Evan Gillespie’s loss in last year’s District 11 Class 3A semifinal sent him into the offseason with a purpose.

The Pleasant Valley senior-to-be knew he needed to get stronger and sharpen his skills.

Two months later, Gilliespie avenged that semifinal loss to Notre Dame-Green Pond’s Connor Smalley in the annual NHSCA tournament. It was a sign of progress but that was it.

Gillespie continued to go to national tournaments and hit the weight room hard.

Forty-four seconds into Saturday’s district 3A 215-pound championship match, it was clear that Gillespie was a better wrestler.

Twenty-eight seconds later, it was clear Gillespie was going to be Pleasant Valley’s first district champion since Sean Bianco in 2012 with a pin over Smalley for his first gold medal.

“This feels great to get him back two times to prove I’m better than him,” Gilliespie said after improving to 32-2 this season with 26 pins. “I worked really hard, and it has paid off.”

Gillespie’s performance sent deafening roars throughout Liberty’s Memorial Gym, which up to 15 minutes before his bout was relatively tame by District 11 standards.

Fans became engaged in the 189-pound final between Nazareth’s Brayden Zuercher and Notre Dame-GP’s Dominic Sumpolec. The two had a pair of stellar finals in last year’s district and Northeast Regional tournaments, with Zuercher winning both.

Zuercher led 2-1 after two periods Saturday courtesy of a stalling call and an unsportsmanlike penalty. He then escaped for a 3-1 lead after Sumpolec nearly drew another unsportsmanlike call. That got the crowd in support of both wrestlers fully engaged. Many were enraged.

Sumpolec then got an ankle pick for the winning takedown with four seconds left to win his second district title, first in 3A. He then waved both arms toward the Nazareth fans while behavior in the crowd got chippy.

Crusaders coach Matt Veres made sure there was no further incident on the mat.

But the large crowd was now fired up. Gillespie’s early fireworks in the next match sent fans on both sides of the gym into a frenzy.

No one was happier, however, than Gillespie.

“I was able to see that my upper body was developed way beyond what it was before,” he said. “I can compete with [Smalley’s] upper body. I was a different wrestler from when I wrestled him last.”

There were many other Saturday highlights.

Bethlehem Catholic’s Keanu Dillard was voted the tournament’s outstanding wrestler after winning his fourth district title with a 1-0 win over fellow returning PIAA champion Willmont Kai of Whitehall. Dillard rode out Kai in the second period, escaped early in the third and then escaped trouble twice near the edge of the mat late in the bout..

Younger brother Reef Dillard captured his first district gold medal after back-to-back runner-up finishes with a technical fall over Easton’s Noah Fenner. Dillard’s big moment came in the semis with a takedown at the buzzer to beat Northampton’s Trey Wagner 4-1.

“Obviously last year coming up short at districts,” Dillard said, “it felt great to get to the top of the podium and show everyone how good I really am. Hopefully, I can ride this and get to the top of the podium at Hershey.”

Dillard hit a patented Jonesy to knock off Wagner, a 2024 state champion and two-time district gold medalist. It came after Wagner got on in a single-leg and had it up in the air for a few seconds. But when they returned to the mat, Dillard was in his comfort zone.

“People might be panicking there,” Dillard said. “But that’s my bread and butter position. I get there a lot. I knew the Jonesy was there. I just had to get my leg inside, and it was there for the taking. I ended up getting it.”

Brock Frable got Southern Lehigh’s first district title since Matt Mirth in 2015 with a 7-6 victory over Nazareth’s Elijah Simak at 172.

The Spartans junior has battled injuries the last two seasons. He had to injury default out of last year’s district tournament.

Frable’s first district title didn’t come without drama. He was down 12-3 late in the second period to Whitehall’s James Hopkins in the semifinals before closing to within 13-11 entering the final two minutes. He then took the lead with an escape and two stalling calls and eventually hung on.

“It was hard to sleep last night,” Frable said. “I kept waking up. I guess I was anxious about the tournament. Warming up, I felt not so great. During the match I was like, “Oh, shoot. I don’t feel myself.’ But I knew I had to stay calm and composed. I know I put in a lot of work, maybe more than most other guys, so I knew I had to keep on pushing.”

