Pottsville wrestles North Schuylkill on Jan. 29. (Photo by Justin Reed/Skook News)

While waiting for the first whistle at Saturday’s District 11 Team Wrestling Championships, let’s take a closer look at the schedule and the quarterfinal matchups.

Schedule

After weigh-ins at 8 a.m. Saturday at Bethlehem Freedom High School, action will begin at 9 a.m. with the Class AA quarterfinals. The Class 3A quarterfinals will follow at 11 a.m. The Class AA semifinals are set for 1 p.m., with the Class 3A semifinals at 3 p.m. The championship finals in both classes will be held at 7 p.m. on two mats.

The champion and runner-up in each class will represent the district in the 20-team PIAA Team Wrestling Championships.

That schedule has undergone a major overhaul this season, with preliminary and round-of-16 duals being held Tuesday, Feb. 4, at regional sites across the state. Then, instead of heading to Hershey’s Giant Center, the remaining eight teams in each class will gather at Altoona Area High School on Feb. 7-8 to battle it out for a state title.

Last season, Notre Dame-Green Pond won its fourth straight District 11 Class AA title with a 52-9 victory over Saucon Valley. The Crusaders have moved up to Class 3A this season. Bethlehem Catholic earned its fourth straight District 11 Class 3A crown a year ago, downing Easton 32-23 in the finals.

At states, Notre Dame-Green Pond placed third, falling to eventual champion Faith Christian in the Class AA semifinals. Bethlehem Catholic won its third straight Class 3A title, topping Easton 33-24 in an all-District 11 PIAA final.

CLASS AA

No. 1 Saucon Valley (15-1) vs. No. 8 Tri-Valley (12-5)

The top-seeded Panthers are as good as ever, with their only setback 36-29 to Quakertown. Saucon Valley is an overwhelming favorite to return to the top of the district for the first time since 2020.

Top wrestlers for Saucon Valley include sophomore Carter Chunko (26-4) at 107-114, freshman Gavin Chunko (23-9) at 107-114, senior Aiden Grogg (26-7) at 133-139, senior Cole Hubert (24-8) at 160-172, senior Hector Mateo (16-9) at 133-139, senior Jared Rohn (32-5) at 172-189, freshman Matthew Santoro (29-7) at 127 and senior Jackson Albert (32-5) at 152-160.

Tri-Valley will counter with junior Owen Wolfgang (25-8) at 107, junior Jaxson Bruso (26-10) at 133, sophomore Noah Hanlon (29-6) at 145-152, sophomore Hunter Updegrave (23-13) at 172 and sophomore Donovan Keeth (21-13) at 215.

No. 4 Lehighton (11-6) vs. No. 5 Pine Grove (13-5)

Former Schuylkill League member Lehighton has a signature win, 41-29 over North Schuylkill on Jan. 4.

The Indians feature sophomore Lukas Crozier (30-10) at 139-152, junior Connor Dugan (19-14) at 133, sophomore Marc Macias (27-9) at 285, junior Konner Nalesnik (23-14) at 152-160 and junior Evan Wentz (26-12) at 145-152.

Pine Grove’s wins over North Schuylkill (40-35) and Tri-Valley (35-34) enabled the Cardinals to hold the No. 5 seed.

Top wrestlers for Pine Grove include senior Gage Cleary (18-12) at 127, sophomore Aaron Osatchuck (21-9) at 139, sophomore Isaiah Miller (18-9) at 145, senior Austin Martin (27-4) at 160, sophomore Zach Kurtz (16-8) at 189, senior Robbie Schaeffer (26-6) at 215 and sophomore Scout Frantz (20-12) at 285.

No. 3 Palmerton (10-3) vs. No. 6 North Schuylkill (11-2)

The Blue Bombers have some solid wins, including 44-26 over Pottsville and 36-28 over Lehighton.

They feature some heavy hitters as well, including senior Dillon Lombardi (32-6) at 172, senior Derek King (28-5) at 152, freshman Connor Messinger (25-9) at 114, senior Josh Merkel (19-14) at 127, sophomore Dillon Anthony (23-9) at 160, sophomore Thomas Pasqueriello (21-14) at 107 and junior Vincent Taglieri (20-11) at 145.

North Schuylkill’s better victories came over Tri-Valley (36-31) and Blue Mountain (30-27).

Leading the way for the Spartans are junior Gaige Mentusky (25-10) at 107, sophomore Alex Deritis (20-7) at 114, freshman Easton Edwards (23-5) at 121, junior Stanley Padakowski (19-13) at 127, freshman Bryce Kile (24-11) at 139, senior Nate Sterner (24-7) at 145, senior Jaden Meyer (22-10) at 172, junior Cadyn McGraw (22-13) at 215 and senior Sander Stokes (20-11) at 285.

“We’re hoping to be wrestling our best when we get down there and really have a shot at qualifying for state duals,’’ North Schuylkill coach Corey Fetterolf said. “That’s the goal.’’

No. 2 Northwestern Lehigh (12-6) vs. No. 7 Pen Argyl (8-4)

Wins over Freedom (35-31), Delaware Valley (43-26), Lehighton (45-23) and Palmerton (41-27) lifted Northwestern Lehigh to the No. 2 seed.

Junior Luke Fugazzotto (36-1) at 189 is the Tigers’ top wrestler. He finished second in the state last season at 172.

Freshman Vinnie Fugazzotto (24-12) at 160-172, freshman Weston Killar (27-8) at 114, freshman Nolan Koehler (20-12) at 152-160, junior Colby Townley (18-2) at 145, sophomore Braydon Uricchio (22-12) at 127-133 and freshman Logan Uricchio (23-12) at 107 make Northwestern Lehigh hard to handle.

