POTTSVILLE – It was business as usual for Lehighton’s Connor Frey Friday night at the Schuylkill League Wrestling Tournament.

Frey, the only returning individual champion from the Times News area from last year’s event, earned a dominant win and a spot in today’s semifinals.Well, maybe it wasn’t entirely routine for the Old Dominion-bound senior.In his only bout of the evening at Pottsville’s historic Martz Hall, Frey pinned Pottsville’s Cyle Hinson in 1:05 to earn the 124th victory of his career, surpassing Derek Brownmiller’s school record and further establishing himself as one of Lehighton’s all-time greats.“It means a lot to me,” Frey said afterward. “Brandon was my middle school coach, and Jared and Derek have come in and practiced me over the last few years. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them and their family.“My goal was to represent my town and get it back on the map. And this win means a lot.”Frey tied the record with a forfeit victory Wednesday against Tamaqua, and a first-round bye Friday meant he was anxious and eager to finally get back on the mat.“I felt like I was wrestling out at states,” Frey said of his nerves. “When I was going for my 100th win (last year) I lost twice – in the regional final and in the first round at states. So it felt really good to come out and get this off my chest.”A moment four years in the making, Lehighton head coach Danny Williams was sure he had something special in Frey the first time he saw him wrestle.“I knew in his freshman year that he was the real deal,” Williams said. “As a freshman, I could put him anywhere in the lineup and he was able to compete, and do so against some really tough guys.“To have someone like that be the cornerstone of your lineup as a freshman, I knew he was special.”Frey’s milestone win highlighted what proved to be a successful evening for area wrestlers. Including Frey, 13 TN grapplers advanced to today’s semifinals.Panther Valley leads the way with six wrestlers still alive for gold medals when action resumes with today at noon with the semifinals.“It went pretty much as planned,” said Panthers head coach Tim Robb. “But tomorrow’s going to be a different day.”Miguel Santiago (106), Darren Goida (126), Tanner Kennedy (132), Hunter Kennedy (138), Ali Capobianco (152) and Dylan Moyer (182) all have a chance at standing atop of the medal stand at the end of the day.Moyer, who lost to Frey in last year’s 182-pound final, is looking forward to having the chance to redeem himself against Blue Mountain’s Devon Krammes in today’s semifinal.“I know I need to go in and be very confident,” said Moyer. “I lost to him (Krammes) at our dual meet earlier this year, 5-1, but I wasn’t feeling well. That’s no excuse, and I know I have to go in there with a better mindset and go in there knowing I can beat him.”That will be the mentality for all of the wrestlers still alive.Including Frey, Lehighton will have five wrestlers in the running for a gold medal.Nathan Kemmerer (106), Tegan Durishin (138), Cody Scherer (152), Dylan Schock (160) and Frey all made it to the semis. Durishin made it to the finals last year, but lost a 7-2 decision to Tamaqua’s Dylan Rynkiewicz.“We brought 11 guys to the tournament and have 10 coming back tomorrow,” Williams said, referencing Logan Pagotto (113), Zachary Kemmerer (126), Chris Whiteman (132), Tyler Schock (138), and Xander Smith (285), who are all alive in the consolation bracket.“We want everyone that has a chance to place and get a medal. That’s what we’re expecting.”Tamaqua’s Tanner McHugh also reached the final a year ago and put himself in a position to get back there again this season.McHugh earned a 6-4 decision over Blue Mountain’s Hunter Blankenhorn to punch his ticket to the semis, where he will face a familiar foe in Goida.McHugh went 3-0 against Goida a year ago, but knows their first meeting this season won’t be easy.“Every kid around here in your weight class knows you,” McHugh noted. “And even though I won all three times against him last year, I’m still going to go in motivated to do what I have to do to come out with the win.”Another wrestler looking for his first league title is Jim Thorpe’s Kevan Gentile, who took third at the league tournament last season.Gentile, a state medalist a year ago, took care of business quickly Friday night, pinning Upper Dauphin’s Brock Welker in 17 seconds in the quarterfinals.“I feel good,” Gentile said. “I feel like I can win this year. I’m just going to drive and push myself even more to make sure I win.”STILL ALIVE… While those are the 13 in position to wrestle for an individual title, several others have a chance to leave Martz Hall today wit a medal. Competing in the wrestlebacks for Jim Thorpe are John Newhall (113), Cameron Condly (152), Jarrin Geisinger (160), Robbie Geisinger (170), Steven Counterman (182), Justice Batts (220) and Ryan O’Rourke (285); for Panther Valley are Kyle Rusnak (113), Justin Ogozalek (120), Xander Kern (160), Hunter Kerestes (170), and Justin Rodriguez (285); and for Tamaqua is Kahlid Holland (120).HOW THEY STACK UP… After the first night of competition, Pottsville (77.5) held a slight edge over Blue Mountain (75) in the team standings while Panther Valley (68.5) was fourth and Lehighton (66) fifth. Jim Thorpe (27) came in at No. 11 and Tamaqua (15) 15th.UP NEXT. …Action will resume today with the championship semifinals and third round consolation matches at noon. The consolation semis will take place at 3 p.m. and the championship finals and consolation finals (for 3rd and 5th places) will take place at 5 p.m.