Braden Todora stood in front of his 10th grade English class and let it go. The Parkland sophomore talked and talked and talked.

Todora realized it was not that bad speaking in front of a crowd. That newfound confidence is also showing up on the wrestling mat.

A week after winning the King of the Mountain title, the 114-pounder is in the Bethlehem Holiday Wrestling Classic semifinals after two dominant victories Sunday at Liberty’s Memorial Gym.

“It’s a mindset,” Todora said. “The way I think now is different. The way I prepare for my matches, I don’t focus on my opponent. I have more confidence in myself. I think that’s made the biggest difference this year.”

Todora is joined by brothers Luis and Jorge Moya in the semifinals, which are at 10 a.m. Monday. Action continues through the afternoon medal round, with the finals scheduled for 4 p.m.

Nazareth and Emmaus have five semifinalists each, followed by Phillipsburg with three, then two each from Saucon Valley, Quakertown and Northwestern Lehigh. Freedom, Whitehall and Stroudsburg have one apiece.

Todora faces top-seeded Nathan Schuman, a returning 2A state medalist from Honesdale, in Monday’s semifinals. The Trojans sophomore is 10-0 this season after winning 25 matches last year but not medaling at districts.

He’s in a better space this year because he is approaching all challenges in his life with a better perspective, starting with English class.

“I just did it, went up there [in front of the class] and faced my fear,” Todora said. “I talked, was loud. It was good. There is no pressure speaking in front of people or wrestling. It’s just a wrestling match. At the end of the day, you’re speaking in front of people. No one cares. I just realized that.”

Northwestern Lehigh’s Trent Croll also is feeling pretty good about himself after making the 145 semis almost a year after suffering a season-ending left ankle injury during a tournament at Parkland.

After two months off, Croll returned to the mat more determined and more appreciative. He grinded through the offseason tournament schedule at Grit Mat Club and entering the 2025-26 season ready to take the next step.

He has looked much improved so far.

“It feels like nothing ever happened [to the ankle],” Croll said. “It feels good. It feels great getting back out there, back with the team. There is a different mentality this year.  I felt like some close matches last season I gave up on. Now, I’m just trying to score as many points as I can, focusing only on what’s right there in front of me.”

Croll, who picked up three pins Sunday, faces Kennett’s Bryce Boyer in Monday’s semis. He would have faced top seed Patrick Woloshyn of Council Rock South in the quarterfinals, but the returning state medalist with 126 career wins medical forfeited out.

Emmaus had eight reach the quarterfinals, five of whom stayed in the winners bracket. Teagan Caciolo (121), Emilio Albanese (127), Jackson Max (139) plus brothers Xyler and Xayden Sallit (160 and 172) are two wins from a title.

Xyler Sallit pinned No. 2 seed Liam Evanko of Wilkes-Barre Area in the 160 quarters. Evanko’s win in the round of 16 was the 100th of his career. Sallit had three bonus-point victories.

Xayden Sallit broke from a 3-all tie with a five-point third period in the 172 quarters to beat Boyertown’s returning state qualifier Jonathan Heiser.

Caciolo and Albanese each had a pair of bonus-point wins to advance at 121 and 127, respectively. Albanese is at 127 for the first time this year.

Cooper Wenrich (139), Jack and Cade Campbell (145 and 160, respectively), Elijak Simak (172) and Brayden Zuercher are Nazareth’s semifinalists.

Wenrich trailed Wilson-West Lawn’s Reese Eidle 7-2 after two, but used three takedowns in the third to rally his way to a quarterfinal victory. Simak needed a reversal in the first tie-breaker to beat West Scranton’s Tommy Schechterly in the semis after Schechterly knocked out second-seeded Jonny O’Brien of North Penn 2-1 in a tie-breaker in the quarters.

The Campbells and Zuercher reached the semis with a combined three pins and three technical falls.

Carter Chunko had a pair of second-period technical falls to reach the 127 semis for Saucon Valley. Mack Santoro used a second-period takedown to beat Southern Lehigh’s Griffin King 4-1 at 145. Santoro faces Jack Campbell in the semis.

The Spartans had five quarterfinalist but all lost. Brock Frable suffered a 4-2 setback to top seed McKaden Speece of Wilson-West Lawn, a 159-match winner, two-time state medalist and Naval Academy commit.

Massimo Gonzalez (139), Owen Garriques (152) and Gavin Geleta (172) are the Stateliners’ three semifinalists. Gonzalez faces Emmaus’ Max after two victories, including 6-3 over Parkland’s Jared Santilli in the round of 16.

Garriques posted three bonus-point victories. Geleta, who had two bonus point wins, faces Nazareth’s Simak in the 172 semis.

Notes

Nazareth is without Caleb Kosko because of injury and Dominick Tunison. Saucon Valley did not have Gavin Chunko. …  Emmaus, Whitehall, Nazareth, Council Rock South, Boyertown, Quakertown Wilson-West Lawn and Parkland are the top eight in the team standings. The top 12 teams are separated by less than 30 points.

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