Mason Thomas had nearly as many downs as ups during the regular season, but the Bethlehem Catholic junior never lost sight of the process to get to when it really mattered.

“All I think about is one good weekend in March,” Thomas said.

Thomas had one good Friday night in February to kick off his postseason run. The 160-pound had a pair of wins, including an overtime 7-4 decision over No. 2 seed Owen Woll, a returning regional runner-up, in the quarterfinals.

Though Thomas was just 15-13 in the regular season and coming off a sophomore season that was cut short by a mid-season injury, his confidence was strong entering this weekend’s District 11 Class 3A tournament at Liberty’s Memorial Gym.

It showed on Friday.

“I don’t care about seeds,” Thomas said. “I don’t care about records. I’m just going out there and wrestling my match, getting to my attacks, my shots.”

Southern Lehigh’s Keith Barker was having a solid junior season until he suffered an injury to his left index finger in late December that required surgery.

The prognosis was eight weeks before he could return to the mat. He made it back in four. He never got back to live wrestling before the postseason, but the top seed at 160 pounds looked good Friday with a pair of pins to reach the semifinals.

“I felt really good out there, actually,” Barker said. “I put in a lot of work in the offseason. I felt really good about where I was.”

Then came the injury in the third-place match at the Bethlehem Holiday Wrestling Classic in the same gym. He was leading Parkland’s Jorge Moya entering the third period when his coaches told him to take top position.

Barker took bottom. Moya cut him before both of them got in a scramble when Barker’s left hit the mat hard and his left index finger getting stuck.

Following surgery in which a pin was inserted. Barker maintained his cardio while he had a cast on for two weeks. He then returned to lifting, and eventually, practice.

Barker was to compete in Southern Lehigh’s final regular-season dual meet against Wilson but received a forfeit.

“I didn’t sleep well last night,” he said. “I took a nap after school, then could not stop thinking about tonight. But it felt great to get back out there.”

Action resumes at 9 a.m. Saturday with second-round consolations. Semifinals follow at 10:15. Third- and fifth-place matches are at 3 p.m. Finals are set for 5:15. Top five in each weight class advance to next weekend’s Northeast Regional tournament, also at Liberty’s Memorial Gym.

Notre Dame-Green Pond leads the team race with 112.5 points and seven semifinalists. Nazareth is second with 109.5 and six semifinalists.

Easton (102.5, 7), Northampton (93, 4), Bethlehem Catholic (87.5, 6), Parkland (78.5, 4), Emmaus (71.5, 3), Whitehall (62, 3), Bangor (48, 1) and Stroudsburg (46.5, 2) round out the top 10.

Red Rovers freshman Jack Famularo drew one of the loudest crowd reactions with his pin over Notre Dame-GP’s Cole Schwartz in the 121-pound quarterfinals.

The team were involved in a lengthy, first-period scramble that produced no points. Schwartz rode out Famularo in the second, then chose bottom to start the third. That’s when Famularo caught him.

“I planned to get after it more,” he said. “But it was 0-0, so I knew I had to get after it. I thought I had a better chance at turning him than getting a takedown [in the third period], because the whole first period was scrambling.

“Once I got the cradle, I knew I had him.”

Famularo dropped to 121 after wrestling his first varsity regular season at 127, which is where teammate and returning state champion Nick Salamone was descending to.

“It was hard at points, but not too bad.”

That’s much like Famularo’s season. He takes a 23-10 record into the semifinals against top seed Nico Emili of Bethlehem Catholic.

Dieruff’s Kio Hamlin had another one of Friday night’s dramatic highlights with a takedown in the final seconds on the edge of the mat to beat Emmaus’ Jackson Max 7-5 in the 139-pound quarterfinals.

“Last time I looked at the clock,” Hamlin said, “there were 30 seconds left. I just worked to get a good shot and took my time to finish that single-leg.”

Hamlin had a few dramatic moments last season on his way a fourth-place finish at districts and a fifth-place medal at regionals. The senior, who had a technical fall in his first match Friday, takes a 33-1 record into Saturday’s semifinal against Easton’s Noah Fenner.

The Huskie said he’s improved in all facets of his game to this point in his final high school season.

“I’ve had to become more vocal,” he said, “help my teammates in the room every day. I enjoy it.”

Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com

District 11 Class 3A wrestling

Friday at Liberty’s Memorial Gym

QUARTERFINALS

107: Max Quarry (NDGP) pinned Semaj Weatherspoon (Wh), 1:13; Jack Jasionowicz (Str) dec. Ben Schoeneberger (Nor), 5-4; Mike Nicosia (BC) dec. Max Milia (L), 3-0; Luis Moya (Par) tech. fall Jack Dressler (Naz), 21-6, 5:01

114: Brayden Wenrich (Nor) pinned Dionte Wheeler (Wh), 3:28; Elijah Heimbach (L) pinned Gino Bozzi (BC), 1:53; Braden Todora (Par) tech. fall Derek Fulmer (Naz), 24-8, 3:47; Cael Muller (NDGP) pinned Cole Cook (Pot), 2:36

121: Nico Emili (BC) tech. fall Cade Strauss (Nor), 21-6, 3:42; Jack Famularo (Ea) pinned Cole Schwartz (NDGP), 4:42; Teagan Caciolo (Em) maj. dec. Tony Bothwell (PMW), 9-0; Kade Pascoe (Wh) tech. fall Shawn Radcliffe (PV), 17-0, 2:31

127: Emilio Albanese (Em) pinned Chase Fetherman (Str), 2:56; Andre Cerrato (BC) tech. fall John Solano (L), 17-2, 3:58; Matt Velez (Par) tech. fall Davi Glykas (Nor), 15-0, 5:06; Nick Salamone (Ea) dec. Michael Good (Naz), 5-2

133: Keanu Dillard (BC) tech. fall Matt Sommer (Nor), 21-5, 3:24; Carter Smith (B) dec. Ben Miller (L), 7-0; Caleb Kosko (Naz) tech. fall Jacob Volpe (NDGP), 17-2, 2:43; Willmont Kai (Wh) pinned Stephen Korte (JT), 3:00

139: Trey Wagner (Nor) pinned Jared Santilli (Par), 4:46; Reef Dillard (BC) tech. fall Cooper Wenrich (Naz), 16-1, 2:40; Kio Hamlin (D) dec. Jackson Max (Em), 7-5; Noah Fenner (Ea) tech. fall Griffin King (SL), 16-0, 4:21

145: Jack Campbell (Naz) tech. fall Tommy Fallstich (Em), 21-6, 1:46; Ethan Krazer (Ea) maj. dec. Cole Smith (B), 15-5; Chase Grabfelder (Nor) pinned Cris Recinos (D), 3:27; Gavyn Kelton (NDGP) dec. A.J. Gomez (BC), 4-1

152: Cade Campbell (Naz) tech. fall Aiden Bayard (Em), 21-6, 3:24; Nick Lyden (Fr) maj. dec. Mason Hopkins (Wh), 14-6; Jared Gonzalez (NDGP) pinned Ben Reid (L), 3:16; Gabe Ballard (Nor) tech. fall Riyell Wann (D), 15-0, 3:42

160: Keith Barker (SL) pinned Brandon Roca (ESN), 1:58; Dominick Tunison (Naz) dec. Xyler Sallit (Em), 4-2; Jorge Moya (Par) dec. Carter Chlebove (Nor), 9-5; Mason Thomas (BC) dec. Owen Woll (BM), 7-4 SV

172: Brock Frable (SL) tech. fall Ceejay Serfrass (PME), 21-6, 1:49; James Hopkins (Wh) pinned Leo DeMaria (Str), 1:25; Elijah Simak (Naz) tech. fall Donato Ciampittiello (Par), 20-4, 3:41; Xayden Sallit (Em) tech. fall Cole Retos (NDGP), 17-2, 4:35

189: Dominic Sumpolec (NDGP) pinned Jaxson Kreider (B), 0:24; Justin Cosover (Ea) dec. Connor Gillahan (BC), 6-4; Terrell McFarland (Pot) pinned Curtis Cooper (A), 0:36; Brayden Zuercher (Naz) pinned Logan Armstrong (Em), 2:47

215: Connor Smalley (NDGP) pinned Jonathan Adjin-Tettey (ESS), 1:32; Zion Essington (Str) dec. William Shakir (A), 1-0; Alonzo Parker (Ea) dec. Cody Wesner (SL), 9-4; Evan Gillespie (PV) pinned Kody Ward (B), 1:30

