BETHLEHEM – Their losses have been seldom.

But there’s little doubt those setbacks have shaped them.

Memories of their shortcomings in the finals at last year’s District 11 Wrestling Tournament still resonated with both Jim Thorpe’s Ethan Mordaunt and Tamaqua’s Bronson Strouse.

Where Mordaunt and Strouse stumbled a year ago, they surged in their return.

The duo reigned supreme with a pair of dominant performances Saturday night at Liberty’s Memorial Gymnasium, as Mordaunt claimed the Class 2A 220-pound title, while Strouse captured the 285-pound crown.

“It feels great, knowing that I came up short last year, it kind of pushed me a little more,” said Mordaunt.

“From last year, when I lost in the finals, I did not want that to happen again, so I proved it,” added Strouse.

Mordaunt and Strouse wrestled like they had a chip on their shoulder throughout the two-day event.

As the top seed at 220 pounds, Mordaunt needed just 51 seconds total in his first two matches to reach the final. He left little doubt once he got there.

Mordaunt quickly built a 4-0 lead after the first period before securing his first district gold with a 6-2 decision over Wilson’s Kolby Flank.

“It was huge,” Mordaunt said of building an early advantage. “I only beat him 3-1 in overtime at district duals. My coach (Shawn Albert) always preaches to score points, and keep building your lead, no matter what, and that’s what I did.

“It kept me going. It kept my confidence going, knowing that I could win the match, but I had to keep wrestling a full six minutes.”

Mordaunt lost by the same score – 6-2 – in last year’s 195-pound final against Saucon Valley’s Dane Csencsits.

He was happy to flip the script in his match against Flank, the No. 3 seed.

“Last year, I wasn’t really the offensive guy,” Mordaunt said. “I kind of stepped back, just let him do what he wanted to do. But I feel like that (being more offensive) has definitely helped me take the next step in my career as a wrestler, just being offensive, imposing my will on the other kid, it definitely helps.”

Already with a Schuylkill League title under his belt this season, the district crown adds to what has been a remarkable year for the Olympian senior, who also notched the 99th victory of his career with his triumph in the final.

“He achieved one of his goals, it’s absolutely huge,” said Albert. “I’m excited for him. That’s one of his goals, to come out of here as a district champ, and he was able to attain that. It’s awesome.”

As Mordaunt looked to strike first, Strouse moved to work fast.

The Blue Raider junior needed just 17 seconds to flatten North Schuylkill’s Ryan Weitz to win his first district title.

Strouse and Weitz, the No. 2 seed, had split their matches during the season. Strouse won the first meeting 3-2, but lost a 2-1 decision in the 285-pound final at the Schuylkill League tournament.

“He’s a tough kid, but I was just ready,” said Strouse, who dropped a 7-3 decision to Flank in the 220-pound final last season.

As the No. 4 seed, Strouse rolled into the final with pins in his first two matches. He knocked off top seed Nickolas Warnke of Saucon Valley 3-2 in the semis to reach the final.

“I think he’s moving well,” said Tamaqua head coach Jim McCabe. “Physically, and mentally, he’s prepared to do what he needs to do, in the most efficient way.

“We’ve been working all season on getting him to open up and attack. As long as he keeps on using his footwork, and wrestling like the athletic heavyweight, not so much the traditional heavyweight, where they want to be up top and push up top, just continue to work on shots, and we’ll be fine.”

Strouse’s semifinal victory was also the 100th of his career.

In addition to Strouse and Mordaunt, Northwestern’s Jake Dellicker and Lehighton’s Logan Pagotto also advanced to the championship finals. Dellicker fell 9-2 to David Kreidler (Central Catholic) in the 113-pound championship bout, while Pagotto lost 7-1 to Williams Valley’s Chett Pesta in the 152-pound match.

As the eighth seed, Dellicker ripped off a pair of upsets along the way, knocking off top seed Mikey Myers of Williams Valley 3-1 in the quarters, before pinning No. 4 seed Tony Morello of Notre Dame in the semis.

But Dellicker just couldn’t solve Kreidler, the No. 2 seed.

“It hurts a little,” said Dellicker. “I was kind of itching to get a win there. He was a tough kid, and maybe I’ll see him again at regionals.”

Dellicker, who was third a year ago, reveled in the moment to be on the same stage as some of the area’s very best.

“It’s a lot, being on the floor,” Dellicker said of the moment. “There are all these great guys … it’s humbling to see yourself out there with these kids that are going D1.”

His run to the final showed he can hang with the best of them.

“It was just great motivation,” said Dellicker, a junior. “It proved that I’m just as good as any of these guys. Hopefully, I’ll see them again, and beat them again.”

Though he fell in the final, Dellicker’s win over Myers, who he was 0-3 against previously, might be the breakthrough he needs heading into regionals.

“It was huge,” said Tigers head coach Jim Moll. “Sometimes, when you finally beat that one kid who you never beat, it gets you over a hump a little bit, and it grows your confidence tremendously. You saw that in the semifinal match, and the kid from Central Catholic is tough.

“Every time he sees a kid, Jake does a little bit better. Hopefully, we get to see him again next week.”

Pagotto’s title tilt against Pesta was a rematch from the Schuylkill League tournament’s 152-pound final, which Pesta won 4-3.

“This is my first time in this atmosphere,” said Pagotto. “Especially in the finals; I had never even placed at districts before.

“He (Pesta) was just more offensive. I took a few shots I didn’t set up. I put myself in bad situations, which, if I wrestle him again, I’ll know what to do. I definitely have to set up my shots a little better, and take my time.”

The No. 2 seed at 152 pounds, Pagotto showed he can more than hold his own in the biggest moments.

“I saw I can beat people better than me, or thought to be better than me,” said the senior. “Going into that match (against Pesta), I felt confident … but I just wasn’t wrestling like I was earlier. I don’t know if it was nerves or what. I just wrestled a lot better earlier.

“If I wrestle like I did in my first and second match (at regionals), I think I can do pretty well.”

MOVING ON … The following area wrestlers also advanced to next week’s Southeast Regional tournament with top-four finishes at districts: Jim Thorpe – Derek Hunter (third, 285), William Schwartz (fourth, 106); Lehighton – Alex Zeigenfuss (third, 195), Lucas Sangiuliano (fourth, 126), Chris Whiteman (fourth, 145); Northwestern – Will Dellicker (fourth, 160); Tamaqua – Aaron Coccio (third, 132), Nate Wickersham (third, 170). Marian’s Mason Miller, wrestling with Schuylkill Haven as part of a co-op, advanced with a fourth-place finish at 220 pounds.

GOOD SPORTS … Northwestern won the Lehigh Valley Chapter of Wrestling Officials Archie Leigh Memorial Sportsmanship Award for the 2018-19 season.

SIMPLY THE BEST … Notre Dame’s Ryan Crookham, the 120-pound champ, was honored as the Class 2A Most Outstanding Wrestler. Saucon Valley mentor Chad Shirk was recognized as the Class 2A Coach of the Year after guiding the Panthers to the team title.

UP NEXT … The Class 2A Southeast Regional tournament will take place Friday and Saturday at Wilson West Lawn High School.