Junior Collin Ramsay (33-5) at 139 leads Pen Argyl. Junior Isaiah Adams (24-13) at 107-114, junior Luca Albanese (24-10) at 145-152, senior Hunter Beers (23-14) at 172-189, senior Nuallan King (22-8) at 189-215 and junior Zachary Metzgar (22-15) at 152-160 are other top wrestlers for the Green Knights.

CLASS 3A

No. 1 Bethlehem Catholic (10-0) vs. No. 8 Parkland (11-5)

The Golden Hawks challenge themselves nationally at events like Walsh Ironman and Best of the East.

Their big wins so far this season: Notre Dame-Green Pond (34-24), Easton (38-20) and Northampton (42-20).

Leading the way is 2024 state champion Keanu Dillard (16-2), a junior 126-133-pounder.

Other top wrestlers include senior Shane McFillin (26-8) at 172, senior Charlie Scanlan (19-8) at 160, senior Marco Frinci (18-6) at 152, freshman Nico Emili (20-6) at 107-114 and sophomore Reef Dillard (19-7) at 121-133.

Parkland has wins over Blue Mountain (44-16), Quakertown (37-24) and Northwestern Lehigh (35-33).

Top wrestlers for the Trojans include senior Leo Kern (24-7) at 139-145, junior Jorge Moya (26-9) at 160-172, freshman Braden Todora (23-9) at 107-114 and sophomore Matthew Velez (23-10) at 121.

No. 4 Notre Dame-Green Pond (10-1) vs. No. 5 Northampton (14-2)

The Crusaders have made the move to Class 3A seamlessly, beating Malvern Prep 30-28 and falling to Bethlehem Catholic 34-24.

Their top wrestlers include senior Keegan Ramsay (20-8) at 160-172, junior Connor Smalley (24-9) at 189-215 and junior Dominic Sumpolec (26-8) at 172-189.

Northampton has junior state champion Trey Wagner (22-4) at 133-139, freshman Brayden Wenrich (30-5) at 107-114, sophomore Gabriel Ballard (27-8) at 127-133 and junior Chase Grabfelder (21-8) at 152-160.

No. 3 Easton (8-2) vs. No. 6 Emmaus (12-4)

Easton has been coming on of late, winning the Bethlehem Holiday Classic team title and topping rival Phillipsburg (N.J.) 40-24.

Senior Shae Linegar (21-8) at 189, junior Kurtis Crossman (24-5) at 215-285, junior Nicholas Salamone (20-6) at 121, sophomore Noah Fenner (21-6) at 127 and sophomore Ethan Krazer (21-9) spark the Red Rovers.

For Emmaus, sophomore Emilio Albanese (28-4) at 114-121, sophomore Teagan Caciolo (23-9) at 121-127, junior Jackson Max (28-5) at 107, junior Xayden Sallit (27-8) at 172-189 and senior Jesse Scott (24-11) at 160-172 lead the way.

No. 2 Nazareth (14-0) vs. No. 7 Whitehall (16-4)

The undefeated Blue Eagles edged Easton 28-27 and Northampton 36-26 earlier this season.

Senior state champ Tahir Parkins (30-0) at 145-152 is their leader. Other top wrestlers for Nazareth include junior Cade Campell (23-4) at 160-172, junior Jack Campbell (22-5) at 139, junior Brayden Zuercher (21-2) at 189, sophomore Cooper Wenrich (20-7) at 133, senior Remy Trach (23-8) at 121-127 and junior Elijah Simak (20-7) at 172-189.

Whitehall’s best win was 40-20 over Parkland but lost to Nazareth 58-12.

Leading the Zephyrs are senior Trokon Kai (20-9) at 139-145, junior James Hopkins (22-6) at 189-215, junior Wilmont Kai (23-2) at 114-121 and junior Kade Pascoe (23-6) at 121-127.

District 11 Team Wrestling Championships

At Bethlehem Freedom High School

Saturday’s schedule

CLASS AA

Quarterfinals

No. 1 Saucon Valley (15-1) vs. No. 8 Tri-Valley (12-5), 9 a.m.

No. 4 Lehighton (11-6) vs. No. 5 Pine Grove (13-5), 9 a.m.

No. 3 Palmerton (10-3) vs. No. 6 North Schuylkill (11-2), 9 a.m.

No. 2 Northwestern Lehigh (12-6) vs. No. 7 Pen Argyl (8-4), 9 a.m.

Semifinals

Saucon Valley/Tri-Valley winner vs. Lehighton/Pine Grove winner, 1 p.m.

Palmerton/North Schuylkill winner vs. Pen Argyl/Northwestern Lehigh winner, 1 p.m.

Championship

Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

CLASS 3A

Quarterfinals

No. 1 Bethlehem Catholic (10-0) vs. No. 8 Parkland (11-5), 11 a.m.

No. 4 Notre Dame-Green Pond (10-1) vs. No. 5 Northampton (14-2), 11 a.m.

No. 3 Easton (8-2) vs. No. 6 Emmaus (12-4), 11 a.m.

No. 2 Nazareth (14-0) vs. No. 7 Whitehall (16-4), 11 a.m.

Semifinals

Bethlehem Catholic/Parkland winner vs. Notre Dame-Green Pond/Northampton winner, 3 p.m.

Easton/Emmaus winner vs. Nazareth/Whitehall winner, 3 p.m.

Championship

Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.