285: Dan Schiffert (Fr) tech. fall Alex Ball (Str), 19-4, 4:41; Josiah Rodriguez (ESS) dec. Myles Lysek (Par), 5-2; Noah Knorp (NDGP) dec. Vaughn Helverson (BM) 7-1; Kurtis Crossman (Ea) pinned Marcus Soto (D), 3:50

ROUND OF 32

107: Michael Rambone (Ea) tech. fall Gavin Lutsky (Pot), 15-0, 2:14; Frank Lucarello (PV) maj. dec. Andrew Gerken (Em) 14-3; Jose Santiago (PMW) tech. fall Landon Kline (SL), 22-7, 4:21; Edwin Herrera (D) tech. fall Anthony Haas (Fr), 21-5, 3:09

114: Wisdom Trevino (D) pinned Aiden Bowman (JT), 4:14; Messiah Cartagena (B) tech. fall Jake Messana (ESN), 19-3, 4:44; Brayden Abrams (Ea) tech. fall Payton Torres (ESS), 18-2, 2:52

121: Matt Nigro (Naz) pinned Aidan Bossoms (BM), 1:15

127: Michael Messa (Fr) dec. Valmyr Cade (PMW), 7-3; Malachi Bolinger (PME) pinned Rylan Banning (ESS), 1:08; Carlos Recinos (D) pinned Ryan Broadbent (JT), 0:24; Cole Daubert (Pot) pinned Henry Zuniga (ESN), 3:12; Mason Steele (B) pinned Jimmy Stipeck (PV), 3:45

133: Alex Thomas (SL) dec. Lucas Ellis (Fr), 10-6; Logan Maher (Em) pinned Brian Brobst (BM), 0:47

139: Anthony Garza (PMW) pinned Zach Jochen (PV), 5:02; Jeff Cemelli (NDGP) pinned Josh Mantilla (JT), 1:56; Avery Carroll (ESS) pinned James Mulvey (PME), 0:17

145: Michael Langan (PV) pinned Colin Kline (Pot), 1:48; Danyal Shah (Par) pinned Jesse Taylor (ESN), 0:34

152: Sam Oh (PME) pinned Anastasios Kiprislis (SL), 5:03; Aneudy Rodriguez Garcia (A) pinned Jadin Bowman (ESS), 2:28; Patrick Decker (PV) pinned Corbin Evans (Pot), 4:32; Colton Vitale (Par) tech. fall Tyriq Palumbo (JT), 15-0, 2:12

160: James Cordle (PV) dec. Cameron Cozze (PMW), 8-5; Luke Schindler (B) pinned Connor Zurawa (JT), 2:36; Justin Rose (ESS) pinned Brayden Tokinitz (Pot), 2:45; Dominick Aurin (Fr) maj. dec. Micah Bolinger (PME), 19-5

172: Dan Vargas (Ea) dec. Max Paquette (ESS), 6-4; Giuliano Labbadia (Nor) maj. dec. Ethan Estojak (L), 14-4; James Bozzi (BC) pinned Ben Jochen (PV), 1:51; Marvin Rodriguez (Fr) dec. Kaiden Renn (Pot), 8-7; Daniel Zheng (B) pinned Michael Correll (A), 1:35

189: Morgan Nuttall (Str) pinned Noah Zerby (SL), 0:18; Luke Ace (ESS) pinned Thomas Crisafulli (Fr), 3:54; Jasper McEachern (PMW) maj. dec. Greyson Meehan (PME), 15-3; Luke Rusnock (Nor) pinned David Renninger (BM), 1:10

215: Michael Malek (PME) pinned Mikherlange Champagne (Fr), 4:57; Anthony Martin (L) pinned Caiden Robinson (Wh), 1:41; Gaetano Sarnelli (JT) pinned Jayden Lowe (ESN), 0:53

285: Karl Reed (A) pinned Grant Mulhern (BC), 1:29; Matt Ryan (SL) pinned Michael Baker (Pot), 0:21; Austin Christine (Naz) pinned Lucas Knopf (JT), 1:35; Fred Merklin (PV) pinned Zakai Chambers (PME), 5:40; Logan Roth (Em) pinned Yousef Khalfaoui (Wh), 3:22

