It wasn't the result he wanted, but it might have been the one he needed.

A week after winning a District 11 Class AA title, Northwestern's Caleb Clymer saw his bid for a Southeast Regional championship come up just short in the 138-pound when he ran into Boiling Springs' Kyle Shoop, who was a state runner-up last year.

Though he suffered an 8-0 loss, the match showed the freshman what he's capable of against the top ranked 138-pound wrestler in the state.

"I felt a lot more comfortable as the match went on," said Clymer. "I tried to go into it thinking I had nothing to lose and just tried to do my best.

"It's not the outcome I wanted, but it was great experience for me and hopefully I can ride that into states."

While Clymer is hoping the exposure to top-ranked competition helps him this week, Northwestern head coach Jim Moll sees many long-term benefits of the championship match.

"Being a freshman and qualifying for the state tournament is huge," said Moll. "In a lot of ways, it's not about being a regional champ; it's about qualifying for states.

"Being in this environment will help him this week, but it will also pay dividends over the next three years."

Clymer's spot in the finals highlighted yet another remarkable tournament for the Tigers, who also advanced Jarret White (fifth place, 126), Quentin Bernhard (sixth, 120) and Matt Peters (sixth, 106) to this week's PIAA Championships.

Having more than half of his wrestlers that competed in the regional tournament move on to Hershey is something Moll takes great pride in.

"You always want to get more guys out," the coach said. "That may not always be realistic, but bringing seven (to the tournament) and having four qualify for states is a great thing."

Bernhard, who qualified for the regional tournament last season, and White, who made it two years ago as a freshman, are both looking forward to what will be their first trip to Hershey.

"I don't know if I can say what I want to accomplish out there," said Bernhard. "I'm very excited to go, and it would be great to get a win.

"But whatever happens, I'm just happy to have the chance to compete."

For White, the opportunity to experience the event with several teammates is one he won't take for granted.

"I think it'll be awesome to go out there with a number of guys," he said. "We've been practicing together all year, and working for this. It's awesome that so many of us will be going out together."

And it's no secret what got them here.

"They both work really hard," Moll said of Bernhard and White. "They are two of the hardest workers in the room, day-in-and-day-out. They do everything we ask and I'm really happy for them to accomplish this."

While White and Bernhard are both juniors, Peters, like Clymer, is only a freshman.

With his first two postseason tournaments under his belt, Peters is hoping to continue his steady progression.

"I want to try and place and get on the podium," he said. "But just to make it out there as a freshman, and to take that journey with some of my best friends is incredible."

The four place winners also helped Northwestern to finish eighth in the team standings with 44.5 points. District 3's Boiling Springs won the team championship with 121.5 points.

The Tigers' Baily Wehr (113), Alex Russo (195) and Andrew Sorensen (170) also competed in the regional tournament, but did not advance. Sorensen went 1-2 as a late addition after North Schuylkill's Brady Mickatavage scratched. Russo went 1-2 in his three bouts. Wehr went 0-2.