BETHLEHEM – Brenden Smay has a one-track mind.

And he’s not alone.

The Northern Lehigh junior is focused on one thing – and that’s to be the best.

“Every night before I go to sleep and every time I wake up, it’s the first thing on my mind,” said Smay.

But Smay’s sentiment is one that’s shared by a few of his peers who have dreamed of successes on the biggest stages in wrestling.

Those thoughts began to take shape inside Freedom’s Joseph J. McIntyre Gymnasium on the opening night of the District 11 Class 2A Tournament.

Smay was one of 13 Times News area wrestlers to advance to the semifinals Friday night. Right where they want to be.

“For me, it’s just a confidence thing,” said Smay. “Especially in the postseason – confidence can take you to being a state champ, and I just think the more confident I am, the better chances I’ll have.”

Joining Smay in the semis are Jim Thorpe’s William Schwartz (113), Kendall Herron (220) and Derek Hunter, Lehighton’s Richard Fronheiser (170), Palmerton’s Dennis Lombardi (132), Tamaqua’s Aaron Coccio (138), Caleb Sell (152), Nate Wickersham (182) and Bronson Strouse (285), Northwestern’s Harrison Bernhard (145) and Northern Lehigh’s Trevor Amorim (145) and Josh Schaffer (285).

Smay punched his ticket to the next round with a 15-7 major decision over Jim Thorpe’s Ridge Snyder in the quarterfinals.

“I definitely feel like I’m peaking,” said Smay, who is seeded third. “The last time I competed was in January, and I definitely feel like I’ve gotten a lot better by practicing every day.

“When we go live in the room, I try to take it like a real match. I just envision myself wrestling in big places, and I feel like that kind of helps keep the feeling of being in a real match.”

It’s the same approach for Schwartz, who punched his ticket with an 11-4 decision over Northwestern’s Eli Dellicker.

“It’s a new season, and that’s kind of the mindset you have to have going in,” said Schwartz. “You never know who is going to be that lower seed that comes in and just rips through everyone and gets one of those top four spots to go to regionals.

“My mindset coming in was just to score points, and keep scoring in every position I could. I just wanted to advance to the next day and get to the semis.”

The No. 2 seed at 113, Schwartz has already captured his first Schuylkill League title this season. The senior is hoping to add his first district crown later tonight.

“I think I’ve been visualizing it every day since I was a freshman,” said Schwartz. “I’ve been visualizing getting into the district finals, and even in the league finals, which I was able to do this season. It’s just awesome.

“I know how hard I’ve worked over the past four years, and I know I deserve to be here with everyone else.”

Lombardi demonstrated why he was the top seed at 132 pounds, coming through with a 7-3 decision over Palisades’ Jon Denato in the quarterfinals.

The score was 2-2 at the end of the first period. A takedown in the second period gave Lombardi a 4-3 advantage, a cushion he padded throughout the rest of the match.

“I’m always comfortable like that, because throughout my career, I’ve always wrestled from behind,” said Lombardi. “In years past, and in the beginning of this season, they would shoot on me first and usually scored. But I could come back from that and get a pin, or just win.

“So I’m very comfortable, sitting there … because I know if it’s the third period and I need points, I know I have big moves I can rely on.

It’s a resiliency and a mindset that Lombardi hopes will lift him to even greater heights.

“I really feel like I’m peaking, and I hope that continues tomorrow,” he said. “Just going into tomorrow, I know I have to keep my head high no matter what happens.”

Bernhard has been a tenacious competitor throughout his career. It probably didn’t hurt that he watched brothers Quentin and Jackson advance to the state tournament two times apiece during their careers.

Hershey is a place Harrison is always wanted to be, but it just hasn’t quite worked out.

The senior, who is seeded fifth, put on a performance that displayed his grit, pinning Palisades’ Mason Smeland, the No. 4 seed, in overtime (6:18) to reach the semifinals and make his dream closer to becoming a reality.

“Sometimes, it’s nice to go out and wrestle and get a quick win,” Bernhard said. “But it’s even nicer to go out there and have a long battle like that and come out on top.

“Just to be able to overcome and opponent who is maybe just as good as you is really satisfying.

“It’s a little nerve-racking because it’s so close, of course. But at the same time, even before the match, I was thinking, ‘This is the last time. If I want to keep going, if I want to go to states, I’m going to have to push myself, and push through these kind of tough matches, and never give up.’”

Bernhard showed a lot of determination, some of which might have been spurred by a bit of desperation.

