Milestones in wrestling don’t arrive all at once.

They accumulate quietly — one match, one season, one weight class at a time — until a number finally carries weight.

For Jim Thorpe Olympians standout Stephen Korte, that moment came on Dec. 29, the opening day of the Jim Thorpe Christmas Tournament, when the decorated senior earned the 100th victory of his career.

“It’s something I’ve been thinking about since freshman year,” Korte said. “That was my main goal — to get to 100 wins. It felt really good to get that. It’s a big milestone for me.”

The setting made the achievement even more meaningful.

“To have that opportunity and to get it here — how cool is that?” Jim Thorpe coach Dan Heaney said. “It was great to do it at home, at a Christmas tournament. Big crowd, everyone looks forward to it. That made it special.”

Korte’s milestone reflects steady growth across four varsity seasons and multiple weight classes. He currently holds a 109-38 career record, and is 15-4 midway through the season, reaching the mark while wrestling primarily at 133 pounds. He later forfeited the third-place bout at the Christmas Tournament, but the milestone had already been secured.

Korte returned to action on Jan. 7, making an immediate statement by pinning Garrick Kuder of Wilson Area in 49 seconds, underscoring that the achievement hasn’t slowed his momentum.

Across his career, Korte has won in a variety of ways, recording 53 pins, 24 technical falls and 11 major decisions. The breakdown underscores an aggressive, offense-first approach that has translated across multiple weight classes and classifications.

“I’ve definitely seen a big improvement from my first match as a freshman to now,” Korte said. “I’m a lot faster, more sleek, better technique — just better overall.”

The numbers support that progression.

As a freshman, Korte went 27-11, placing sixth at districts while competing in Class 2A. He followed that with a 35-10 sophomore season, finishing as the District 11 runner-up. Last year, after the Olympians moved up to Class 3A, Korte again qualified for districts and placed sixth while posting a 32-13 record, continuing to hold his own against deeper competition.

Korte’s success has extended beyond the high school postseason. Last year, he captured the 136-pound title in the 15–16 division at the Keystone State Championships, going 5-0 and outscoring his opponents 55-13 over the two-day event — another sign of his ability to elevate his game against high-level competition.

“It’s been fun to watch him progress and develop,” Heaney said. “He loves what he’s doing. He works hard every single day. He’s always smiling, always positive. If he were 0-10, I’d still want 10 of him in the room because he’s just a great kid.”

In Jim Thorpe’s wrestling history, 100 wins is a rare benchmark. State chapion Kevan Gentile holds the program’s all-time record with 142 career victories, while Gabe Heaney was the most recent Olympian to reach the 100-win mark before Korte.

The banner hanging in the gym underscores just how selective the group is — and how much consistency it takes to join it.

“He’s aggressive. He’s fun to watch. He’s fun to coach,” Dan Heaney said. “He’s coachable, and he has goals. That’s why he’s successful.”

Even after reaching 100 wins, Korte hasn’t treated the milestone as an endpoint.

“Now it’s like, OK, we did that — what’s next?” he said. “I’d like to get to 125 wins ... it’s another goal I can set in my head. Then it’s districts, regionals, and hopefully states.”

Rather than writing goals down, Korte keeps them internal.

“I don’t really write anything down,” he said. “My goals are already in my head. I know what I’ve got to do. It’s just about the process now.”

That mindset has been shaped by years in the sport. Korte has wrestled since first grade, drawn in by competition and family influence.

Korte said his father, Stephen Korte Sr., competed in boxing, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu and other combat sports. Though he did not wrestle, he passed along a love for training and competition.

“My dad was really into it,” Korte said. “I wanted to be like him. Nobody likes coming off the mat losing. If you’re losing, you put more work in.”

Heaney said that approach shows up daily in the room, where Korte has become a quiet leader.

“He helps other kids,” Heaney said. “He doesn’t just beat up on them. He coaches them. I joke and call him ‘Coach Korte’ sometimes. He sets the example of what it takes to be successful.”

The significance of reaching 100 wins at home wasn’t lost on Korte.

“It’s stuff that stays with you forever,” he said. “Twenty years from now, you could come back, watch a match, and remember standing on that mat with your family. That’s pretty cool.”

The banner moment has passed, but the mindset hasn’t changed.

“You can’t get complacent,” Korte said. “Once you start slacking, that’s when you go downhill. You just keep working and focus on the next thing.”

For Stephen Korte, the next thing is already waiting — and the climb continues.

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GIRLS COAL CRACKER TOURNAMENT ... The Girls Coal Cracker Tournament returns this weekend to Jim Thorpe Area High School, continuing its rise as one of the region’s premier in-season events for girls wrestling.

The two-day tournament will be held Friday and Saturday, Jan. 16–17, and is expected to feature 45 teams, making it one of the largest girls wrestling events held locally this season.

Among the participating schools from the Times News coverage area are Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, Palmerton, Panther Valley, Pleasant Valley and Tamaqua.

The tournament will include high school varsity and junior varsity divisions competing across six mats.

Schedule

• Friday: Weigh-ins at 3 p.m.; wrestling begins at 4:30 p.m.

• Saturday: Weigh-ins at 8 a.m.; wrestling begins at 9 a.m.

Format & Awards

• Varsity: PIAA weight classes; double entries allowed per weight

• JV: Multiple entries per weight class

• Brackets: Double elimination for both divisions

Varsity champions will receive the Coal Cracker trophy, with medals awarded through eighth place.

JV medals will be awarded to the top four finishers.

Tournament Note

Seating for spectators will be very limited due to the size of the field. Tournament officials emphasized that the depth and quality of competition remains the primary focus of the event.

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1,000-POINT MILESTONES ... Scoring milestones have been plentiful across the area this winter, with five players reaching the 1,000-point plateau during the 2025-26 season.

The list includes Cole Dietz of Lehighton, Ian McKeegan of Weatherly, Morgan Orsulak of Panther Valley, and Tegan Simms of Northern Lehigh.

Most recently, Kellen Bauer joined the club on Jan. 13, giving Northern Lehigh two 1,000-point scorers in the same season.

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MILESTONE MAT MOMENT ... Luke Fugazzotto reached another milestone on Dec. 12, recording his 100th career pin as Northwestern rolled past Palisades, 71-6.

Fugazzotto hit the mark by flipping Will Kapp in 1:31 at 215 pounds. The win marked his 131st career victory at the time (131-21).

A three-time state qualifier and two-time District 11 champion, Fugazzotto — who placed second at states as a sophomore and seventh as a junior — is now 150-23 for his career with 115 pins.

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RECORD BREAKER ... Marian’s Lydia Strucko set a new pool record in the 100 backstroke at Blue Mountain on Jan. 8, breaking her own mark with a time of 58.21.

Strucko’s previous record of 59.32 was set on Dec. 3, 2024. She also captured a win in the 200 individual medley.

A junior, Strucko earned her first PIAA state medal last season, finishing sixth in the 100 backstroke.

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CLINCHED ... As of Jan. 14, the following area basketball teams have clinched District 11 playoff berths:

• Girls (Class 4A): Lehighton, Northwestern Lehigh and Palmerton.

• Boys (Class 4A): Northwestern Lehigh.

Currently Lehighton, Northwestern and Palmerton occupy the top three spots in the Class 4A girls standings. The unbeaten Indians (15-0) and Tigers (13-3) will meet for the first time this season on Friday, Jan. 16.