BETHLEHEM — Jacob Ferguson’s season was interrupted by injury. Two of them, actually.

But the Lehighton senior was unbothered by the setbacks.

Ferguson has adapted and evolved as a wrestler, something he showcased Friday night at the District 11 wrestling tournament.

Seeded fifth at 172 pounds, Ferguson powered into the semifinals with two impressive pins, unfazed by the circumstances or a lack of mat time this season.

Having postseason success, which includes making a trip to states last year, has helped his confidence.

“It definitely helps. I’ve been injured and obviously my cardio isn’t that great because it’s hard to do any cardio with a sprained ankle,” said Ferguson, who improved to 10-2 on the season. “Just knowing I can make it to the highest level in PA, really gives me a boost coming out here.”

In addition to a sprained ankle early in the season, which took an extended period to heal, Ferguson also battled back from an injured wrist suffered against Northern Lehigh.

“It definitely made me change my style,” said Ferguson. “Usually I’m really aggressive in neutral, I like to take shots. But with my ankle, when I first started coming back, I couldn’t really do that. So I wrestled more defensive, I got my defense up.”

In his first match Friday night, Ferguson pulled off a first period pin. In his second, against fourth-seeded Jaden Meyer of North Schuylkill, Ferguson showcased his offense and defense, building a 15-2 lead before finishing the match with a pin in 5:29.

“It definitely helps, because even last year, my defense wasn’t that good,” said Ferguson. “So I feel like I’m just another notch up compared to what I was last year. Especially that last match. That helped me out a lot. That was the match I was kind of nervous about coming into this. And I was really able to kind of dominate.”

Including Ferguson, a total of 15 area wrestlers advanced to the semifinals on the first night of the Class 2A event at Freedom High School.

Northwestern leads the way with five wrestlers in the semis, including Luke Fugazzotto, the top seed at 172 pounds, who will wrestle Ferguson with a spot in the finals on the line.

“I’m really excited. I know that’s going to be a really tough match. Regardless of what happens, I’m going to wrestle hard to try to make it to regionals and hopefully make it to states again,” said Ferguson. “I was a little nervous coming in, especially this last week and this morning when I woke up I had some jitters because I just haven’t wrestled as much this year. So it’s a little nerve-racking. But now that I’m here and actually get to wrestle, I’m pretty excited.”

Joining Fugazzotto in the semis for the Tigers Chase Sukanick (127), Colby Townley (145), Nolan Koehler (152) and Weston Killar (114).

Killar, who is seeded second, wasn’t on the mat long, registering a pin in 0:42 in his only match.

“Tonight felt really good,” said Killar. “I like to be prepared and I know my mind is in the right spot, and I’m ready to show up and wrestle tomorrow.”

Killar needed one takedown before getting the pin.

“I think I’ve really improved on my feet, just trying to move,” said Killar. “I think that’s really important in the postseason. It’s how I score. You can’t score if you don’t do anything.”

Killar will face No. 3 seed Leonardo Gonzalez of Executive Education in the semis.

Palmerton has four wrestlers in the semis. Connor Messinger (114), Derek King (152), Dillon Anthony (160) and Dillon Lombardi (172) will all vie for a spot in the finals Saturday.

In addition to Ferguson, Lehighton’s Lukas Croizier (139) and Marc Macias (285) also reached the semis.

Aiden Schlier (127) and Jacob Hehn (189) will represent Tamaqua in the semifinals.

Schlier, who is seeded third, registered two pins to advance. The senior, who also reached 100 career wins this season, is looking to qualify for regionals for the first time.

“I feel good. Especially since last year, losing in the quarterfinals,” said Schlier, who will wrestle No. 2 seed Matthew Santoro of Saucon in the semis. “It feels really good going to the semis. It’s kind of a relief.

“I just try to come in thinking everyone is 0-0. Rankings really don’t mean anything. You just have to come out and wrestle.”

That’s the same mentality for Northern Lehigh’s Cody Mazzocca, who is seeded second at 121 pounds. Mazzocca earned a major decision in his first match Friday and punched is ticket to the semis with a second period pin.

“I just wanted to come out and take it match by match because that’s how I’ve been doing it all year,” said Mazzocca, who will face third seed Easton Edwards of North Schuylkill in the semis. “Lifting and training all year has really helped me. And not looking at the brackets. That’s been the main thing. Just look at the person you are wrestling and that’s it. Don’t look ahead or anything like that.

“It doesn’t matte where you’re seeded. You have to go out and wrestle everyone anyway.”

GOLDEN BEARS ... Marian’s Jah Bushati and Rory Dixon, who wrestle for Mahanoy through a co-op between the schools, also made it to the semis. Bushati, seeded fourth, earned a wild 15-13 decision over North Schuylkill’s Kaden Tavares in his first match in the 152-pound bracket before pinning Salisbury’s Jordan Tocci-Wachter in the quarters. “Tonight means everything to me,” said Bushati. “Tonight was a crazy night. I was down 11-2 after the first period in my first match. I came back, we went into ultimate tiebreaker and I was able to beat him. That was just an insane match, and for the first one of the day, too. I feel so much more comfortable. We’ve drilled so many times in practice in situations where we’re down a point or two and to just keep fighting back. In my mind, I knew I was down, but I knew I could still win it.” Dixon, the fourth-seed at 160 pounds, posted a pair of technical falls to reach the semis.