ROUND OF 16

107: Max Quarry (NDGP) pinned Michael Rambone (Ea), 1:04; Semaj Weatherspoon (Wh) maj. dec. Vinny Ilardi (B), 13-4; Ben Schoeneberger (Nor) pinned Brian Reese (JT), 1:13; Jack Jasionowicz (Str) pinned Frank Lucarello (PV), 1:17; Max Milia (L) tech. fall Jose Santiago (PMW), 19-1, 3:12; Michael Nicosia (BC) tech. fall Grayson Freed (BM), 16-0, 4:43; Jack Dressler (Naz) tech. fall Mikael Oh (PME), 17-2, 3:00; Luis Moya (Par) pinned Edwin Herrera (D), 0:36

114: Brayden Wenrich (Nor) pinned Wisdom Trevino (D), 0:55; Dionte Wheeler (Wh) pinned Caden Fenstermacher (BM), 2:31; Gino Bozzi (BC) dec. Levi Max (Em), 11-8 SV; Elijah Heimbach (L) tech. fall Jack Scanlan (Fr), 18-2, 3:59; Braden Todora (Par) tech. fall Messiah Cartagena (B), 22-5, 1:42; Derek Fulmer (Naz) tech. fall Joe DePasqua (PMW), 17-2, 5:28; Cole Cook (Pot) dec. Al Bialasiewicz (Str), 7-2; Cael Muller (NDGP) pinned Brayden Abrams (Ea), 0:20

121: Nico Emili (BC) tech. fall Matt Nigro (Naz), 19-4, 1:31; Cade Strauss (Nor) dec. Shane Getz (Fr), 11-7; Cole Schwartz (NDGP) tech. fall Joe Miller (L), 15-0, 2:41; Jack Famularo (Ea) pinned Christian Matlock (B), 1:29; Teagan Caciolo (Em) pinned Tyshawn Stegall (Str), 3:29; Tony Bothwell (PMW) maj. dec. Chase Kruk (Par), 13-5; Shawn Radcliffe (PV) pinned Braylon Alicea (ESN), 3:16; Kade Pascoe (Wh) by DQ over Pablo Morales (ESS), 1:10

127: Emilio Albanese (Em) pinned Michael Messa (Fr), 1:36; Chase Fetherman (Str) dec. Adam Gasteratos (Wh), 9-4; John Solano (L) pinned Malachi Bolinger (PME), 4:23; Andre Cerrato (BC) tech. fall Carlos Recinos (D), 21-5, 3:10; Matt Velez (Par) tech. fall Cole Daubert (Pot), 19-4, 2:05; Davi Glykas (Nor) pinned Cooper Leibold (BM), 3:27; Michael Good (Naz) tech. fall Trey Neith (NDGP), 17-1, 5:07; Nick Salamone (Ea) pinned Mason Steele (B), 0:56

133: Keanu Dillard (BC) pinned Alex Thomas (SL), 0:21; Matt Sommer (Nor) tech. fall Tanner Milburn (Ea), 15-0, 4:16; Ben Miller (L) tech. fall Shaun Evans (Str), 15-0, 4:16; Carter Smith (B) pinned Tycen Norman (Par), 5:32; Caleb Kosko (Naz) tech. fall Anthony DePasqua (PMW), 19-4, 1:09; Jacob Volpe (NDGP) pinned Bernard Axe (ESS), 2:50; Stephen Korte (JT) tech. fall Theodore Tise (D), 20-2, 3:30; Willmont Kai (Wh) pinned Logan Maher (Em), 2:33

139: Trey Wagner (Nor) pinned Anthony Garza (PMW), 1:44; Jared Santilli (Par) dec. Sam Kurtz (Fr), 2-0; Cooper Wenrich (Naz) maj. dec. Jose Rodriguez (L), 16-3; Reef Dillard (BC) tech. fall Troy Mady (BM), 16-0, 2:13; Jackson Max (Em) dec. Jeff Cemelli (NDGP), 7-0; Kio Hamlin (D) tech. fall Omar Omar (Wh), 19-2, 3:36; Griffin King (SL) tech. fall Noah Sipple (Str), 21-6, 3:58; Noah Fenner (Ea) pinned Avery Carroll (ESS), 0:46

145: Jack Campbell (Naz) tech. fall Michael Langan (PV), 21-6, 1:28; Tommy Fallstich (Em) dec. Colton Christian (Str), 7-0; Ethan Krazer (Ea) pinned Elijah Williams (L), 2:25; Cole Smith (B) dec. Nick Panepinto (ESS), 10-3; Chase Grabfelder (Nor) pinned Anthony Crisafulli (Fr), 0:54; Cris Recinos (D) maj. dec. Kevin Gerheart (PME), 14-1; A.J. Gomez (BC) tech. fall Bryce Bodenberg (BM), 19-4, 5:12; Gavyn Kelton (NDGP) pinned Danyal Shah (Par), 0:55

