LITITZ — The Southeast Regional does not hand out favors.

With Faith Christian Academy and Bishop McDevitt stacked across nearly every weight class, every win had to be earned — and every mistake magnified.

In that field, four state berths carried weight — and Northwestern claimed them on Saturday at Warwick High School.

Behind a runner-up finish from Luke Fugazzotto and a deep lineup throughout the bracket, the Tigers placed fourth in the team standings with 86.5 points — trailing only Faith Christian (258), Bishop McDevitt (210) and Trinity (131) — and will send four wrestlers to the PIAA Class 2A Championships at the Giant Center.

Northwestern’s finish came in a regional dominated by Faith Christian — coached by Northwestern graduate Ben Clymer — which crowned six champions and nearly tripled the Tigers’ team total.

Joining Fugazzotto in Hershey are Vinnie Fugazzotto (172), Nolan Koehler (160) and Chase Sukanick (152). Mahanoy Area’s Rory Dixon (152) and Tamaqua freshman Rylan Reitz (114) also secured state bids, as the top five in each weight class advanced.

Luke’s final run

For the second straight season, Luke Fugazzotto reached the regional final. The senior pinned his first two opponents in a combined 1 minute, 19 seconds before earning a 4-1 semifinal decision to advance.

In the championship bout, Fugazzotto faced Faith Christian Academy’s Adam Waters — a three-time defending state champion with a 162-7 career record and a commitment to Ohio State. Waters pulled away for a 19-2 technical fall.

“It just shows me where I need to get better,” Fugazzotto said. “When you wrestle some of the best kids in the country, you know what you’re up against and you know what you’ve got to train to do.”

Now 158-24 in his career, Fugazzotto was a state finalist two years ago and placed seventh at states last season. He is committed to continue his wrestling career at George Mason.

The finals appearance marked his second straight trip to the regional championship, and secured his fourth consecutive berth to Hershey.

“I’ve really grown and experienced a lot,” he said. “States can’t really surprise me anymore. It’s nothing new — just the same stuff.”

Fugazzotto believes he’s peaking at the right time.

“Definitely. There’s still things I can do better, but compared to midseason to now, I’m in the process of adjusting and getting where I need to be.”

Now he’ll make one final trip to the Giant Center — and he won’t be alone.

“It’s my last ride,” Fugazzotto said. “We’ve got the most guys we’ve ever taken. It’s definitely a good thing. It’s nice to have a lot of company.”

Experience and first-timers

Koehler, a returning state qualifier, navigated a loaded 160-pound bracket to secure his second straight trip to Hershey. After earning a technical fall in the quarterfinals, he dropped a 2-1 tiebreaker decision in the semifinals before finishing fourth.

“It was a good match,” Koehler said of his 2-1 loss to Berks Catholic’s Layden Acevedo in the semis. “I slowed it down and kind of made it my match. I was close. I just have to dig a little deeper at the end and pull it through.”

“It’s fun knowing we doubled our people going to states from last year,” he added. “It’s a great group of guys. We’re going to go out, have fun and hopefully place.”

Vinnie Fugazzotto, a District 11 champion this season along with Luke Fugazzotto and Koehler, will make his first state appearance after wrestling back to third at 172.

“I planned on making the finals, but that didn’t happen,” he said. “Wrestling back and taking third made me pretty happy.”

“It feels pretty nice because we get to go as a team,” he added. “We get to support each other.”

Sukanick is also headed to Hershey for the first time after falling in the blood round a year ago.

“Last year I got cut short in the blood round,” Sukanick said. “So it definitely feels a lot better. I hope to do some damage up at states.”

After dropping a 17-1 decision to Dixon in the District 11 final last week, Sukanick showed clear improvement in the regional rematch for third place.

“Last week I was having trouble on my feet,” he said. “Today I felt more scrappy. I hand-fought better and tried not to let him get to the ankle pick as much.”

Dixon adjusts

Dixon, who also qualified for states last season, opened his tournament with back-to-back technical falls at 152 before falling in the semifinals by a 14-8 score to Pequea Valley’s Cole Byler.

He rebounded with major decisions over Easton Comp of Bishop McDevitt and Sukanick to claim third.

Dixon’s regional rematch with Sukanick required adjustments — ones the junior was eager to make.

“Guys you see often try to adjust to your style,” Dixon said. “He adjusted. I felt it throughout the match, and then I adjusted to his adjustment.”

After some frustration in the semifinal loss, Dixon reset quickly.

“(Assistant) Coach (Shane Quick) reminded me I made it to states last year coming off (knee) surgery, and not to let a banged up elbow or a loss in the semifinals get in my way now,” he said. “After that, I came out and lit up the scoreboard.”

His goal in Hershey is simple.

“Let’s get a medal this year,” Dixon said. “I don’t want to leave there with nothing again.”

A freshman breakthrough

Reitz, a freshman and District 11 champion, punched his ticket at 114 in dramatic fashion.

After reaching the quarterfinals, he won two wrestle-back matches to set up a fifth-place showdown with Cason Vazquez of Bristol — with the final state berth on the line.

Reitz built a 12-2 lead before surrendering a takedown and four near-fall points with 1:17 remaining to trim the margin to 12-9.

With 35 seconds left, he secured a reversal and added three near-fall points as time expired to seal a 17-9 major decision.

“Just not getting pinned and staying off my back,” Reitz said of his thoughts. “Win the match.”

After early nerves on the first day, Reitz settled in.

“Once I weighed in, I was like, just go out there and win my matches,” he said. “Do what I’ve done all season.”

Now he’ll experience Hershey for the first time.

“Just trying my best out there,” Reitz said. “There’s a lot of good kids that are going to be there.”

The grind

Lehighton enjoyed a tremendous season and sent seven wrestlers to regionals, highlighted by a sixth-place effort from heavyweight Marc Macias, and a seventh-place finish from Lukas Croizier at 139 pounds.

Palmerton also had a pair of wrestlers compete at Warwick, as Dillon Anthony (160) and Connor Messinger (127) both competed in deep brackets before falling in consolation bouts.

For Fugazzotto, it’s one final run — a fourth straight trip west with unfinished business.

For Koehler and Dixon, it’s a return to a familiar stage.

For Vinnie Fugazzotto, Sukanick and Reitz, it’s the first taste of it.

And for Northwestern, in a regional dominated by state — and national — powers, a fourth-place finish and four qualifiers is proof the Tigers belong.

Four Tigers. Six area wrestlers.

The Giant Center awaits.