The postseason is looming.

Coaches know it.

Wrestlers know it.

Lehighton and Palmerton wrestled like it on Monday night.

The Indians turned back the Blue Bombers 42-34 in a non-league match with an atmosphere that had more than a hint of what might be to come for both programs.

“That was energizing,” said Lehighton head coach Floyd Brown. “The environment was nice, there was a good crowd here, and everyone in the crowd was loud. So just getting the experience of being out there in front of that, and trying to stay focused on the match at-hand, I think they get a lot out of that.

“On paper, I had the match really coming in, so I knew they matched up very well with us.”

And that’s how it played out.

The Indians (4-2) got big performances in key spots throughout the lineup, including pins from Steven Fritzinger (126), Lucas Sangiuliano (132), Mason Ferguson (113) and Alex Zeigenfuss (182).

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“We thought it would be a close match, and we knew we would need to get some bonus points,” said Zeigenfuss. “Getting a couple pins here and there helped us win the match.”

“It put a lot more pressure on you, if you didn’t get those bonus points and if you gave up bonus points,” added Ferguson. “It could have changed the match drastically.”

Ferguson’s pin at 113 put the match out of reach, increasing Lehighton’s lead to 42-30 with only one bout remaining.

Sangiuliano was able to finish off Dennis Lombardi in the third period despite suffering a leg injury earlier in the bout. The junior — a district runner-up as a freshman — delivered to put the Indians up 12-0 after two matches.

“I knew I couldn’t really injury default because my team needed to try to get six (points) from me,” said Sangiuliano. “So I just dealt with the pain, and went out there and wrestled like it didn’t hurt or bother me at all.

“It means a lot, knowing I can push myself, and how hard I can go, and just wrestle with it.”

Those points proved vital after the Bombers (1-5) stormed back to take the lead.

Three straight pins from Colton Stroup (138), Lucas Christman (145) and Matt Lalik (152) put Palmerton ahead 18-12 and shifted momentum.

But the Indians answered. Logan Pagotto (160) delivered bonus points with a tech. fall, as did Richard Fronheiser (170), who won by major decision, to put Lehighton back in front before a pin from Zeigenfuss made it 27-18.

After Palmerton cut it to 27-24 with a forfeit at 195 pounds, Christian Rodriguez hung on for a 5-3 decision at 220 to push the Indians’ advantage back to six points.

Michael Stepp’s fall at 285 pounds reignited the Bombers and knotted the score at 30-30 with three matches left.

A forfeit at 106, followed by Ferguson’s pin, sealed the victory. Gabriel Ramos won by major decision for Palmerton in the final match at 120 pounds.

“I always expect our guys to perform to the point where we’re going to get winning results,” said Palmerton head coach Justin Petersen. “Do I think we wrestled bad? No. But, like I just got done telling the kids, in our five losses, four of them have been by single digits.

“So that should tell you, we are right there, ready to take the next step, we’re just not doing it yet. It’s great to be competing; it’s a good atmosphere; now we’re in matches until the end. But now I want to take it to the next step, and we got to win those matches. And it comes down to swing matches that we need to take care of.”

NOT TOO FAR AWAY

… The District 11 Team Wrestling Championships are scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 31, and Saturday Feb. 2. The top-12 Class 3A and 2A teams, based on the district’s power rating system, will qualify for the event. The individual district tournament is set for Friday, Feb. 22, and Saturday, Feb. 23.

BUT FIRST

… Lehighton will host its annual Indian Duals Tournament this Saturday. Look for more information about the event, which will also feature Jim Thorpe and Panther Valley, in this Thursday’s first weekly wrestling column.

Lehighton 42, Palmerton 34

126 – Steven Fritzinger (L) pinned Grant Scott in 1:54; 132 – Lucas Sangiuliano (L) pinned Dennis Lombardi in 4:24; 138 – Colton Stroup (P) pinned JJ Marrero in 3:27; 145 – Lucas Christman (P) pinned Chris Whiteman in :35; 152 – Matt Lalik (P) pinned Jon Ahner in 1:36; 160 – Logan Pagotto (L) tech. fall Hunter Fierro, 17-0 (5:32); 170 – Richard Fronheiser (L) maj. dec. Dylan Gonyo, 15-4; 182 – Alex Zeigenfuss (L) pinned Aidan Melber in 2:55; 195 – Chris Lucykanish (PP) won by forfeit; 220 – Christian Rodriguez (L) dec. Jeremy Mooney, 5-3; 285 – Michael Stepp (P) pinned Darrell Hull in 2:52; 106 – Lukas Ferguson (L) won by forfeit; 113 – Mason Ferguson (L) pinned Aaron Gardner in 1:08; 120

- Gabriel Ramos (P) maj. dec. David Miller, 20-8