Five Emmaus wrestlers will compete in this weekend’s PIAA Northeast Regional Tournament after advancing through last weekend’s District 11 Class 3A Championships.

The Hornets took sixth place as a team and had six wrestlers earn medals at the event, held at Liberty High School last Friday and Saturday.

“We knew we had the potential to push three of our guys into the finals,” said Emmaus head coach Jim Best. “We’ve talked all year about progression, not only this season but also after this season as the years move on. We’re trying to take Emmaus from that mid-tier in District 11 to that upper tier in District 11. This is a steppingstone getting three into district finals, qualifying five for the regional tournament. That’s a step in the direction we want to take this program as coaches.”

The Hornets finished just behind that top tier of the Lehigh Valley’s wrestling elite and with four of the five regional qualifiers expected to return next season, the future looks bright for the Hornets.

Sophomore Emilio Albanese (114) reached the district title match for the second straight season and came away with a silver medal.

Albanese won his first two matches with first-period pins before earning a 17-1 technical fall over Northampton’s Ryan Marano in the semifinals.

In the title match, Whitehall’s Willmont Kai edged Albanese 2-1 thanks to a one-point call against the Hornet for grabbing Kai’s singlet during the match.

Emmaus senior Jesse Scott reached the 160-pound district title bout with a pin and technical fall in the first two rounds before pulling out a decision over Notre Dame’s Keegan Ramsay, 3-2 in a second tiebreaker period.

Scott battled in another tight match in finals but fell to Bethlehem Catholic’s Charlie Scanlan, 4-3.

“I’m proud of the way I wrestled,” said Scott. “I’m proud, but I wouldn’t say I’m content. The goal in my mind is always to be a district champ. It’s always been a goal of mine to be on top of the district podium. I’m bummed I fell short, but I’m still proud and I know what I need to work on. I still have more wrestling to do. I just have to lick my wounds and head back to the practice room and become better.

“This is my senior year and I don’t get another district tournament. I wanted to enjoy the moment and embrace my environment. I definitely made a lot of memories this weekend.”

Junior Xayden Sallit won his first bout by technical fall and pinned his second opponent before a 4-3 decision over Easton’s Justin Cosover got him to the 172-pound final against Bethlehem Catholic’s Shane McFillin.

McFillin, a Bucknell recruit and 2024 state medalist, won his second straight district title with an 8-0 major decision over Sallit.

Junior Jackson Max took fourth place at districts to qualify for regionals, which will be held Friday and Saturday at Liberty.

Max pinned his first opponent and earned a 2-0 decision over Notre Dame’s Cael Muller in their 107-poound quarterfinal. After a loss in semifinals and a consolation round win, Max met Muller again in the third-place bout where the Crusader picked up a 3-2 win.

Teagan Caciolo (121) had his regional berth on the line when he competed in a fifth-place match Saturday as the top five finishers advance. The sophomore earned his second straight district medal and trip to regionals with a 5-2 win over Jacob Volpe in the medal round.

Freshman Xyler Sallit also reached the podium in his first trip to varsity districts. The freshman 139-pounder won three matches at districts but dropped his fifth-place bout against Freedom’s Nicholas Lyden to just miss out on advancing.

All five regional qualifiers will now try to advance to the state championships with a top-five finish in their 16-wrestler bracket made up of other district medalists.

“It’s a new tournament next week,” said Best. “No matter if you’re a district champ or you placed fifth, we tell the kids the same message. ‘Hey, Next Friday it’s a whole new tournament and a whole new set of circumstances.’

“Certainly with the three that were in the finals, we’re looking to get them back into the finals Saturday night. We’re not discounting the other two, Jackson Max and Teagan Caciolo, from getting to the finals too.”

The Hornets’ dual meet season ended a few weeks ago. They went 12-4 in 2024-25 while earning the No. 6 into team districts, behind those blue blood programs that they plan to join in the next few years - Nazareth, Northampton, Bethlehem Catholic, Easton and Notre Dame (Green Pond), which moved up from Class 2A this season.

“Proud of the team,” said Best. “Proud of my coaching staff. I feel like I have the best coaching staff and the best support system in the Lehigh Valley. I appreciate the coaching staff and the support in the stands as well.”