Emmaus’ Emilio Albanese earned his first district title after back-to-back runner-up finishes and his first win over Easton’s Nick Salamone in three tries with a 4-2 decision to win 127 gold.

The decisive takedown came early in the third period before Albanese had to fight off the returning state champion multiple times in the final minute.

“Just keep attacking and staying on my offense,” Albanese said about being able to reverse losses the previous two years to Salamone. “He’s a great scrambler, fast on his feet. I tried to finish tight. I circled in. I know where the circle is because I wrestle so much, so I went around and kept my feet in.

“Taking second twice sucks. It was good to get gold.”

Notre Dame-GP won the team title with 219.5 points. Nazareth was second with 208. Northampton, Easton and Bethlehem Catholic rounded out the top five.

The top five in each weight class advance to next weekend’s Northeast Regional tournament at Liberty Memorial Gym against qualifiers from Districts 2, 4 and 12.

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

District 11 Class 3A wrestling

Saturday at Liberty’s Memorial Gym

FINALS

107: Max Quarry (NDGP) dec. Luis Moya (Par), 8-3

114: Brayden Wenrich (Nor) tech. fall Cael Muller (NDGP), 16-1, 2:13

121: Nico Emili (BC) dec. Teagan Caciolo (Em), 8-1

127: Emilio Albanese (Em) dec. Nick Salamone (Ea), 4-2

133: Keanu Dillard (BC) dec. Willmont Kai (Wh), 1-0

139: Reef Dillard (BC) tech. fall Noah Fenner (Ea), 20-3, 5:32

145: Jack Campbell (Naz) dec. Gavyn Kelton (NDGP), 7-2

152: Gabe Ballard (Nor) dec. Cade Campbell (Naz), 7-3

160: Dominick Tunison (Naz) maj. dec. Jorge Moya (Par), 10-1

172: Brock Frable (SL) dec. Elijah Simak (Naz), 7-3

189: Dominic Sumpolec (NDGP) dec. Brayden Zuercher (Naz), 4-3

215: Evan Gillespie (PV) pinned Connor Smalley (NDGP), 1:12

285: Dan Schiffert (Fr) Kurtis Crossman (Ea)

THIRD-PLACE MATCHES

107: Jack Jasionowicz (Str) dec. Mike Nicosia (BC), 6-5

114: Braden Todora (Par) dec. Elijah Heimbach (L), 3-2

121: Jack Famularo (Ea) dec. Cole Schwartz (NDGP), 8-5 SV

127: Andre Cerrato (BC) dec. Matt Velez (Par), 1-0

133: Caleb Kosko (Naz) tech. fall Carter Smith (B), 18-3, 4:06

139: Trey Wagner (Nor) maj. dec. Kio Hamlin (D), 11-0

145: Chase Grabfelder (Nor) dec. Ethan Krazer (Ea), 9-2

152: Jared Gonzalez (NDGP) pinned Nick Lyden (Fr), 0:55

160: Xyler Sallit (Em) maj. dec. Carter Chlebove (Nor), 13-3

172: Xayden Sallit (Em) dec. James Hopkins (Wh), 4-2

189: Terrell McFarland (Pot) pinned Justin Cosover (Ea), 1:50

215: Zion Essington (Str) by inj. def. over Alonzo Parker (Ea), 0:10

285: Noah Knorp (NDGP) by forfeit over Josiah Rodriguez (ESS)

FIFTH-PLACE MATCHES

107: Ben Schoeneberger (Nor) pinned Max Milia (L), 1:46

114: Derek Fulmer (Naz) dec. Dionte Wheeler (Wh), 9-5

121: Kade Pascoe (Wh) maj. dec. Tony Bothwell (PMW), 13-5

127: Michael Good (Naz) dec. Chase Fetherman (Str), 5-1

133: Matt Sommer (Nor) dec. Jacob Volpe (NDGP), 4-3

139: Jackson Max (Em) dec. Jared Santilli (Par), 2-1 UTB

145: Cris Recinos (D) dec. Cole Smith (B), 3-1

152: Mason Hopkins (Wh) dec. Riyell Wann (D), 4-1

160: Keith Barker (SL) dec. Mason Thomas (BC), 4-3

172: Leo DeMaria (Str) by inj. def. over Donato Ciampittiello (Par), 1:05

189: Connor Gillahan (BC) pinned Curtis Cooper (A), 2:25

215: Jonathan Adjin-Tetty (ESS) maj. dec. Joell Small (Nor), 18-5

285: Myles Lysek (Par) pinned Vaughn Helverson (BM), 1:27

SEMIFINALS

107: Max Quarry (NDGP) pinned Jack Jasionowicz (Str), 1:20; Luis Moya (Par) dec. Mike Nicosia (BC), 4-1

