BETHLEHEM — A year ago, Northwestern Lehigh left Liberty High School with proof it was close.

Saturday night, the Tigers left with proof they were ready.

Behind three individual champions — including senior Luke Fugazzotto’s third district title — Northwestern captured the District 11 Class 2A team championship, scoring 164.5 points to finish ahead of Lehighton (147) and complete the climb from runner-up to champion while also sending six wrestlers to regionals.

For a program that hadn’t claimed a district team title in nearly two decades, the moment felt earned.

“I thought we could come in and win,” said head coach Joe Killar, who was named the District 11 Class 2A Coach of the Year. “I thought we’d get six guys in the finals. I thought we wrestled to our ability.”

They did — and they dominated along the way.

Last season, Northwestern advanced to the PIAA team tournament after finishing as the District 11 2A team dual runner-up. The Tigers later placed second in the team standings at the District 11 individual tournament.

This winter, however, their team dual run ended in the district semifinals against Tri-Valley — a result that lingered.

“There was definitely motivation there,” said Nolan Koehler, who earned his first district title Saturday for the Tigers. “We didn’t get where we thought we would in team districts.”

The individual tournament offered a second opportunity — and Northwestern seized it.

Luke’s legacy grows

Luke Fugazzotto didn’t just win another district title Saturday night.

He strengthened a legacy.

The Northwestern senior pinned Tri-Valley’s Maxwell Masser in 43 seconds at 189 pounds to capture his third District 11 championship. Earlier in the day, he needed just 13 seconds to flatten Lehighton’s Preston DiGrazia in the semifinals.

Fugazzotto first won a district title as a freshman. He added another last season. Now, he closes his district career with a third crown.

The Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Boys Wrestler of the Year each of the last three seasons, Fugazzotto has qualified for the PIAA Championships all four years. He finished second in the state as a sophomore, and placed seventh last season. At regionals, he has climbed steadily — fourth, third and second over the past three seasons.

His career record now stands at 155-23, including 120 pins. Next fall, he will continue his wrestling career at George Mason.

“It’s definitely really special,” Fugazzotto said. “Especially since our team won. That was really big to me.”

For a senior who helped lead Northwestern to team states last year, the team championship carried equal weight.

“We weren’t at full strength in team districts,” he said. “But to see everybody pull together here — that meant a lot.”

Growth across the lineup

Northwestern’s title was built on progression.

At 160 pounds, sophomore Nolan Koehler finished the climb. After placing second last year at 152, Koehler captured gold with a 1:58 pin in the finals to dispatch Tri-Valley’s Parker Hatter. Earlier in the day, the top seed rolled to a 16-0 technical fall over Palmerton’s Dillon Anthony in the semifinals.

Now 30-7 this season, Koehler said the moment felt familiar.

“Finals just felt kind of normal now,” said Koehler, who also advanced to states last season. “I knew what my mindset needed to be.”

At 172, sophomore Vinnie Fugazzotto improved from third last season to champion. The second seed earned a 10-0 major decision in the semifinals against Central Catholic’s Alexander Tripoli, before securing a 1:17 fall in the finals against Pine Grove’s Isaiah Miller.

Now 35-7 this year, Fugazzotto credited the room for the team’s steady climb.

“It feels like we’re taking another step forward,” he said. “We push each other hard in the room, and it shows out here.”

Weston Killar, a sophomore and last year’s district champion, also reached the finals at 127 pounds, where he fell to top seed Carter Chunko of Saucon Valley. Like several of his teammates, he leaned on experience from a year ago.

“It helps a lot,” Killar said. “We kind of know what to expect now.”

That familiarity — paired with healthy competition in the room — has elevated the group.

“We push each other a lot,” he said.

The Tigers also had Trent Croll in the finals at 145 pounds. The junior will make his first appearance at regionals.

Dixon’s rise continues

Mahanoy Area junior Rory Dixon didn’t just win a district title. He controlled the tournament.

After finishing third at districts last season and qualifying for states for the first time, Dixon returned with experience and authority. The top seed at 152 pounds rolled through the bracket, which included a 19-3 technical fall over Lehighton’s Evan Wentz in the semifinals.

He followed with a 17-1 technical fall over Northwestern’s Chase Sukanick in the championship bout.

“Scoring early just sets the tone,” Dixon said. “It makes the kid think, ‘Oh no.’ If I can score that early, I can score a bunch throughout the match.”

Now 44-4 this season, Dixon, who attends Marian and wrestles for Mahanoy through a co-op between the schools, reached the 100-win milestone earlier this year. His dominance at Liberty earned him Outstanding Wrestler honors.

“We have a system,” Dixon said. “If Plan A isn’t there, I’ve got B, C, D.”

A year ago, he arrived at regionals as a first-time qualifier.

This time, he arrives as one of the favorites.

“I’m just grateful for one more week,” he said.

Frosh makes statement

Tamaqua freshman Rylan Reitz wrestled like anything but a newcomer.

The top seed at 114 pounds powered into the finals with a 17-0 technical fall over Easton Moore in 2:14, before pinning Pen Argyl’s Mason Ramsay in 1:35 to claim district gold.

“A lot more relaxed,” Reitz said. “It’s very important to just wrestle my stuff.”

Now 35-6 on the season, Reitz showed confidence in every position.

“I’m good in all my spots.”

Even before stepping off the podium, his focus had shifted.

“Pretty much as soon as I made weight the second day, I was thinking about regionals.”

For a freshman, the moment didn’t overwhelm him. It elevated him.

Lehighton keeps climbing

Lehighton stayed within striking distance throughout the two-day tournament.

Heavyweight Marc Macias, a junior who placed fourth at districts last season, advanced to the championship bout before falling in a tight 1-0 decision against top seed Camron Green of Williams Valley.

“Obviously the outcome I wanted didn’t happen,” Macias said. “But I got the experience. I know the feeling now. I belong here.”

At 139 pounds, junior Lukas Croizier improved on last year’s third-place finish by reaching the finals, where he battled before falling to Pen Argyl’s Collin Ramsay 7-1. Ramsay was the top seed.

Lehighton also qualified Evan Wentz (third at 152), Ryder Croizier (fourth at 114) and Asher Traylor (fourth at 215) for regionals.

Palmerton advanced Connor Messinger (third at 127) and Dillon Anthony (third at 160).

Southeast Regional Up Next

District 11’s qualifiers will compete in the PIAA Class 2A Southeast Regional Tournament on Friday, Feb. 27 and Saturday, Feb. 28 at Warwick High School (301 W. Orange Street, Lititz).

The regional includes qualifiers from Districts 1, 3, 11 and 12.

The top five from regionals will advance to states in Hershey.