In wrestling, the result of a match can often come down to one bout.

Jim Thorpe’s District 11 Class 2A first round match against Wilson came down to that very scenario on Thursday with the Warriors pulling out a narrow 36-33 victory.

Once again, the Olympians were strong in the middle of their lineup. Thorpe has been tough to beat in those weight classes this season and the trend continued against the Warriors as Richard Kenna (145) Gabe Heaney (152) Cam Tinajero (160), Aidan Sterling (172) and Jared Newhall (189) were all able to score victories.

“Our middle weights have been real solid all season long,” said Jim Thorpe head coach Dan Heaney. “We had a lot of our experience returning there and Cam has been a big surprise for us. We knew he was talented but he took a year off and has come back and racked up a lot of wins for us.

“It’s a group that has really wrestled hard for us as our lighter weights have gained more experience.”

Wilson was able to control the lower weights, getting wins at 132 from Rider Heckman and 138 from Tristan Minnich to start the match. But that’s when Thorpe would take control, winning the next six matches. Blake Carroll’s forfeit victory at 215 capped the string of Olympian victories and gave them a 33-9 lead.

The Warriors roared back, recording three falls and a forfeit in a four-match run that tied the score at 33-33 with only the 126-pound match remaining.

In a tight bout, Jon Walbach used a late takedown to pull out a 4-3 decision that allowed Wilson to advance to the 2A quarterfinals.

“We knew it was going to be a tight one. It was a great match and both teams came out and wrestled really hard, we just weren’t able to come away with the win,” said Heaney. “But we’re real happy with what we’ve done and how we’ve worked and developed.

“I think we had six wrestlers on varsity last season and now we’re up into the mid 20’s of athletes showing up and competing and working. We still have a dual meet left and then the postseason for our individual guys. So there’s still a lot to look forward to.”

NEXT UP ... Jim Thorpe still has a dual meet left with Mahanoy Area before their individual wrestlers head into district competition.

2A BRACKET ... Wilson advanced to the quarterfinal and was defeated by No. 1 seed Saucon Valley. The semis pit Saucon Valley vs. Catasauqua and Notre Dame Green Pond vs. North Schuylkill.

Wilson 36, Jim Thorpe 33

132 - Rider Heckman (W) won by forfeit; 138 - Tristan Minnich (W) dec. Nikolas Schwartz, 7-1; 145 - Richard Kenna (JT) won by forfeit; 152 - Gabe Heaney (JT) won by forfeit; 160 - Camron Tinajero (JT) dec. Jackson Millen, 4-2; 172 - Aiden Sterling (JT) won by forfeit; 189 - Jared Newhall (JT) pinned Elijah Meixsell in :32; 215 - Blake Carroll (JT) won by forfeit; 285 - Kevaughn Simpson (W) pinned Jayden Mantilla in 3:58; 106 - Giovanni DiBiagio (W) won by forfeit; 113 - Santino Micci (W) pinned Noah Geiser in 1:00; 120 - Jaron Trimmer (W) pinned Chris Jacobacci in 2:51; 126

- Jon Wohlbach (W) dec. Ridge Snyde, 4-3.