BETHLEHEM – Chris Whiteman didn’t take too much time to reflect on the accomplishment.

But the Lehighton senior certainly took a moment to appreciate it.

With two victories on the opening night of the District 11 Class 2A Wrestling Tournament, Whiteman reached 100 for his career.

And punched his ticket to the semifinals.

“It’s really special,” he said. “I’ve been working super hard to get to this point in my career. It just feels like a relief, because I was chasing it all year, and I finally got it tonight.”

Whiteman’s next test is a tough one, with top seed Andrew Cerniglia of Notre Dame Green Pond on deck in the semis.

“Now my next goal is just to keep moving on in the postseason, and get ready for tomorrow,” he said.

Whiteman, the No. 4 seed at 145, hit the milestone with an 8-2 decision over Thomas Allison (Mahanoy) in the quarterfinals. He opened the night by pinning Pen Argyl’s Brilynd Madeya 0:33.

“The first match was good, just to get the jitters out,” Whiteman said. “The first match of the tournament, you always have some butterflies.

“The second match, I just was focused, and I felt really focused the whole match. I just made sure I got that win, and I was doing everything I needed to do to get the win. It felt pretty good.”

Whiteman’s triumph highlighted a strong start for Times News area wrestlers in the Class 2A tournament. A total of 13 area grapplers left advanced to Saturday’s semifinals.

While Whiteman quickly reset on his next task, Lehighton head coach Floyd Brown paused to put the accomplishment in perspective.

“It’s great for him,” said Brown. “He’s one of the that comes in every day; he’s a hard worker, and he’s a guy that all the other kids on our team can look up to, with his work ethic, and the way he goes out and wrestles tough all the time.

“So congrats to him, he’s been a pleasure to coach. It’s been outstanding.”

More Indians

The Indians’ Lucas Sangiuliano (126), Logan Pagotto (152) and Alex Zeigenfuss (195) also made it to the semis Friday night at Freedom’s Joseph J. McIntyre Gymnasium.

Sangiuliano finds himself in a familiar position. The junior appears to have the form that made him a district runner-up as a freshman, finishing Ryan Gilbert (Saucon Valley) in 0:41 in his first match before earning a technical fall (18-2 2:55) over Tamaqua’s Randy Steigerwalt in the quarters.

“I feel good at my normal weight,” said Sangiulino, who wrestled at 132 throughout the season. “I finally feel like I can compete with these other kids, not giving up much, or any weight. I just feel like I’m stronger than some of these kids that I’m wrestling.

“I just have to be focused.”

The No. 4 seed, Sangiuliano will face top seed Brandon Chletsos of Notre Dame Green Pond in the semis.

Pagotto, the second seed at 152, had a bye in the first round before picking up a 7-4 decision over Mason Smeland (Palisades) in the quarters. The senior will face No. 3 seed Anthony Micci of Wilson in the semis.

Zeigenfuss had a forfeit in his first round match against Salisbury’s Ashton Thomas in the first round, and held on for a 3-2 decision over Austin Ashenfalder (Pen Argyl) in the quarters. Zeigenfuss faces top seed Colin Fegley of Mahanoy Area in the semis.

Olympian efforts

Jim Thorpe has three wrestlers in the semifinals in Austin Williams (182), Ethan Mordaunt (220) and Derek Hunter (285).

Coming off a bye in the first round as the No. 2 seed at 182, Williams was impressive with an 8-5 decision over Northwestern’s Tyler Watson in the quarters.

But he knows there’s still more work to be done.

“Right now, I feel like I’m all right, but I feel like there’s more I could do,” Williams said. “There’s things that definitely need to be corrected.

“My goal is to always score points, and it’s really going to come in handy now that we’re into the postseason. It’s my last year, and I want to make a run.”

Williams will face No. 3 seed Braydyn Lugardo of Saucon Valley in the semis.

Hunter spent a whopping 1:19 on the mat in his two matches, while Mordaunt needed just :22 to make it through the quarters.

Pinning Palmerton’s Michael Stepp in 0:09 put Hunter into the quarters, where he finished off Roger Russell (Wilson) in 1:10.