152: Cade Campbell (Naz) pinned Sam Oh (PME), 0:20; Aiden Bayard (Em) tech. fall Micah Alicea (ESN), 19-3, 2:52; Nick Lyden (Fr) pinned Aneudy Rodriguez Garcia (A), 0:32; Mason Hopkins (Wh) maj. dec. Wyatt Snyder (Ea), 10-1; Jared Gonzalez (NDGP) pinned Patrick Decker (PV), 2:40; Ben Reid (L) pinned Thomas Herring (BM), 5:02; Riyell Wann (D) pinned Eziah Cartagena (B), 5:15; Gabe Ballard (Nor) pinned Colton Vitale (Par), 3:25

160: Keith Barker (SL) pinned James Cordle (PV), 1:05; Brandon Roca (ESN) pinned Daniel Rivera (L), 0:24; Dominick Tunison (Naz) pinned Logan Young (Ea), 0:58; Xyler Sallit (Em) dec. Luke Schindler (B), 9-3; Jorge Moya (Par) pinned Justin Rose (ESS), 1:09; Carter Chlebove (Nor) pinned Tyler Coad (NDGP), 1:58; Mason Thomas (BC) dec. Layony Sanchez (Wh), 11-6; Owen Woll (BM) pinned Dominick Aurin (Fr) 1:58

172: Brock Frable (SL) tech. fall Dan Vargas (Ea), 22-6, 3:14; Ceejay Serfrass (PME) dec. Michael Elisseou (PMW), 12-9; Leo DeMaria (Str) dec. Giuliano Labbadia (Nor), 7-0; James Hopkins (Wh) tech. fall James Bozzi (BC), 21-6, 3:40; Elijah Simak (Naz) pinned Marvin Rodriguez (Fr), 2:28; Donato Ciampittiello (Par) tech. fall Preston Whalen (BM), 17-2, 4:37; Cole Retos (NDGP) pinned Brayan Flores-Ramirez (D), 1:02; Xayden Sallit (Em) tech. fall Daniel Zheng (B), 21-6, 1:45

189: Dominic Sumpolec (NDGP) pinned Morgan Nuttall (Str), 1:01; Jaxson Kreider (B) Yahveh Rosario (D); Connor Gillahan (BC) pinned Adis Vukel (PV), 2:30; Justin Cosover (Ea) pinned Luke Ace (ESS), 2:20; Terrell McFarland (Pot) pinned Jasper McEachern (PMW), 0:34; Curtis Cooper (A) dec. Aiden Hannis (Wh), 12-7; Logan Armstrong (Em) maj. dec. Ben Jebran-Cruz (L), 13-3; Brayden Zuercher (Naz) pinned Logan Rusnock (Nor), 1:11

215: Connor Smalley (NDGP) pinned Michael Malek (PME), 0:39; Jonathan Adjin-Tettey (ESS) dec. Joell Small (Nor), 11-7; Zion Essington (Str) tech. fall Rafael Calderon (Naz), 19-3, 2:35; William Shakir (A) pinned Dylan Foose (BM), 0:25; Alonzo Parker (Ea) pinned Anthony Martin (L), 5:38; Cody Wesner (SL) dec. Max Pugash (Par), 4-1; Kody Ward (B) tech. fall Chase DeCesare (Em), 21-5, 5:03; Evan Gillespie (PV) pinned Gaetano Sarnelli (JT), 0:22

285: Dan Schiffert (Fr) pinned Karl Reed (A), 0:57; Alex Ball (Str) dec. Hunter Hopstetter (B), 5-2 SV; Myles Lysek (Par) pinned Matt Ryan (SL), 2:34; Josiah Rodriguez (ESS) dec. Austin Christine (Naz), 7-2; Noah Knorp (NDGP) pinned Fred Merklin (PV), 1:57; Vaughn Helverson (BM) dec. Jason Doughty (L), 10-3; Marcus Soto (D) dec. Brandon McEntire (Nor), 6-3 SV; Kurtis Crossman (Ea) pinned Logan Roth (Em), 2:45