BETHLEHEM — The plan for Lehighton was simple Friday night — relax and wrestle.

The Indians did exactly that.

Behind six semifinalists and steady production throughout the lineup, Lehighton grabbed the early lead after the opening night of the District 11 Class 2A Wrestling Championships at Freedom High School, finishing with 77 points. Northwestern Lehigh sits close behind with 71 after placing seven wrestlers into Saturday’s semifinals, setting up a tight championship chase heading into the medal rounds.

The opening night often determines how teams can approach Saturday — cautiously protecting position or aggressively chasing titles — and both squads kept enough wrestlers alive to score throughout the tournament.

“We talked all week about just competing and not being afraid to lose,” Lehighton coach Floyd Brown said. “Just go wrestle — win or lose, give your best effort. We got everybody back tomorrow, and that was big.”

Friday’s opening session tested depth as much as star power, forcing wrestlers through pigtails, preliminaries and quarterfinals across several hours. By the end of the night, survival mattered as much as dominance — and Lehighton consistently found ways to advance.

TEAM MOMENTUM

The energy built as the night progressed.

Heavyweight Marc Macias said the approach spread from mat to mat as teammates battled through tight matches.

“The team’s wrestling really well right now,” Macias said. “No matter the score, guys are still dictating matches.”

Teammate Asher Traylor said the effect becomes contagious during a tournament setting.

“Seeing your teammate win motivates you,” Traylor said. “It holds you accountable. It’s definitely a confidence booster.”

Several of Lehighton’s wins came in close bouts, a sign Brown believed showed the mindset he wanted.

“You just want to keep wrestling,” Brown said. “If you win, great. If you lose, come back and win the next one. Every match is another opportunity.

“Some of those matches are going to be 2-1, 3-2. You’ve got to be able to handle those situations.”

INDIANS ADVANCE SIX

Lehighton placed six wrestlers into the semifinals — Jack Lucykanish (127), Lukas Croizier (139), Evan Wentz (152), Preston DiGrazia (189), Traylor (215) and Macias (285).

Lucykanish advanced through a technical fall and a pin in a match that was 7-7 at the time.

“I didn’t wrestle my best, but a win’s a win,” he said. “I kept wrestling and didn’t give up. I did it for my team.”

Croizier followed with a technical fall and a 2-1 decision in one of the more methodical matches of the session.

“I was the aggressor — even when I wasn’t scoring,” Croizier said. “Tomorrow it’s about execution.”

Wentz moved on at 152, while DiGrazia advanced at 189 with a pair of 7-3 and 9-7 decisions to set up a key semifinal matchup. Traylor and Macias closed the night by pushing Lehighton’s upper weights into championship contention. Traylor delivered a technical fall and a 4-1 decision, while Macias stormed to the semis with a 5-1 decision and a pin.

TIGERS CLOSE BEHIND

Northwestern kept pace behind a deep semifinal group — defending champion Weston Killar (127), Adam Griffith (133), Trent Croll (145), Chase Sukanick (152), Nolan Koehler (160), Vinnie Fugazzotto (172) and Luke Fugazzotto (189).

Griffith recorded back-to-back pins and said confidence has grown with experience.

“Now I know I’m as good as everyone else,” Griffith said. “I’m going for first place.”

Sukanick advanced with a pair of quick falls, while Koehler stayed on a title path in the middle weights. Luke Fugazzotto also remained in championship position as he pursues another district crown in his senior season.

OTHER CONTENDERS

Tamaqua freshman and top seed Rylan Reitz advanced at 114 pounds with a pin in his only bout of the evening.

“Just go out there and do my moves,” Reitz said. “Tomorrow I’m just going to wrestle.”

Palmerton’s Connor Messinger survived a 2-1 quarterfinal after opening with a technical fall.

“A win’s a win — I’m just trying to walk off the mat with it,” Messinger said.

At 160, Palmerton’s Dillon Anthony reached the semifinals despite wrestling a limited schedule this season.

“My goal today was honestly just to win one,” Anthony said. “I’m just grateful I get to wrestle.”

Northern Lehigh’s Mason Rothrock also advanced at 160 pounds, while Mahanoy Area’s top-seeded Rory Dixon moved on at 152.

LOCAL MATCHUPS

AND EXPERIENCE

Saturday’s semifinals feature several all-area clashes, including Lucykanish vs. Killar at 127, Dixon vs. Wentz at 152, and Luke Fugazzotto vs. DiGrazia at 189 — matches that could swing both individual titles and the team standings.

The brackets also include proven postseason experience. Killar is a defending champion, while Fugazzotto — now a senior — captured his second district title last season. Messinger, Koehler and Anthony all reached the finals a year ago.

THE TOURNAMENT SHIFT

The pace of the tournament changes dramatically Saturday.

Friday is about survival — Saturday becomes about placement. Semifinal winners secure spots in the championship finals, while consolation wrestlers must win multiple bouts in a short span to reach the podium.

District 11 will award medals to the top five finishers in each weight class, with the top four advancing to next weekend’s Southeast Regional tournament and one step closer to the PIAA Championships in Hershey.

The tournament resumes Saturday at 9 a.m. at Freedom High School, with medal rounds and the Parade of Champions leading into the championship finals at 5:15 p.m. at Liberty High School — a day that will determine champions, regional qualifiers and the District 11 team title.

“Just go wrestle,” Brown said. “That’s all we want them thinking about tomorrow.”