Mordaunt, the top seed at 220, blasted Eshan Swartz (Notre Dame GP) in 0:22 to reach the semis.

Hunter will face No. 2 seed Ryan Weitz of North Schuylkill in the semis, while Mordaunt takes on No. 5 seed Mason Miller of Schuylkill Haven.

Tamaqua trio

Tamaqua also had three wrestlers reach the semis in Aaron Coccio (132), Nate Wickersham (170) and Bronson Strouse.

Strouse pinned Sean Rumsey (Pen Argyl) in the prelims, and followed that with a fall over Panther Valley’s Aaron Eidem in the quarters. Strouse, the No. 4 seed, will face top seed Nickolas Warnke of Saucon Valley in the semis.

Coccio, a Schuylkill League runner-up this season, picked up a 9-4 decision over Lehighton’s Steven Fritzinger in the prelims before powering past Mahanoy’s Cesear Rivera 8-2 in the quarters.

“It feels great,” said Coccio. “I was definitely really nervous. But I just have to make sure I relax before my match, and try to not think about anything else. It helps a lot.

“My focus was really good, better than I thought it was going to be. That was the second time we’ve (Rivera) wrestled, and the last time I only beat him 4-2.”

Seeded fourth, Coccio wrestles top seed Josh Jones of Saucon Valley in the semis.

Wickersham pinned Bradley Panto (Catasauqua) and Alexis Perez (Mahanoy) to reach the semis, where will face No. 2 seed Isaiah DeJesus of Notre Dame Green Pond.

Repping the CL

Colonial League members Northwestern, Northern Lehigh and Palmerton all placed one wrestler in the semifinals.

The Tigers’ Jake Dellicker (113), the Bulldogs’ Damion Rodriguez (170) and the Bombers’ Lucas Christman (138) all advanced without a loss.

Dellicker pulled perhaps the biggest upset of the night, knocking off top seed Mikey Myers of Williams Valley 3-1 in the quarters.

“It feels great, being 0-3 him previously,” said Dellicker, who scored in the final 30 seconds to knock off Myers.

“I knew I was in better shape than him. My plan was to wait for a shot to open up, I saw it and I took it. It feels great to win a tough match like that. I know I have a few more tough ones coming up, but that was a huge confidence boost.”

The junior defeated Jim Thorpe’s Gabe Heaney with a 14-2 major decision in the prelims.

“I felt pretty good, a little stiff,” said Dellicker. “I had some nerves, but you’ll always have that. You just have to wrestle through it.”

Dellicker will wrestle No. 4 seed Tony Morello of Notre Dame Green Pond in the semis.

Rodriguez also needed a late score, topping Saucon Valley’s Jarrett Hirschbeck 7-5 in sudden victory to reach the semis.

“It feels great, just because of the fact that last year, I barely made it to the second day,” said Rodriguez. “My coaches keep telling me to work my match, work my match, and that’s what I’m going to keep doing. I’m not going to let that change just because of who I’m wrestle.

“We knew he was a thrower, and he liked his hip tosses, he liked his underhooks, so I just tried to fight out of it. I got hit with a few stall calls because of it. But I just worked with it. I know he hit me with that last one that tied the match, but I just went with it, I rolled with it, I took my last shot, and I got it.”

Rodriguez will see top seed Kolt Schaeffer of Tri-Valley in the semis.

Christman pinned Dylan Ashenfalder (Pen Argyl) in 47 seconds in the prelims, and advanced to the semis by default over Attikos Clifford (Central Catholic). The senior will wrestle top seed Thomas Spirk of Saucon Valley in the semis.

LOOKING AHEAD … Action resumes today with the second round consolations at 9 a.m. The semifinals and third round consolations are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., and will be followed by fourth round consolations at 1.

The third- and fifth-place matches will be held at 4 p.m. The Parade of Champions if scheduled for 5:30 p.m., with the finals to follow at 5:45 at Liberty.

