Northwestern senior Jackson Bernhard wanted nothing more than to end his high school wrestling career with another trip to states.

Knowing he’s going to Hershey with three of his teammates – Colin Rex, Matt Peters and Caleb Clymer – will make the journey that much more special.

The quartet of seniors has been the core of the Tigers’ lineup this season. But their bond started well before they donned their varsity singlets.

“The last couple weeks, the last 14 years with the same guys,” said Bernhard. “It’s nice to look at Matt and Colin and Caleb, and be like, ‘We were 5 (years old), and we were in the same spot we are today. Now we’re here. It’s been a long journey.

“We get to end it how we started, kind of.”

Bernhard, Rex and Clymer all made it to states and got a taste of what it was like last year.

“Last year, we kind of thought it would be fun, we wore our league jackets from when we were in fifth grade and we all got first place at the tournament,” Bernhard recalled. “So we wore them to states last year. Maybe we’ll do that again this year just for fun.”

Northwestern head coach Jim Moll has watched the group harness their talents from a young age.

“They wrestled together since they were in kindergarten,” said Moll. “Those pictures I was showing of them at districts from their league tournament in their league jackets … they’ve done it their whole lives together.

“So it’s only fitting that they all get to go out there together, again.”

Rex joined Clymer and Bernhard at states a year ago after a stellar performance at regionals, a tournament he got into as an injury replacement.

“I think it’s great,” Rex said of qualifying for the second straight year. “The three of us were out there last year, and it’s just great to have those same three guys going again.

“Unfortunately, Matt was hurt the past couple of years. But he’s gonna be coming out with us again. And it’s just great to be out there. It’s such a great setting and we have so much fun. It’s just a great time.”

Peters was a state qualifier as a freshman but did not finish the last two seasons due to injury and illness. The opportunity to finish his career with one more trip to Hershey is something Peters doesn’t take for granted.

“Going out and having fun, that’s what it’s all about,” said Peters.

“That’s why I started wrestling in the first place, just to have fun. I’m just gonna go out there and have fun, that’s the biggest part of it.”

Clymer, a two-time state medalist and coming off district and regional titles, is as excited for his teammates as he is his own postseason prospects in his final trip to Hershey.

“It means a lot, especially with all the guys going,’ said Clymer. “We were kind joking around with it, me Colin, Matt and Jack, we’ve all wrestled each other since we were 4 (years old). We all started together, and now we’re ending all together.

“Just doing well as a team, and with our group, it’s awesome.”

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PAIRINGS ... Here is a look at early round matchups for Times News area wrestlers at this weekend’s PIAA Championships in Hershey. These are preliminary pairings; the brackets are always subject to change.

132 – Matt Peters, Northwestern (SE-6) vs. Chris Horton, Athens (NW-4)

138 – Colin Rex, Northwestern (SE-5) vs. Tristan Pugh, Berlin Bros. (SW-4)

145 – Lucas Christman, Palmerton (SE-3) bye; Christman vs. D.J. Erickson, Hanover (NE-2)

152 – Jackson Bernhard, Northwestern (SE-2) bye; Bernhard vs. Timmy Ward, Canton (NE-3)

160 – Caleb Clymer, Northwestern (SE-1) bye; Clymer will face the winner of Jarred Stoy, Penn Cambria (SW-5) vs. Jacob Carpenter, Shamokin (NE-4)

Tanner Kennedy, Panther Valley (SE-3) bye; Kennedy vs. Creighton Edsell, Wyalusing (NE-2)

170 – Hunter Kennedy, Panther Valley (SE-6) vs. Christian Clutter, McGuffey (SW-4)

182 – Derrick Beckham, Panther Valley (SE-5) vs. Elijah Ayers, Coudersport (NW-4)

195 – Ethan Mordaunt, Jim Thorpe (SE-3) bye; Mordaunt vs. Clay Verbanac, Cambridge Springs (NW-2)

220 – Bronson Strouse, Tamaqua (SE-6) vs. Jake Ryan, Mount Union (SW-4)

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STREAK EXTENDED ... Lucas Christman extended Palmerton’s streak of sending a wrestler to states.

This marks the seventh straight year that a Blue Bomber will be making the trip to Hershey.

The last two seasons, Jared Mooney kept the string alive.

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THREE AMIGOS ... As mentioned above, Northwestern’s Caleb Clymer, Jackson Bernhard and Colin Rex are all making return trips to states.

The last area trio that reached Hershey in back-to-back seasons were Northern Lehigh’s Nikko Stevens, Craemer Hedash and Colin Hedash in 2009 and 2010.

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LAST YEAR … Northern Lehigh’s Ryan Farber fell to Wyalusing’s Creighton Edsell 5-1 in the 160-pound final at the PIAA Championships.

Northwestern’s Caleb Clymer and Tamaqua’s Tanner McHugh also secured their second state medals.

After finishing sixth as a sophomore — when he was forced to forfeit his final three matches due to a hip injury — Clymer placed third in the 152-pound bracket.

McHugh also improved. After taking eighth as a junior, the senior finished sixth in his final appearance at the state tournament.

After a loss in the quarterfinals, Clymer battled through the consolation bracket, winning three straight matches to reach the 152-pound third-place bout, where he defeated Central Martinsburg’s Brock Biddle, 3-2.

McHugh lost a 3-0 decision to Bishop McCourt’s Carnell Andrews in the 132-pound fifth-place match.

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BEST OF THE BEST … Central Cambria’s Max Murin, who won the 138-pound title in overtime, was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Class 2A tournament. Murin finished the season 40-0.

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CHAMPS … Reynolds won the Class 2A team title with 136.5 points. Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg) was second with 88.5 points.