114: Brayden Wenrich (Nor) pinned Eli Heimbach (L), 3:28; Cael Muller (NDGP) pinned Braden Todora (Par), 1:51

121: Nico Emili (BC) dec. Jack Famularo (Ea), 2-0; Teagan Caciolo (Em) dec. Kade Pascoe (Wh), 3-2

127: Emilio Albanese (Em) dec. Andre Cerrato (BC), 4-1; Nick Salamone (Ea) dec. Matt Velez (Par), 5-4

133: Keanu Dillard (BC) tech. fall Carter Smith (B), 21-5, 3:24; Willmont Kai (Wh) dec. Caleb Kosko (Naz), 4-0

139: Reef Dillard (BC) dec. Trey Wagner (Nor), 4-1; Noah Fenner (Ea) tech. fall Kio Hamlin, 18-3, 4:38

145: Jack Campbell (Naz) maj. dec. Ethan Krazer (Ea), 16-3; Gavyn Kelton (NDGP) dec. Chase Grabfelder (Nor), 5-3

152: Cade Campbell (Naz) tech. fall Nick Lyden (Fr), 17-1, 4:51; Gabe Ballard (Nor) tech. fall Jared Gonzalez (NDGP), 19-4, 2:24

160: Dominick Tunison (Naz) pinned Keith Barker (SL), 2:57; Jorge Moya (Par) dec. Mason Thomas (BC), 7-0

172: Brock Frable (SL) dec. James Hopkins (Wh), 19-16; Elijah Simak (Naz) maj. dec. Xayden Sallit (Em), 10-1

189: Dominic Sumpolec (NDGP) pinned Justin Cosover (Ea), 1:33; Brayden Zuercher (Naz) dec. Terrell McFarland (Pot), 7-2

215: Connor Smalley (NDGP) pinned Zion Essington (Str), 1:45; Evan Gillespie (PV) pinned Alonzo Parker (Ea), 0:28

285: Dan Schiffert (Fr) maj. dec. Josiah Rodriguez (ESS), 11-0; Kurtis Crossman (Ea) dec. Noah Knorp (NDGP), 4-3

SECON-ROUND CONSOLATIONS

107: Jack Dressler (Naz) dec. Mike Rambone (Ea), 7-2; Max Milia (L) tech. fall Brian Reese (JTP, 16-1, 3:41; Ben Schoeneberger (Nor) pinned Grayson Freed (BM), 0:28; Semaj Weatherspoon (Wh) by forfeit over Mikael Oh (PME)

114: Cole Cook (Pot) pinned Caden Fenstermacher (BM), 2:41; Derek Fulmer (Naz) dec. Levi Max (Em), 4-1; Joseph DePasqua (PMW) maj. dec. Gino Bozzi (BC), 12-3; Dionte Wheeler (Wh) dec. Al Bialasiewicz (Str), 7-0

121: Shawn Radcliffe (PV) dec. Matt Nigro (Naz), 4-2; Tony Bothwell (PMW) tech. fall Christian Matlock (B), 17-1, 4:10; Cole Schwartz (NDGP) tech. fall Chase Kruk (Par), 15-0, 1:12; Cade Strauss (Nor) dec. Braylon Alicea (ESN), 11-6

127: Michael Good (Naz) tech. fall Adam Gasteratos (Wh), 19-2, 4:33; Davi Glykas (Nor) maj. dec. Carlos Recinos (D), 17-6; John Solano (L) pinned Cole Daubert (Pot), 2:31; Chase Fetherman (Str) pinned Trey Neith (NDGP), 4:46

