Logan Roth had been in similar situations before and didn’t get the desired outcomes.

Chase DeCesare had been a varsity wrestling spectator until Wednesday, so he certainly had no positive experiences in pressure situations to draw from.

The duo were all that stood between Emmaus knocking on the door of EPC, District 11 and PIAA Class 3A royalty and busting it down.

In his varsity debut, DeCesare, in his second year wrestling, won a wild 13-12 bout at 215 pounds and Roth got a pin in the final bout at 285 to secure Emmaus’ 31-21 victory over four-time defending PIAA 3A champion Bethlehem Catholic.

“We asked the kids tonight, ‘Don’t worry about the scoreboard,’” Green Hornets coach Jim Best said, “‘Don’t worry about the outcome. Just compete hard.’ I felt like that’s what we saw from 107 right up to heavyweight. We went out, win or lose, and competed hard.

“That’s the kind of mentality we want to keep going with this program.”

Roth, a three-year starter, played the role of good teammate until right before DeCesare clinched his match against Bethlehem Catholic’s James Bozzi. Best was happy to see that, but wanted his senior to be focused on his task — wrestle smart and aggressively … and stay off his back.

The 285-pounder delivered against Golden Hawks senior first-year wrestler Grant Mulhern, who missed all of last season with an injury.

It didn’t start out well for Roth. Mulhern got a takedown with 35 seconds left in the first period. But Roth stayed focused while on bottom against Mulhern who had a 36-pound weight advantage.

When Roth got a reversal, he worked like a veteran on top by applying pressure and waiting the opening to turn Mulhern.

“I’m proud of my coaches for teaching me everything they have,” Roth said. “What I was doing out there, what I’ve been practicing the last five, six months, it’s their dedication to this team. I just did everything they taught me. I can’t take any credit for it.”

DeCesare led Bozzi 6-1 early, then fell in a 10-8 hole going into the third period. But the junior kept battling and used his 31-pound weight advantage to wear down Bozzi. His takedown with 36 seconds left was the difference.

“There were a lot of nerves wrestling my first match,” DeCesare said. “I was just trying to wrestle a smart match, get a win for my team. I woke up thinking about the match. I was walking around school thinking about it. I felt pretty good actually when I got on the mat.

“I knew I had what it took to win the match. It was everything I practiced for.”

Emmaus 31, Bethlehem Catholic 21

107: Cam Martinez (E) tech. fall Michael Nicosia, 17-1, 4:58

114: Talan Springer (E) tech. fall Guiseppe Bozzi, 21-4, 4:28

121: Nico Emili (BC) dec. Levi Max, 7-2

127: Teagan Caciolo (E) dec. A.J. Gomez, 8-5

133: Emilio Albanese (E) dec. Reef Dillard, 7-2

139: Andre Cerrato (BC) pinned Jackson Max, 3:18

145: Keanu Dillard (BC) tech. fall. Tommy Fallstich, 22-6, 5:26

152: Jaden Santiago (BC) maj. dec. Ayden Bayard, 10-2

160: Xyler Sallit (E) dec. Mason Thomas, 4-3 TB-2

172: Logan Armstrong (E) dec. Zach Papcsy, 4-3

189: Connor Gillahan (BC) dec. Xayden Sallit, 1-0

215: Chase DeCesare (E) dec. James Bozzi, 13-12

285: Logan Roth (E) pinned Grant Mulhern, 3:38

Referee: Greg Geiger

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