“Years before, I would always think about going to states, and I would think, ‘Well, if I don’t make it, there’s always next year,’” he said.

“But there isn’t any next year anymore, so it’s a lot of thinking about that, that this is my last shot, and I have to make it count.”

After reaching states for the first time a year ago, Wickersham showed that he’s ready for another postseason run, pinning Northwestern’s Ryan Haverkamp in 2:33 to advance to the semis.

“I thought I did pretty well,” said Wickersham, who is seeded third. “I was moving better on my feet than I have been in the past. He (Haverkamp) was taking shots, and I was able to defend them easily.

“I thought that I really set the pace in the match, and really just wrestled how I wanted to. I have a lot of confidence, and that can take you a long way. I’ve been grinding, and really hoping to get to the next level and come in tomorrow morning and start with a bang.”

Wickersham faces No. 2 seed Alec Snyder of Wilson in the semis.

Fronheiser topped Tamaqua’s Carson Krell 5-1 to move into the semifinals. The junior will wrestle top seed Matthew Arciuolo of Saucon Valley in the next round.

“It’s a big confidence booster, because I know who I have in the semis, and I’m ready to wrestle him,” said Fronheiser. “I feel like I’m at the top of my game right now, and I think I can give his best match he’s going to have in this tournament.”

For Fronheiser to get there, he had to once again stop Krell.

“Coming into a match, knowing that you’ve already wrestled a kid obviously you know his style, and you know what you need to do better to maintain the success you’ve had,” said Fronheiser. “I wrestled him Week 1 and got a major, and then saw him last month at the Coal Cracker and beat him 8-4.

“So coming out tonight and only giving up one point, I felt great. Just knowing that I can wrestle and keep his style out of my offense, that means I’m doing something right with my offense and defense, because he had a couple of good deep shots, and I was able to get out of them and score my points the whole match.”

SCORES, PLEASE … Saucon Valley leads the team standings with 117.5 points ahead of Notre Dame (93.5). Wilson (82.5), Tamaqua (58) and Catasauqua (45) round out the top five. Jim Thorpe (40) is sixth, while Northwestern (37) is 10th. Lehighton (32) is 14th, and Northern Lehigh (31) 15th.

READY, SET … Action resumes today at Freedom with second round consolations from 9 a.m.-10:15. Semifinals are scheduled for 10:30 a.m., with fourth round consolations to begin at 1 p.m. The consolation finals (third, fifth) will be held at 4 p.m. at Liberty. The Parade of Champions is set for 5:30 p.m. with the finals to begin at 5:45 on two mats. The top four wrestlers from Class 2A advance to next week’s Southeast Regional Tournament.

District 11 Class 2A Wrestling Championships

LEGENDS

Allentown Central Catholic (ACC), Catasauqua (C), Executive Academy (EA), Jim Thorpe (JT), Lehighton (L), Mahanoy Area (MA), North Schuylkill (NS), Northern Lehigh (NL), Northwestern (NW), Notre Dame of Green Pond (NDGP), Palisades (Pali), Palmerton (Palm), Panther Valley (PV), Pen Argyl (PA), Pine Grove (PG), Salisbury (S), Saucon Valley (SV), Schuylkill Haven (SH), Tamaqua (T), Tri-Valley (TV), Williams Valley (WV), Wilson (W)

PIGTAILS

145 - Andrew Neville (W) tech. fall Justin Aue in 5:13, 19-4.

152 - Tony Morello (NDGP) pinned Dylan Smoyer (NL) in 1:40; Chris Donne (SH) major dec. Jazier Candelario-Sanchez (EA), 11-3.

160 - Jeremy Altamirano Vera (EA) pinned Nolan Stein (L) in 1:08; Ty Csencsits (SV) pinned Cole Dorshimer (PA) in 1:05.

170 - George Psarros (ACC) pinned Keith Roy (WV) in 5:31.

PRELIMINARIES

106 - Jon Wohlbach (W) pinned Austin Oncay (T) in 2:47; Cade Schneck (PG) pinned Ermal Duka (SV) in 4:59; Ridge Snyder (JT) pinned Brenton Harner (TV) in 1:14; Logan Winters (Pali) dec. Noah Gilgore (NS), 5-2.

113 - Eli Dellicker (NW) pinned Nate Armstrong (Pali) in 0:36; Nicholas Zeigenfuss (L) pinned Hennessey Ruppert (PA) in 5:59.