133: Taner Milburn (Ea) dec. Stephen Korte (JT), 8-6; Jacob Volpe (NDGP) dec. Tycen Norman (Par), 7-3; Ben Miller (L) dec. Anthony DePasqua (PMW), 7-0; Matt Sommer (Nor) maj. dec. Logan Maher (Em), 12-4

139: Griffin King (SL) tech. fall Sam Kurtz (Fr), 16-0, 4:06; Jackson Max (Em) pinned Jose Rodriguez (L), 3:18; Cooper Wenrich (Naz) tech. fall Jeff Cemelli (NDGP), 23-7, 5:00; Jared Santilli (Par) pinned Noah Sipple (Str), 2:43

145: A.J. Gomez (BC) tech. fall Colton Christian (Str), 20-3, 3:31; Cris Recinos (D) pinned Nick Panepinto (ESS), 1:49; Cole Smith (B) dec. Kevin Gerheart (PME), 8-3; Tommy Fallstich (Em) maj. dec. Bryce Bodenberg (BM), 8-0

152: Riyell Wann (D) by forfeit over Sam Oh (PME); Ben Reid (L) pinned Aneudy Rodriguez-Garcia (A), 0:43; Mason Hopkins (Wh) pinned Thomas Herring (BM), 4:45; Aiden Bayard (Em) dec. Eziah Cartagena (B), 4-1

160: Owen Woll (BM) pinned Daniel Rivera (L), 0:37; Carter Chlebove (Nor) tech. fall Luke Schindler (B), 18-2, 2:20; Xyler Sallit (Em) tech. fall Justin Rose (ESS), 17-0, 2:05; Layony Sanchez (Wh) dec. Brandon Roca (ESN), 4-1

172: Cole Retos (NDGP) dec. Dan Vargas (Ea), 8-4; Donato Ciampittiello (Par) pinned Giuliano Labbadia (Nor), 3:41; Leo DeMaria (Str) dec. Preston Whalen (BM), 4-2; Daniel Zheng (B) dec. Ceejay Serfrass (PME), 7-6

189: Logan Armstrong (Em) dec. Yahveh Rosario (D), 7-0; Curtis Cooper (A) pinned Adis Vukel (PV), 1:24; Connor Gillahan (BC) pinned Aiden Hannis (Wh), 1:33; Jaxson Kreider (B) pinned Ben Jebran-Cruz (L), 1:53

215: Joell Small (Nor) pinned Kody Ward (B), 1:09; Cody Wesner (SL) pinned Rafael Calderon (Naz), 4:19; William Shakir (A) dec. Max Pugach (Par), 6-0; Jonathan Adjin-Tetty (ESS) tech. fall Chase DeCesare (Em), 19-4, 4:41

285: Marcus Soto (D) dec. Hunter Hopstetter (B), 4-1; Vaughn Helverson (BM) pinned Austin Christine (Naz), 1:39; Myles Lysek (Par) maj. dec. Fred Merklin (PV), 13-3; Alex Ball (Str) pinned Brandon McEntire (Nor), 2:32

THIRD-ROUND CONSOLATIONS

107: Max Milia (L) tech. fall Jack Dressler (Naz), 15-0, 4:46; Ben Schoeneberger (Nor) pinned Semaj Weatherspoon (Wh), 1:44

114: Derek Fulmer (Naz) dec. Cole Cook (Pot), 8-3; Dionte Wheeler (Wh) maj. dec. Joseph DePasqua (PMW), 8-0

121: Tony Bothwell (PMW) dec. Shawn Radcliffe (PV), 7-2; Cole Schwartz (NDGP) tech. fall Cade Strauss (Nor), 17-1, 3:35

127: Michael Good (Na) dec. Davi Glykas (Nor), 6-1; Chase Fetherman (Str) dec. John Solano (L), 2-1

133: Jacob Volpe (NDGP) dec. Tanner Milburn (Ea), 9-3; Matt Sommer (Nor) dec. Ben Miller (L), 8-2

139: Jackson Max (Em) dec. Griffin King (SL), 5-2; Jared Santilli (Par) dec. Cooper Wenrich (Naz), 8-5 SV

145: Cris Recinos (D) maj. dec. A.J. Gomez (BC), 12-4; Cole Smith (B) dec. Tommy Fallstich (Em), 5-0

