stand at the Coal Cracker Tournament this past weekend. Jim Thorpe’s John Newhall (113) and Northwestern’s Matt Peters (132) and Caleb Clymer (160) finished the two-day even at Panther Valley on top of the podium. In addition to Newhall, Peters and Clymer, the following area wrestlers finished in the top eight: Northwestern - Jackson Bernhard (152, third), Colin Rex (138, fourth), Jake Dellicker (106, fifth), Quinn Moyer (220, fifth), Bernhard (126, seventh) and Ryan Havercamp (170, eighth); Panther Valley - Tanner Kennedy (160, third), Hunter Kennedy (170, third) and Derrick Beckham (182, third); Tamaqua - Bronson Strouse (220, third), Pierce Demetriades (126, sixth) and Aaron Coccio (120, eighth); Northern Lehigh - Seth Fronheiser (132, fourth), Preston Bauer (120, sixth) and Dominic Bandle (220, eighth); Palmerton - Lucas Christman (145, fifth) and Matt Lalik (138, eighth); Jim Thorpe - Ethan Mordaunt (195, seventh) and Will Schwartz (106, eighth).

Elsewhere, Pleasant Valley topped Allentown Central Catholic 44-33 in the 17th-place match at the Eastern Pennsylvania Team Duals on Saturday.

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(ANOTHER) MILESTONE … After recently surpassing 500 team points, Lehighton’s Nate Kemmerer picked up another milestone earlier this week. The senior earned his 100th career victory on Tuesday against Southern Lehigh. Kemmerer pinned Andreua Zannikis in 45 seconds at 132 pounds to reach the mark.

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OFF THE MAT … There was some movement in this week’s Off the Mat Class AA rankings for Times News area wrestlers. Northwestern’s Caleb Clymer dropped down from 170 to 160 and is ranked second. Jackson Bernhard comes down to 152 pounds from 160 and slots into the No. 7 spot. Panther Valley’s Hunter Kennedy is ranked 11th at 170 pounds, while Tamaqua’s Bronson Strouse is 14th at 220. Palmerton’s Lucas Christman joins the mix this week, earning the No. 16 spot at 145 pounds. There was also a bit of movement in the Class 2A team rankings. Colonial League champion Saucon Valley is ranked eighth, while Northwestern comes in at No. 18. The Tigers knocked off Wilson, which had been in the top 25, on Monday in the semifinals of the Colonial League team tournament. Northwestern has lost to Saucon Valley twice this season, but the Tigers closed the gap Monday in the league finals. Another matchup is possible this weekend in the District 11 team tournament.