BETHLEHEM - “Heart breaking” is how Pleasant Valley coach Alex Depew described Saturday’s conclusion to the wrestling season for the program and their lone regional qualifier.

Senior 189-pounder James Syracuse was primed to make a run to Hershey in the consolation rounds of the Northeast Regional 3A tournament at Liberty’s Memorial Gymnasium, but those aspirations ended when Syracuse felt a pop in his knee during the second period of his third-round consolation match against Nate Porter of Roman Catholic.

Syracuse led 2-1 at the time of the injury, and debated on whether he could continue during nearly a minute of injury time. He ultimately gave it his all, despite struggling to stand, but wasn’t able to defend on one leg.

Porter would score two takedowns to close out the match and in the process, close out Syracuse’s wrestling career.

“It’s certainly going to take a couple of days to get over this,” said Depew. “James is a great student, team leader and person, and we all knew he was going to qualify for Hershey through the consolation rounds. Unfortunately, sometimes things like this happen and that’s wrestling. I’m just proud that he finished the match, and I think he would say the same thing.”

Syracuse was on the fence before the season started about even wrestling his senior year. With a new coaching staff in place, and coming into the winter with knee surgery from a football injury last fall, Syracuse had his doubts, but Depew assured him it was going to be the right choice to compete.

So he did, and that’s what makes the weekend’s events even more saddening, considering Whitehall’s Melquan Warren - someone Syracuse defeated twice last week at districts - ended up taking third at regionals, and is one of the top four wrestlers from the weight class moving onto this week’s PIAA tournament.

“To see other guys that James has beaten going to Hershey is tough,” Depew said. “But I think he’ll look back at this season and be proud of himself. He was 30-5, had 20 pins and took third at districts. He hopefully has a baseball season ahead of him this spring, and will be going to Penn State next year. He has a lot to look forward to, and this program is going to really miss him. He’s really a special kid.”

For the second straight week, Nazareth came out of the tournament as team champions, edging Bethlehem Catholic by a 260-254.5 margin.

The Blue Eagles advanced 11 wrestlers to Hershey and crowned five champions, while Bechai crowned six champs and advanced 11 wrestlers to states as well.

Northampton’s Dagen Condomitti (152) won the Outstanding Wrestler award for the second consecutive week, pinning all of his opponents so far this postseason.