STILL ALIVE … The following wrestlers are still alive in the consolation bracket: Jim Thorpe – William Schwartz (106), Gabe Heaney (113), Austin Givens (120), Andrew Eisenhardt (132), Caleb McDermott (152), Nick Fayocavitz (160), Jared Newhall (170), Kendall Herron (195); Lehighton – Lukas Ferguson (106), Mason Ferguson (113), David Miller (120), Richard Fronheiser (170), Christian Rodriguez (220); Palmerton – Aaron Gardner (106), Gabriel Ramos (113), Dennis Lombardi (132), Shawn Gardner (145), Matt Lalik (152), Hunter Fierro (160), Chris Lucykanish (195); Northern Lehigh – Preston Bauer (120), Trevor Amorim (132), Joey Abidelli (152), Dominic Bandle (195), Jason Hunter (220), Josh Schaffer (285); Northwestern – Eli Dellicker (106), Mason Brensinger (120), Ben Griffith (126), Donovan White (132), Harrison Bernhard (138), Jack Casciano (145), Will Dellicker (160), Ryan Haverkamp (170), Tyler Watson (182), Isaiah Jorhi (Northwestern); Panther Valley – Eric Moyer (160), Aaron Eidem (285); Tamaqua – Randy Steigerwalt (126), Cole Eberts (138), Caleb Sell (145), Zach Fannock (152), Khalid Holland (160), Carson Krell (182), Brandon Eberts (195).

TEAM SCORES … Notre Dame leads the 2A standings with 99.5 points. Saucon Valley is second with 99. Tamaqua is fourth with 58 points, while Lehighton is fifth with 54. Jim Thorpe (42) and Northwestern (37) also are in the top-10.

DISTRICT 11 CLASS 2A WRESTLING RESULTS

LEGEND

Allentown Central Catholic (ACC), Catasauqua (CAT), Executive Education Academy Charter School (EEAC), Jim Thorpe (JT), Lehighton (LEH), Mahanoy Area (MAH), Northern Lehigh (NL), North Schuylkill (NS), Northwestern (NW), Notre Dame Green Pond (NDGP), Pen Argyl (PA), Palmerton (PALM), Palisades (PALI), Panther Valley (PV), Pen Argyl (PA), Pine Grove (PG), Salisbury (SAL), Saucon Valley (SV), Schuylkill Haven (SH), Tamaqua (TAM), Tri-Valley (TV), Wilson (WIL), Williams Valley (WV)

PIGTAILS

126

- K. Fox (PA) pinned G. Scott (PALM) in 2:00.

132

- M. Sterner (NS) pinned D. Ramos (SAL) in 1:30; A. Rios (TV) pinned F. Reyes (EEAC) in 5:43.

170

- J. Vazquez (EEAC) pinned P. Cooney (NS) in 1:20.

PRELIMINARIES

106

- W. Schwartz (JT) pinned T. Slotterback (NS) in 4:55; L. Ferguson (LEH) pinned G. Pultz (PA) in 2:27; C. Markle (SV) pinned A. Gardner (PALM) in :07; C. Moyer (SAL) major dec. E. Dellicker (NW), 8-0.

113

- J. Dellicker (NW) major dec. G. Heaney (JT), 14-2; B. Sheridan (WIL) pinned M. Ferguson (LEH) in :58; T. Morello (NDGP) pinned S. Klimek (PA) in :15; D. Grigas (NS) dec. M. Boltz (TV), 11-4; G. Ramos (PALM) dec. C. Brown (CAT), 6-4.

120

- C. Rawlinson (WIL) pinned D. Miller (LEH) in 1:34; M. Brensinger (NW) pinned A. Givens (JT) in 1:21.

126

- K. Fox (PA) pinned B. Chietsos (NDGP) in 2:42; B. Giffith (NW) major dec. N. Venszl (PG), 11-3; R. Steigerwalt (TAM) pinned N. Ellan (NL) in 5:15; L. Sangiuliano (LEH) pinned R. Gilbert (SV) in :41; B. Harner (TV) pinned C. Schaner (SH) in 1:11; J. DeNato (PALI) pinned B. Henning (CAT) in 1:51; E. Miernicki (NS) pinned E. Pagan-Ocasio (EEAC) in 4:53; E. Bundro (WIL) pinned J. Babinsky (MAH) in 1:31.

