The Northwestern wrestling team took 22nd place in a strong field of 34 teams at this year’s Bethlehem Holiday Wrestling Classic at Liberty High School last week.

The Tigers were led by two silver medalists in Luke Fugazzotto (172) and Noah Schlofer (215).

Fugazzotto earned the tournament’s pinner award for recording the most falls (4) in the least amount of time (4:21).

The sophomore and defending District 11 Class 2A champ dispatched of his first four opponents by fall in the first period. He pinned Sam Rainford (Emmaus) in 1:19 then showed Landon Beckowski the lights in just :36. He put Michael Pepe (Kennett) on his back in 1:23 in the quarterfinal round and did the same to Phillipsburg’s Liam Packer in 1:03 in the semifinal.

Fugazzotto met Council Rock senior Bekhruz Sadriddinov in the title bout. Sadriddinov is a two-time regional champ and returning state medalist (5th place in 2023) in Class 3A. He earned a 7-2 decision over the Tiger to take the tournament’s 189-pound title.

Schlofer, a senior, had a first-round bye before winning three straight matches by decision. He beat Quakertown’s Keondre Lopez 9-3 before getting past Aiden Buggey (North Allegheny) by ultimate tiebreaker, 3-2 in the quarterfinal round.

Schlofer beat Liberty junior Dante Morrison in 6-3 in the semifinals to set up a title bout against two-time regional medalist Ryan McMillan (Wilson West Lawn).

McMillan pinned Scholer in the second period to take the 215-pound gold medal.

Four other Tiger wrestlers won one bout at the tournament, including Aris Gabri-El (107), Kenny Kerekes (127), William Turner (139) and Nathan Geiger (160).

Council Rock South took the team title, with three District 11 teams (Nazareth, Easton, Northampton) in the next three places. Saucon Valley finished ninth to lead the contingent of three Colonial League teams at the tournament.

The Tigers returned to Colonial League action this week when they hosted Bangor Wednesday. They will be at the Parkland Duals on Saturday and will host Southern Lehigh in a league match next Wednesday, Jan. 10.

Bethlehem Holiday

Wrestling Classic

TEAM STANDINGS

1. Council Rock South 188.5, 2. Nazareth 168.5, 3. Easton 166.5, 4. Northampton 148.5, 4. Phillipsburg (NJ) 148.5, 6. Wilson (West Lawn) 143.0, 7. Quakertown 122.5, 8. Greater Latrobe 110.0, 9. Saucon Valley 102.0, 10. North Allegheny 98.0, 10. West Scranton 98.0, 12. Kennett 91.5, 13. Boyertown 82.0, 14. Spring-Ford 81.5, 15. Emmaus 79.5, 16. Bethlehem Freedom 78.0, 17. Northern Lebanon 75.0, 18. Whitehall 74.0, 19. Blue Mountain 68.5, 20. Hempfield 67.0, 21. Bethlehem Liberty 61.5, 22. Northwestern Lehigh 61.0, 23. Parkland 57.0, 24. Garnet Valley 49.0, 25. Stroudsburg 48.0, 26. Delaware Valley 46.0, 27. North Penn 42.5, 28. Southern Lehigh 37.5, 29. Warwick 34.5, 30. Honesdale 32.0, 31. Hazleton Area 24.0, 32. Wilson Area 23.5, 33. Fauquier (Va.) 10.0, 34. Wyoming Valley West 6.5.

NORTHWESTERN RESULTS

Aris Gabri-El (107)

Bryce Boyer (Kennett) pinned Gabri-El in 3:05

Gabri-El pinned Joshua Breyer (Southern Lehigh) in 1:50

Max Mitchley (Warwick) tech. fall Gabri-El, 19-4 in 2:15

Braydon Uricchio (114)

Charlie LaQuarta (North Allegheny) pinned Uricchio in 4:24

Massimo Gonzalez (Phillipsburg) pinned Uricchio in 1:45

Noah Griffith (121)

Reese Eidle (Wilson West Lawn) pinned Griffith in :41

James Logan (Kennett) dec. Griffith, 8-4

Kenny Kerekes (127)

Casey Walker (North Allegheny pinned Kerekes in :43

Kerekes pinned Teagan Barr (Southern Lehigh) in :47

Damond Pascoe (Whitehall) pinned Kerekes in 3:37

William Turner (139)

Chase Grabfelder (Northampton) tech. fall Turner, 18-3 in 3:12

Turner pinned Nick Ramos Valdez (Hazleton) 2:42

Trokon Kai (Whitehall) major dec. Turner, 16-5

Daniel Davis (145)

Cody Koloski (Delaware Valley) pinned Davis in :19

Bode Madara (Warwick) pinned Davis in 2:41

Justice Weaver (152)

Cole Hubert (Saucon Valley) pinned Weaver in :16

Cole Chesna (Homesdale) pinned Weaver in :45

Nathan Geiger (160)

Daniel Rivera (Liberty) pinned Geiger in 1:15

Geiger by forfeit over James McGill (Spring-Ford)

Jack Koons (Warwick) pinned Geiger in 1:27

Luke Fugazzotto (172)

Fugazotto pinned Sam Rainford (Emmaus) in 1:19

Fugazzotto pinned Landon Beckowski (Saucon Valley) in :36

Fugazzotto pinned Michael Pepe (Kennett) in 1:23

Fugazzotto pinned Liam Packer (Phillipsburg) in 1:03

Championship match: Bekhruz Sadriddinov (Council Rock South) dec. Fugazzotto, 7-2

Noah Schlofer (215)

Schlofer dec. Keondre Lopez (Quakertown), 9-3

Schlofer dec. Aidan Buggey (North Allegheny), UTB 3-2

Schlofer dec. Dante Morrison (Liberty), 6-3

Championship match: Ryan McMillan (Wilson West Lawn) pinned Schlofer in 3:04