Carson Wagner moved up one step on the podium by placing fifth at this year’s state championships, bettering his sixth-place finish as a freshman.

However, he was far from pleased with his result.

“They’re all good kids, but I felt like I could have been more offensive,” he said.

He showed his displeasure early when he slammed his headgear into the center of the mat after losing his quarterfinal match 3-1 to eventual runner-up Cael Nasdeo of Williamsport. With one loss, his goal of winning a state title had to be deferred for another year.

He rebounded with a 3-0 decision over Tony Burke of Council Rock North, capitalizing on first period takedown and a third period ride out.

In the consolation semifinals, Wagner dropped a 2-0 sudden victory decision to Tyler Chappell of Seneca Valley. Wagner had the bottom position to start the third period but failed to escape.

“I could have got out on bottom, but he’s a tight rider, holding my neck the whole time,” he said. “He was good. I wish I could have got out, but…it happens.”

In the fifth place match he wrestled Luke Sirianni of Abington Heights for the third time this postseason. A 5-1 decision gave Wagner a sweep of their matches.

Seth Lisa gave his evaluation of Wagner’s performance.

“He comes back out here and gets another state medal, two in a row now,” Lisa said. “For a sophomore that’s a huge accomplishment in itself. He has the goal of winning this tournament. So it’s a tough pill to swallow when you come out here and your looked at as maybe the best kid at the weight class and it doesn’t go your way. Only having three matches leading up to our postseason, when some of these teams on the other side of the state had 30 bouts coming in, that’s stacking the deck against you. Regardless of those things, you need to come out here and be offensive and I think Carson could have done a little more of that.”