120 - Danny Griges (NS) pinned Tyler Hazlett (T) in 1:36; Travis Riefenstahl (SV) major dec. Blaze Hartrum (W), 12-1; Jake Dellicker (NW) major dec. Lukas Ferguson (L), 14-2; Travis Anderson (PG) pinned Ehlanna Penn (JT) in 0:55.

126 - Lucas Buskirk (PA) dec. Nick Wolff (PG), 9-3; Ryan Crookham (NDGP) pinned Mason Ferguson (L) in 0:38; Gabriel Heaney (JT) dec. Ethan Miernicki (NS), 7-5 SV; Cael Markle (SV) pinned Anthony Russo (NW) in 4:31; David Kreidler (ACC) tech. fall Damion Allison (MA) in 3:01, 16-0; Blake Sheridan (W) pinned Ethan Whitmore (WV) in 0:48; Gavin Fehr (C) pinned Daniel Lucykanish (Palm) in 4:53; Braedon Alder (S) dec. Mason Boltz (TV), 9-9 UTB.

132 - Lucas Sangiuliano (L) pinned John Babinsky (MA) in 1:10; Dustin Hunara (W) pinned William Ulsh (PG) in 0:25; Joshua Bauman (NDGP) pinned Hector Pascual (EA) in 0:30; Antonio Reto (PA) dec. Preston Bauer (NL), 10-8; Jon Denato (Pali) pinned Michael Sterner (NS) in 4:59.

138 - Lorenzo Reto (PA) pinned Cameron King (W) in 4:12; Devon Alder (S) pinned Isaac Whiteash (WV) in 0:53; Ben Griffith (NW) pinned Colby Carlin (TV) in 3:21; Aaron Coccio (T) pinned Brayden Kessler (NS) in 2:18; Jacob Jones (SV) pinned Conlin Gair (C) in 0:19; Steven Fritzinger (L) major dec. Nathan Ellan (NL), 15-3; Attikos Clifford (ACC) pinned Grant Scott (Palm) in 1:06.

145 - Thomas Spirk (SV) pinned Andrew Neville (W) in 2:15; Jacob Strohecker (TV) pinned Ben Wolfe (NS) in 1:25; Jack Rissmiller (PA) pinned Gage Miller (WV) in 0:53; Mason Smeland (Pali) tech. fall Colton Stroup (Palm) in 5:15, 17-1; Harrison Bernhard (NW) major dec. Jacob Wehr (NDGP), 11-0; Trevor Amorim (NL) pinned Benjamin Langsdorf (C) in 2:33; Cesear Rivera (MA) pinned Jonathan Byers (PV) in 2:38; Christopher Clifford (ACC) major dec. Reese Szabo (T), 9-0.

152 - Leo Andrewsky (MA) pinned Hayden Frasch (NS) in 2:31; Benjamin Haubert (Pali) pinned Chris Donne (SH) in 0:24; Caleb Sell (T) pinned Luis Del Rosario (C) in 2:47; Blake Harner (TV) dec. Jon Ahner (L), 6-2; Toby Linn (S) pinned Gannon Brinker (PA) in 1:05; Ashtyn Berberena (W) major dec. Camron Tinajero (JT), 15-6; Christopher Charles (PG) dec. Lucas Miller (NW), 4-1; Tyler Pfizenmayer (SV) major dec. Tony Morello, 12-0.

160 - Andrew Cerniglia (NDGP) pinned Jeremy Altamirano Vera (EA) in 0:12; Daniel Kelleher (Pali) pinned Nick Stoyer (SH) in 2:55; Anthony Micci (W) pinned Dominic Melendez (C) in 1:10; Dylan Edwards (NS) pinned Brendan Allen (PV) in 0:32; Cole Eberts (T) pinned Matt Reilly (TV) in 5:38; Gavin Harris (PG) pinned Sam Quick (MA) in 1:29; Shawn Gardner (Palm) dec. Colby Reyburn (ACC), 8-3; Ty Csencsits (SV) dec. Tyler Watson (NW), 3-2.

170 - Austin Winters (Pali) dec. Ben Strauss (S), 7-2 SV; Mathew Arciuolo (SV) pinned George Psarros (ACC) in 1:34; Richard Fronheiser (L) pinned Reid Holden (PA) in 1:29; Carson Krell (T) pinned John Milosh (SH) in 1:33; Cayden Trimmer (W) pinned Malik Willock (EA) in 0:55; Jacob Scheib (TV) pinned Donovan Gair (C) in 0:57; Jared Blobe (NDGP) dec. Jared Newhall (JT), 3-2; Caleb Reiter (PG) pinned Jared Tinaro (NS) in 5:42.