132

- M. Sterner (NS) pinned J. Jones (SV) in :55; D. Hunara (WIL) dec. D. White (NW), 7-3; C. Rivera (MAH) dec. A. Eisenhardt (JT), 4-2; A. Coccio (TAM) dec. S. Fritzinger (LEH), 9-4; L. Reto (PA) major dec. Z. Smith (PALI), 10-0; D. Lombardi (PALM) pinned A. Ney (PG) in 1:52; C. Clifford (ACC) major dec. T. Amorim (NL), 8-0; J. Bauman (NDGP) tech. fall A. Rios (TV) in 4:05, 16-0.

138

- L. Andrewsky (MAH) dec. L. Schwalm (TV), 10-6; A. Clifford (ACC) pinned B. Wolfe (NS) in 1:58; L. Christman (PALM) pinned D. Ashenfalder (PA) in :47; M. Branford (WIL) pinned N. Natal (SAL) in 1:11; B. Haubert (PALI) major dec. C. Esterline (WV), 15-3; H. Bernhard (NW) pinned C. Eberts (TAM) in 5:09; N. Vonelli (NDGP) pinned A. Lopez in 1:03.

145

- A.Cerniglia (NDGP) pinned D. Pelonero (WIL) in :25; D. Alder (SAL) pinned J. Strohecker (TV) in 3:44; T. Allison (MAH) tech. fall D Gino (CAT) in 4:00, 16-0; C. Whiteman (LEH) pinned B. Madeya (PA) in :33; N. Rosengrant (SV) pinned C. Cutrona (NS) in 1:47; C. Sell (TAM) dec. J. Casciano (NW), 9-2; S. Gardner (PALM) pinned C. Charles (PG) in 1:55; N. Haubert (PALI) pinned A. Johnson (JT) in :25.

152

- M. Lalik (PALM) pinned D. Edwards (NS) in 1:31; C. McDermott (JT) dec. N. Falls (SH), 4-0; T. Csencsits (SV) pinned S. Stringer (ACC) in 1:33; A. Micci (WIL) pinned D. Julian (TV) in :24; J. Abidelli (NL) pinned Z. Fannock (TAM) in 5:41; M. Smeland (PALI) tech. fall S. Quick (MAH) in 4:27, 15-0.

160

- H. Fierro (PALM) dec. G. Reto (PA), 9-6; K. Holland (TAM) pinned S. Sosnoski (NS) in 2:54; A. Heffrom (TV) pinned N. Fayocavitz (JT) in 1:16; E. Moyer (PV) pinned B. Krauss (SAL) in 2:45; W. Dellicker (NW) pinned C. Timko (MAH) in 1:07.

170

- K. Schaeffer (TV) pinned J. Vazquez (EEAC) in :46; C. Trimmer (WIL) major dec. R. Haverkamp (NW), 10-2; J. Hirschbeck (SV) pinned D. Gonyo (PALM) in 1:52; D. Rodriguez (NL) dec. A. Winters (PALI), 1-0; N. Wickersham (TAM) pinned B. Panto (CATTY) in 2:42; A. Perez (MAH) dec. J. Newhall (JT), 7-1; R. Fronheiser (LEH) tech. fall K. Falcon (ACC) in 4:00, 17-0; I. DeJesus (NDGP) pinned C. Reiter (PG) in :17.

182

- A. Reinhardt (CAT) pinned H. Kennemore (PG) in 1:28; A.Snyder (WIL) pinned T. Klump (NDGP) in 1:09; D. Lawrence (MAH) pinned C. Chamberland (SH) in :54; B. Lugardo (SV) pinned A. Melber (PALM) in :35; C. Krell (TAM) pinned T. Taylor (PA) in :25; T. Watson (NW) pinned H. Knorr (TV) in 2:48.

