SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Aiden Schlier has reached the summit of the Schuylkill League Wrestling Tournament before.

The Tamaqua senior has also felt the sting of a setback at the event.

Schlier returned to the top step of the podium at the annual league tournament Saturday at Blue Mountain, making a statement with three dominant victories to claim his second career title.

The senior made short work of the 129-pound bracket, registering three first-period pins in each of his matches, with the last a fall against North Schuylkill’s Stanley Padakowski in 0:43 in the final.

“Experience,” Schlier said of the difference this season. “That is 100 percent the biggest thing for me. Just working with close friends, and getting done what you need to get done.”

The top seed at 129 pounds, Schlier was locked in Saturday, much like he has been throughout this season. His dominance at the event was undeniable, as he pinned Panther Valley’s Landon Hunsicker in 1:05 to open the tournament before dispatching Pine Grove’s Gage Cleary in 1:17 to reach the finals.

Schlier made quick work of Padakowski in the final, getting a takedown 15 seconds in. The pair traded reversals before Schlier finished the match with his third pin of the day.

It showed the growth Schlier has made since his first league title two years ago - and the development of a wrestler who was third at the tournament last season and is currently 24-4.

“A lot,” Schlier said of what he’s added to his arsenal on the mat. “Just going around, practicing with different teams, (at) different colleges. Just going around, picking up new stuff, trying it, practicing it.

“I really wanted to work on my tilts today. I got a couple in, and I think I got two or three. I would have liked to work on it a little more.”

But that mentality - and the pursuit to always improve - is something that the Blue Raiders hang their hat on as a program.

And something that has been obvious with Schlier.

“His growth as an individual on the mat and as a leader in the wrestling room has improved dramatically,” said Tamaqua head coach Jim McCabe. “I feel like he’s very focused towards a mission for wrestling, and he has some things set that he wants to accomplish. In order to do that, he’s taken the right measures and steps to keep forging ahead.”

Schlier has been successful throughout his career, posting 25 wins in each of his first three seasons, along with two fifth-place results at districts. But he knows to take another step forward will require a different level of determination, something he is committed to deliver.

“A day like today shows me the stuff I really need to work on,” said Schlier. “Just moves, specifics, and getting down to the nitty gritty to help me dominate in those more competitive matches.

“And the will to fight back from a loss last year (at leagues), to come back and fight for a first place, it’s a real cool experience.”

Schlier was one of seven Tamaqua medalists at Saturday’s tournament.

Jacob Hehn, another senior having a tremendous season for the Blue Raiders, finished his day with a third-place result at 191 pounds.

Hehn rebounded from a loss in the semifinals by pinning Pottsville’s Brayden Evans in 0:40, before posting a 10-2 major decision against Pine Grove’s Zach Kurtz in the third-place match.

“I think I’m doing pretty well this season,” said Hehn, who is currently 22-9. “Aiden (Schlier) said that third place is sometimes better than second place because you are coming off a win.”

Hehn placed fifth at leagues last year, and has now crossed 20 wins for the third straight season.

“I think I’ve gotten better at getting out from bottom,” said Hehn. “I lost a match at Jim Thorpe because of that; it was 1-0 and I lost it, and that knocked me out of the tournament. But now I think I’m doing better at that.”

MEDALISTS ... In addition to Aiden Schlier and Hehn, other Tamaqua medalists Saturday included Levi Kunkel (fourth, 123), Brody Schlier (fifth, 135), Brody Boyce (sixth, 141), Jonathan Knepper (fourth, 162) and Bradley Whalen (fourth, 174).

CLOSING IN ... Aiden Schlier’s win in the finals Saturday gave him 99 for his career, while Hehn currently sits at 88. Tamaqua’s next match will be Wednesday at Panther Valley at 7 p.m.

BUSHATI IN THE FINALS ... Jah Bushati, who attends Marian and wrestles for Mahanoy Area through a co-op, also reached the finals Saturday, falling to Blue Mountain’s Owen Woll, who also secured his 100th-career win in the process. Bushati, seeded second at 154 pounds, advanced to the finals with a tech fall against Pine Grove’s Austin Frantz in his first match, before prevailing in a 19-18 decision against Schuylkill Haven’s Jack Krammes in the semis. “It was a grind,” Bushati said of the win. “And I think the season is going really well for me and for the team, we’re wrestling incredibly well. From last year to this year, I’ve improved so much. I went 0-2 last year at leagues, and this year I’m in the finals. It’s been a really good thing.”

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS ... North Schuylkill claimed the team title with 212 points over Blue Mountain (198). Tamaqua was fifth with 109 points.

SCHUYLKILL LEAGUE WRESTLING

Championship Finals

109 - Owen Wolfgang (Tri Valley) pinned Magnus Monger (Williams Valley) in 2:38; 116 - Alex Deritis (North Schuylkill) maj. dec. Stephen Karinch (Pottsville), 12-2; 123 - Easton Edwards (North Schuylkill) maj. dec. Cooper Leibold (Blue Mountain), 13-5; 129 - Aiden Schlier (Tamaqua) pinned Stanley Padakowski (North Schuylkill) in 0:43; 135 - Brian Brobst (Blue Mountain) dec. Xzavion Tennis (Williams Valley), 8-6; 141 - Bryce Bodenberg (Blue Mountain) maj. dec. Aaron Osatchuck (Pine Grove), 10-2; 147 - Nathan Sterner (North Schuylkill) dec. Noah Hanlon (Tri Valley), 1-0; 154 - Owen Woll (Blue Mountain) pinned Jah Bushati (Mahanoy) in 0:47; 162 - Austin Martin (Pine Grove) pinned Colin Crisswell (Williams Valley) in 0:59; 174 - Terrell McFarland (Pottsville) tech. fall over Hunter Blankenhorn (Blue Mountain), 15-0 (4:12); 191 - Bradley Renninger (Blue Mountain) dec. Kyler Quick (Mahanoy), 5-0; 217 - Caden McGraw (North Schuylkill) pinned Robert Schaeffer (Pine Grove) in 2:47; 287 - Sander Stokes (North Schuylkill) dec. Camron Green (Williams Valley), 9-3.