Here’s a look at results from Emmaus wrestlers at the District 11 Championships.

Team Standings (top 10)

1. Nazareth 233, 2. Notre Dame (Green Pond) 219.5, 3. Bethlehem Catholic 197, 4. Northampton 179.5, 5. Easton 169. 6. Emmaus 127, 7. Freedo m108.5, 8. Whitehall 100.5, 9. Liberty 78, 10. Pleasant Valley 69.

107 - Jackson Max

Max pinned Cooper Kresge (Jim Thorpe) in 1:25

Max dec. Cael Muller (Notre Dame), 2-0

Brayden Wenrich (Northampton) dec. Max, 10-3

Max dec. Derek Fulmer (Nazareth), 8-1

Third-place match

Muller dec. Max, 3-2

114 - Emilio Albanese

Albanese pinned Ovidius Cusu (Freedom) in :59

Albanese pinned Hunter Brown (Stroudsburg) in 1:30

Albanese tech. fall Ryan Marano (Northampton), 17-1

Championship match

Willmont Kai (Whitehall) dec. Albanese, 2-1

121 - Teagan Caciolo

Caciolo tech. fall Carlos Recinos (Dieruff), 16-1

Remy Trach (Nazareth) dec. Caciolo, 8-7 TB2

Caciolo by forfeit over Jace Labar (Bangor)

Caciolo dec. Colin Marano (Northampton), 4-0

Kade Pascoe (Whitehall) dec. Caciolo, 3-2

Fifth-place bout

Caciolo ddec. Jacob Volpe, 5-2

127 - Levi Max

Cole Smith (Bangor) dec. Max, 4-1

Max by injury default over Keoni Dickinson (Pocono Mountain West)

Zachary Berwick (Stroudsburg) pinned Max in 1:50

133 - Tommy Fallstich

Carter Smith (Bangor) major dec. Fallstich, 9-1

Fallstich major dec. Anthony Depasqua (Pocono Mountain West), 12-2

Stephen Korte (Jim Thorpe) tech. fall Fallstich, 19-3

139 - Xyler Sallit

Sallit dec. Christopher Recinos (Dieruff), 11-9

Christopher Kelly (Easton) major dec. Sallit, 11-0

Sallit pinned Luke Rogan (Northampton) in 3:35

Sallit dec. Keith Barker (Southern Lehigh), 7-0

Trokon Kai (Whitehall) dec. Sallit, 7-1

Fifth-place match

Nicholas Lyden (Freedom) dec. Sallit, 7-3

145 - Chancellor Henry

Henry by forfeit over Christian Perez (Allen)

Keenan Ray (Freedom) tech. fall Henry, 15-0

Jason Kays (Pleasant Valley) by DQ over Henry

152 - Logan Armstrong

Armstrong dec. Noah Noguera (Pocono Mountain West), 7-1

Cade Campbell (Nazareth) pinned Armstrong in 2:51

William Thomas (East Stroudsburg South) major dec. Armstrong, 12-4

160 - Jesse Scott

Scott pinned Preston Whalen (Blue Mountain) in 1:24

Scott tech. fall Devlin Chevere (Northampton), 17-2

Scott dec. Keegan Ramsay (Notre Dame), 3-2 TB2

Championship match

Charlie Scanlan (Bethlehem Catholic) dec. Scott, 4-3

172 - Xayden Sallit

Sallit tech. fall Cole Retos (Freedom), 18-3

Sallit pinned Hunter Blakenhorn (Blue Mountain) in 1:57

Sallit ddec. Justin Cosover (Easton), 4-3

Championship match

Shane McFillin (Bethlehem Catholic) major dec. Sallit, 8-0

189 - Massimo Tranguch

James Deluise (Bethlehem Catholic) tech. fall Tranguch, 17-2

Curtis Cooper (Allen) pinned Tranguch in 3:36

215 - Ashir Choudhry

Maddox Rittenhouse (Parkland) dec. Choudhry, 8-1

285 - Logan Roth

Maximillian Tyarmati (East Stroudsburg North) pinned Roth in 1:24