195

- K. Herron (JT) pinned C. Lucykanish (PALM) in :33; A.Ashenfalder (PA) dec. C. Warren (WV), 8-4; A.Zeigenfuss (LEH) won by forfeit over A. Thomas (SAL); A.Wickham (WIL) pinned B. Olayo (NS) in 2:48; P. Nuske (PG) dec. B. Eberts (TAM), 2-1; D. Bandle (NL) pinned T. Holt (TV) in 3:22; D. Csencsits (SV) pinned G. Kreschollek in 1:01.

220

- E. Swartz (NDGP) dec. C. Schadle (PG), 6-5; M. Miller (SH) pinned J. Hunter (NL) in 4:54; I. Jorhi (NW) dec. J. Tinari (NS), 5-2; C. Rodriguez (LEH) pinned Z. Scheirer (CAT) in 5:08.

285

- L. Bouie (CAT) pinned F. Ali (WV) in 3:41; A. Eidem (PV) pinned J. Spalti (SH) in 2:46; B. Strouse (TAM) pinned S. Rumsey (PA) in 1:25; D. Hunter (JT) pinned M. Stepp (PALM) in :09; R. Russell (WIL) pinned S. Clouser (TV) in 3:19; J. Schaeffer (NL) major dec. T. Price (MAH), 13-4.

QUARTERFINALS

106

- T. Anderson (PG) major dec. W. Schwartz (JT), 10-0; E. Maag (NDGP) pinned L. Ferguson (LEH) in :26; C. Poff (WIL) dec. C. Markle (SV), 10-9; J. Hartranft (CAT) pinned C. Moyer in 1:03.

113

- J. Dellicker (NW) dec. M. Myers (WV), 3-1; T. Morello (NDGP) pinned B. Sheridan (WIL) in 6:29; C. Arciulo (SV) dec. D. Grigas (SV), 8-1; D. Kreidler (ACC) tech. fall G. Ramos (PALM) in 5:59, 19-3.

120

- R. Crookham (NDGP) pinned C. Rawlinson (WIL) in :26; L. Buskirk (PA) major dec. P. Bauer (NL), 13-3; A. Brett (CAT) pinned K. Dyer (SV) in 4:19; G. Locke (NS) pinned M. Brensinger (NW) in 2:20.

126

- B. Chletsos (NDGP) pinned B. Griffith (NW) in 1:19; L. Sangiuliano (LEH) tech. fall R. Steigerwalt (TAM) in 2:55, 18-2; J. DeNato (PALI) pinned B. Harner (TV) in 5:32; E. Bundro (WIL) pinned E. Miernicki (NS) in :39.

132

- J. Jones (SV) pinned D. Hunara (WIL) in 1:14; A. Coccio (TAM) dec. C. Rivera (MAH), 8-2; L. Reto (PA) pinned D. Lombardi (PALM) in 2:44; J. Bauman (NDGP) dec. C. Clifford (ACC), 2-1.

138

- T. Spirk (SV) pinned L. Andrewsky (MAH) in :28; L. Christman (PALM) pinned A. Clifford (ACC) in 3:43; M. Branford (WIL) dec. B. Haubert (PALI), 5-0; N. Vonelli (NDGP) major dec. H. Bernhard (NW), 13-4.

145

- A. Cerniglia (NDGP) pinned D. Alder (SAL) in :26; C. Whiteman (LEH) dec. T. Allison (MAH), 8-2; N. Rosengrant (SV) tech. fall C. Sell (TAM) in 4:58, 17-1; N. Haubert (PALI) pinned S. Gardner (PALM) in 4:23.

152

- C. Pesta (WV) dec. M. Lalik (PALM), 6-3; T. Csencsits (SV) pinned C. McDermott (JT) in 1:05; A. Micci (WIL) pinned J. Abidelli (NL) in 1:57; L. Pagotto (LEH) dec. M. Smeland (PALI), 7-4.

160

- M. Arciuolo (SV) tech. fall H. Fierro (PALM) in 2:08, 15-0; A. Heffron (TV) pinned K. Holland (TAM) in 1:14; D. Kintzel (PG) pinned E. Moyer (PV) in 1:01; D. Berlitz (NDGP) major dec. W. Dellicker (NW), 9-1.