182 - Ryan Haverkamp (NW) pinned Mason Ludlow (NDGP) in 1:45; Williams Strickland (NS) dec. Aidan Melber, 9-6; Alex Zigenfuss (L) pinned Orlando Morales (EA) in 2:36; Caleb McDermott (JT) pinned Tyler Taylor (PA) in 2:47.

195 - Jason Sine (NDGP) pinned Justis Troutman in 0:44; Austin Wickham (W) pinned Brayden Hess (T) in 2:56; Adam Reinhart (C) pinned Blake Olayo (NS) in 1:33; Shaneef Carter (L) dec. Matthew Frame (NL), 4-3; Braydyn Lugardo (SV) pinned Johnathan Aracena (EA) in 0:15; Chris Lucykanish (Palm) pinned Trent Hunter (JT) in 3:25;Dakota Graham (PA) dec. Mitchell Miller (SH), 11-7.

220 - Aiden Compton (PA) pinned Kyle Killiri (S) in 2:24; Jason Hunter (NL) dec. Isaiah Johri (NW), 7-5; Jeremy Mooney (Palm) dec. Zachary Scheirer (C), 6-3; Joe Tinari (NS) pinned Casey Chamberlain (SH) in 0:43; Kendall Herron (JT) major dec. Eshan Swartz (NDGP), 9-1; John Fowler (MA) pinned Jordan McColgen (PA) in 1:52; Brett Gasker (L) pinned Jack Marouchoc (SV) in 3:33.

285 - Roger Russell (W) dec. Tommy Price (MA), 1-0; Lavonte Bouie (C) pinned Michael Yeakel (L) in 4:27; Jeremoah Lott (WV) dec. Sean Rumsey (PA), 3-2 UTB.

QUARTERFINALS

106 - Evan Maag (NDGP) pinned Jon Wohlbach (W) in 0:48; Cade Schneck (PG) pinned George Pultz (PA) in 1:12; Brendan Smay (NL) major dec. Ridge Snyder (JT), 15-7; Jaryn Hartranft (C) pinned Logan Winters (Pali) in 2:31.

113 - Brett Ungar (NDGP) pinned Nicholas Zeigenfuss (L) in 2:34; Tyler Slotterback (SV) pinned Jacob Nye (C) in 4:38; Connor Nicholas (SV) pinned Aidan Geist (PG) in 0:37; William Schwartz (JT) dec. Eli Dellicker (NW), 11-4.

120 - Brandan Chletsos (NDGP) pinned Jake Dellicker in 1:30; Austin Brett (C) pinned Danny Grigas (NS) in 3:41; Michael Myers (WV) dec. Travis Anderson (PG), 3-1; Travis Riefenstahl (SV) dec. Ashton Campbell (Pali), 9-7.

126 - Ryan Crookham (NDGP) pinned Gabriel Heaney (JT) in 0:38; Lucas Buskirk (PA) major dec. Gavin Fehr (C), 12-0; Cael Markle (SV) major dec. Blake Sheridan (W), 8-0; David Kreidler (ACC) major dec. Braedon Alder (S), 10-0.

132 - Dennis Lombardi (Palm) dec. Jon Denato (Pali), 7-3; Joshua Bauman (NDGP) dec. Dustin Hunara (W), 9-5; Chase Esterline (WV) pinned Lucas Sangiuliano (L) in 1:40; Christopher Arciuolo (SV) dec. Antonio Reto (PA), 10-5.

138 - Holden Garcia (NDGP) tech. fall Steven Fritzinger (L) in 4:29, 18-3; Aaron Coccio (T) pinned Lorenzo Reto (PA) in 4:27; Attikos Clifford (ACC) pinned Devon Alder (S) in 3:42; Jacob Jones (SV) pinned Ben Griffith (NW) in 0:50.

145 - Thomas Spirk (SV) pinned Jacob Strohecker (TV) in 2:14; Harrison Bernhard (NW) pinned Mason Smeland (Pali) in 6:18; Trevor Amorim (NL) dec. Cesear Rivera (MA), 5-2; Christopher Clifford (ACC) dec. Jack Rissmiller (PA), 5-0.

152 - Benjamin Haubert (Pali) pinned Toby Linn (S) in 0:35; Caleb Sell (T) dec. Leo Andrewsky (MA), 14-7; Ashtyn Berberena (W) pinned Blake Harner (TV) in 1:39; Tyler Pfizenmayer (SV) pinned Christopher Charles (PG) in 1:26.