152: Riyell Wann (D) dec. Ben Reid (L), 4-1; Mason Hopkins (Wh) dec. Aiden Bayard (Em), 4-1

160: Carter Chlebove (Nor) maj. dec. Owen Woll (BM), 13-4; Xyler Sallit (Em) dec. Layony Sanchez (Wh), 4-1

172: Donato Ciampittiello (Par) dec. Cole Retos (NDGP), 6-5; Leo DeMaria (Str) dec. Daniel Zheng (B), 4-3

189: Curtis Cooper (A) pinned Logan Armstrong (Em), 3:11; Connor Gillahan (BC) tech. fall Jaxson Kreider (B), 16-1 4:55

215: Joell Small (Nor) pinned Cody Wesner (SL), 4:36; Jonathan Adjin-Tetty (ESS) dec. William Shakir (A), 10-5

285: Vaughn Helverson (BM) dec. Marcus Soto (D), 10-5; Myles Lysek (Par) pinned Alex Ball (Str), 2:33

CONSOLATION SEMIFINALS

107: Mike Nicosia (BC) dec. Max Milia (L), 7-2; Jack Jasionowicz (Str) maj. dec. Ben Schoeneberger (Nor), 8-0

114: Braden Todora (Par) tech. fall Derek Fulmer (Naz), 17-2, 4:14; Elijah Heimbach (L) maj. dec. Dionte Wheeler (Wh), 13-2

121: Jack Famularo (Ea) tech. fall Tony Bothwell (PMW), 17-0, 4:14; Cole Schwartz (NDGP) dec. Kade Pascoe (Wh), 9-4

127: Andre Cerrato (BC) dec. Michael Good (Naz), 4-1; Matt Velez (Par) pinned Chase Fetherman (Str), 0:20

133: Carter Smith (B) dec. Jacob Volpe (NDGP), 7-1; Caleb Kosko (Naz) tech. fall Matt Sommer (Nor), 23-4, 2:31

139: Trey Wagner (Nor) tech. fall Jackson Max (Em), 15-0, 1:15; Kio Hamlin (D) dec. Jared Santilli Par), 7-2

145: Ethan Krazer (Ea) maj. dec. Cris Recinos (D), 12-3; Chase Grabfelder (Nor) tech. fall Cole Smith (B), 17-1, 4:53

152: Nick Lyden (Fr) dec. Riyell Wann (D), 11-9; Jared Gonzalez (NDGP) dec. Mason Hopkins (Wh), 11-10

160: Carter Chlebove (Nor) dec. Keith Barker (SL), 8-5; Xyler Sallit (Em) dec. Mason Thomas (BC), 3-2

172: James Hopkins (Wh) maj. dec. Donato Ciampittiello (Par), 15-2; Xayden Sallit (Em) tech. fall Leo DeMaria (Str), 17-2, 1:47

189: Justin Cosover (Ea) pinned Curtis Cooper (A), 1:30; Terrell McFarland (Pot) maj. dec. Connor Gillahan (BC), 15-3

215: Zion Essington (Str) pinned Joell Small (Nor), 0:34; Alonzo Parker (Ea) maj. dec. Jonathan Adjin-Tetty (ESS), 12-3

285: Josiah Rodriguez (ESS) dec. Vaughn Helverson (BM), 7-3; Noah Knorp (NDGP) dec. Myles Lysek (Par), 5-0

TEAM STANDINGS

1. Notre Dame-GP 219.5 points; 2. Nazareth 208; 3. Northampton 190.5; 4. Easton 165.5; 5. Bethlehem Catholic 162.5; 6. Parkland 142; 7. Emmaus 135.5; 8. Whitehall 101; 9. Stroudsburg 84.5; 10. Liberty 67; 11. Southern Lehigh 63; 12. Bangor 62; 12. Pleasant Valley 62; 14. Dieruff 61; 15. Freedom 56; 16. East Stroudsburg South 43.5; 17. Pottsville 35; 18. Allen 31; 19. Blue Mountain 30; 20. Pocono Mountain West 28; 21. Pocono Mountain East 22; 22. Jim Thorpe 10.5; 23. East Stroudsburg North 8.5