170

- K. Schaeffer (TV) pinned C. Trimmer (WIL) in 1:06; D. Rodriguez (NL) dec. J. Hirschbeck (SV), 7-5; N. Wickerscham (TAM) pinned A. Perez (MAH) in 3:29; I. DeJesus (NDGP) pinned R. Fronheiser (LEH) in 1:26.

182

- A. Marsh (PALI) pinned A. Reinhardt (CAT) in 1:26; A.Snyder (WIL) dec. D. Lawrence (MAH), 4-1; B. Lugardo (SV) dec. C. Krell (TAM), 7-4; A.Williams (JT) dec. T. Watson (NW), 8-5.

195

- C. Fegley (MAH) pinned K. Herron (JT) in 1:26; A.Zeigenfuss (LEH) dec. A. Ashenfalder (PA), 3-2; A.Wickham (WIL) dec. P. Nuske (PG), 5-4; D. Csencsits (SV) pinned D. Bandle (NL) in :13.

220

- E. Mordaunt (JT) pinned E. Swartz (NDGP) in :22; M. Miller (SH) dec. M. Ansbach (MAH), 3-2; K. Flank (WIL) pinned I. Jorhi (NW) in :58; J. Nisenbaum (SAL) pinned C. Rodriguez (LEH) in :23.

285

- N. Warnke (SV) dec. L. Bouie (CAT), 1-0; B. Strouse (TAM) pinned A. Eidem (PV) in 2:41; D. Hunter (JT) pinned R. Russell (WIL) in 1:10; R. Weitz (NS) pinned J. Schaffer (NL) in 3:23.

FIRST ROUND CONSOLATION

113

- M. Ferguson (LEH) pinned S. Klimek (PA) in :25.

126

- K. Fox (PA) dec. N. Venszel (PG), 11-5; R. Gilbert (SV) pinned N. Ellan (NL) in :56; B. Henning (CAT) pinned C. Schaner (SH) in 4:51; E. Pagan-Ocasio (EEAC) dec. J. Babinsku (MAH), 9-7.

132

- D. White (NW) major dec. M. Sterner (NS), 14-0; A.Eisenhardt (JT) dec. S. Fritzinger (LEH), 6-2; A.Ney (PG) pinned Z. Smith (PALI) in 2:36; T. Amorim (NL) tech. fall A. Rios (TV) in 3;09, 15-0.

138

- D. Ashenfalder (PA) dec. B. Wolfe (NS), 1-0; C. Esterline (WV) tech. fall N. Natal (SAL) in 4:20, 15-0; C. Eberts (TAM) pinned A. Lopez (JT) in :29.

145

- D. Pelonero (WIL) pinned J. Strohecker (TV) in :39; D. Gino (CAT) pinned B. Madeya (PA) in :35; J. Casciano (NW) dec. C. Cutrona (NS), 5-3; C. Charles (PG) pinned A. Johnson (JT) in :55.

152

- S. Stringer (ACC) dec. N. Falls (SH), 11-5; Z. Fannock (TAM) pinned D. Julian (TV) in :43.

160

- N. Fayocavitz (JT) pinned S. Sosnoski (NS) in 3:44.

170

- R. Haverkamp (NW) pinned J. Vazquez in 2:35; A. Winters (PALI) major dec. D. Gonyo (PALM), 15-2; J. Newhall (JT) dec. B. Panto (CAT), 5-2; K. Falcon (ACC) pinned C. Reiter (PG), 4-3.

182

- T. Klump (NDGP) won by disqualification over C. Chamberland (SH) in 3:42; T. Taylor (PA) dec. A. Melber (PALM), 7-4.

195

- C. Warren (WV) won by forfeit over A. Thomas (SAL); B. Eberts (TAM) pinned B. Olayo (NS) in 3:27; G. Kreschollek (PALI) pinned T. Holt (TV) in 1:44.

285

- J. Spalti (SH) pinned S. Rumsey (PA) in 2:28; S. Clouser (TV) pinned M. Stepp (PALM) in 2:38.