160 - Andrew Cerniglia (NDGP) pinned Cole Eberts (T) in 0:56; Daniel Kelleher (Pali) dec. Shawn Gardner (Palm), 6-2; Anthony Micci (W) dec. Gavin Harris (PG), 5-0; Ty Csencsits (SV) pinned Dylan Edwards (NS) in 5:34.

170 - Mathew Arciuolo (SV) tech. fall Austin Winters (Pali) in 3:38, 20-5; Richard Fronheiser (L) dec. Carson Krell (T), 5-1; Cayden Trimmer (W) dec. Jared Blobe (NDGP), 5-0; Jacob Scheib (TV) pinned Caleb Reiter (PG) in 3:16.

182 - Dane Csencsits (SV) pinned William Strickland (NS) in 1:07; Alexis Perez (MA) dec. Alex Zigenfuss (L) 4-3; Nate Wickersham (T) pinned Ryan Haverkamp (NW) in 2:33; Alec Snyder (W) pinned Caleb McDermott (JT) in 5:11.

195 - Danny Lawrence (MA) pinned Chris Lucykanish (Palm) in 0:56; Adam Reinhart (C) pinned Austin Wickham (W) in 5:44; Jason Sine (NDGP) pinned Shaneef Carter (L) in 2:54; Braydyn Lugardo (SV) pinned Dakota Graham (PA) in 0:39.

220 - Kolby Flank (W) pinned Jeremy Mooney (P) in 1:36; Aiden Compton (PA) pinned Jason Hunter (NL) in 5:00; Joe Tinari (NS) dec. John Fowler (MA), 5-2; Kendall Herron (JT) dec. Brett Gasker (L), 5-0.

285 - Derek Hunter (JT) pinned Jeremiah Lott (WV) in 0:21; Joshua Schaffer (NL) pinned Jared Spalti (SH) in 2:56; Roger Russell (W) dec. Nicholas Warnke (SV), 3-2 TB2; Bronson Strouse (T) pinned Lavonte Bouie (C) in 2:21.

FIRST ROUND CONSOLATION

126 - Ethan Miernicki (NS) major dec. Mason Ferguson (L), 12-2; Nick Wolff (PG) won by forfeit over Daniel Lucykanish (Palm); Anthony Russo (NW) pinned Ethan Whitmore (WV) in 4:44; Mason Boltz (TV) major dec. Damion Allison, 17-6.

132 - William Ulsh (PG) pinned Hector Pascual (EA) in 0:30.

138 - Cameron King (W) major dec. Braydon Kessler (NS), 11-3; Isaac Whiteash (WV) dec. Grant Scott (Palm), 6-1; Colby Carlin (TV) pinned Conlin Gair (C) in 0:51.

145 - Ben Wolfe (NS) dec. Andrew Neville (W), 4-3; Jacob Wehr (NDGP) pinned Colton Stroup (Palm) in 3:52; Benjamin Langsdorf (C) pinned Jonathan Byers (PV) in 0:44; Reese Szabo (T) pinned Gage Miller (WV) in 2:02.

152 - Gannon Brinker (PA) pinned Chris Donne (SH) in 2:30; Luis Del Rosario (C) pinned Hayden Frasch (NS) in 1:36; Camron Tinajero (JT) dec. Jon Ahner (L), 12-7; Lucas Miller (NW) dec. Tony Morello (NDGP), 7-5.

160 - Jeremy Altamirano (EA) dec. Matt Reilly (TV), 7-4; Colby Reyburn (ACC) dec. Nick Stoyer (SH), 4-0; Sam Quick (MA) pinned Dominic Melendez (C) in 2:11; Tyler Watson (NW) pinned Brendan Allen (PV) in 1:33.

170 - Ben Krauss (SL) pinned George Psarros (ACC) in 2:39; John Milosh (SH) dec. Reid Holden (PA), 9-6; Jared Newhall (JT) pinned Malik Willock (EA) in 1:21; Jared Tinari (NS) pinned Donovan Gair (C) in 1:31.

195 - Brayden Hess (T) pinned Blake Olayo (NS) in 4:10; Matthew Frame (NL) dec. Justis Troutman (TV), 6-0; Mitchell Miller (SH) pinned Johnathan Aracena (EA) in 2:01.

220 - Isaiah Johri (NW) pinned Kyle Killiri (S) in 4:11; Casey Chamberlain (SH) pinned Jordan McColgan (PV) in 1:31; Eshan Swartz (NDGP) dec. Jack Marouchoc (SV), 5-0.