TEAM SCORES ... Saucon led the team standings with 96 points after the first night. Northwestern (74.5), Palmerton (63) and Lehighton (61.5) were second, third and fourth.

UP NEXT ... Action resumes Saturday morning at Freedom with second round consolations at 9 a.m. followed by semis and third round consolations at 10:15 a.m. The consolation finals (third- and fifth-place matches) will take place at Liberty at 3 p.m. The Parade of Champions will follow at 4:30 p.m. followed by the finals at 4:45 p.m.

D-11 2A

WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

PRELIMINARIES

160 - Teddy Musselman (Palisades) pinned Hogan Troutman (Tri Valley), 5:12; Nathan Geiger (Northwestern) pinned Nikoloz Kemashvili (Catasauqua), 3:31; 172 - Donovan Torres (Catasauqua) dec. Stuart Nohe (Palisades), 10-8.

FIRST ROUND

107 - Chase Lobasso (Lehighton) pinned Nolan Timko (Mahanoy), 1:33; Thomas Pasquariello (Palmerton) maj dec. Elijah Ramos (Executive Ed), 13-1; Logan Uricchio (Northwestern) pinned Trayten Hasenauer (Schuylkill Haven), 1:40; 114 - Noah Gosart (No. Lehigh) pinned Garrett Leitzel (Tri Valley), 3:35; Alex Deritis (No. Schuylkill) pinned Michael D`amico (Lehighton), 5:38; Connor Messinger (Palmerton) tech fall Jayce Perez (Catasauqua), 16-1 4:16; Jacob Spinner (Salisbury) maj dec. Chase Nagle (Pine Grove), 17-6; Blayke Lacey (Pen Argyl) pinned Trent Snyder (Palisades), 3:48; 121 - Jaden Garcia (Executive Ed) tech fall Victor Hanley (Mahanoy), 19-2 4:21; Gavin Hacker (Catasauqua) pinned Hayden Matula (Panther Valley), 3:16; Jack Lucykanish (Lehighton) tech fall Malakai Moore (Palisades), 15-0 6:00; Easton Edwards (No. Schuylkill) pinned Elijah Mccown (Northwestern), 1:27; Jaxs Miller (Palmerton) tech fall Dylan Benulis (Schuylkill Haven), 20-4 2:32; Ethan Miller (Tri Valley) pinned Garrick Kuder (Wilson), 0:26; Cody Mazzocca (No. Lehigh) maj dec. Andrew Hikes (Pine Grove), 19-5; 127 - Gage Cleary (Pine Grove) pinned Jayden Weaver (No. Lehigh), 3:11; Stanley Padakowski (No. Schuylkill) pinned Nick Manley (Mahanoy), 5:24; Chase Sukanick (Northwestern) pinned Aydan Frisby (Catasauqua), 1:32; Aiden Schlier (Tamaqua) pinned Landon Hunsicker (Panther Valley), 2:32; Josh Merkel (Palmerton) tech fall Danny Edgar (Lehighton), 17-1 5:42; Christopher Crespo (Pen Argyl) dec. Brock Bossler (Tri Valley), 7-5; 133 - Aiden Grogg (Saucon Valley) pinned Jonathan Rizzo (Catasauqua), 1:13; Aidan Ortiz (Palmerton) pinned Edwin Serrano (Central Catholic), 5:48; Jaxson Bruso (Tri Valley) pinned Christian Torres-ochoa (Wilson), 3:25; Braydon Uricchio (Northwestern) pinned Cole Lobb (Pen Argyl), 4:55; Connor Dugan (Lehighton) tech fall Matthew Ramos (Executive Ed), 16-0 2:26; Xzavion Tennis (Williams Valley) dec. James Hoy (Pine Grove), 7-4; Brody Schlier (Tamaqua) maj dec. Sonny Seritti (Mahanoy), 18-9; John Haubert (Palisades) pinned Noah Leib (No. Schuylkill), 0:11; 139 - Brody Boyce (Tamaqua) dec. Gordon Slater (Mahanoy), 6-4; Aaron Osatchuck (Pine Grove) dec. Justin Hetrick (Wilson), 7-5; Vincent Taglieri (Palmerton) tech fall Brenden Takacs (Catasauqua), 19-4 3:56; Bryce Kile (No. Schuylkill) maj dec. Kayden Lucas (Tri Valley), 19-9; Michael Ramos (Executive Ed) pinned Noah Griffith (Northwestern), 3:34; 145 - Jonathan Cordon-Pinto (Catasauqua) pinned Isaiah Miller (Pine Grove), 4:53; Nate Sterner (No. Schuylkill) tech fall Connor Millen (Wilson), 19-3 3:43; Luca Albanese (Pen Argyl) pinned Skyler Loos (No. Lehigh), 2:30; Nathaniel Tone (Salisbury) tech fall Demarcus Shaw (Executive Ed), 22-5 2:33; Braden Rohn (Saucon Valley) pinned Francis Hill (Tamaqua), 0:38; Evan Wentz (Lehighton) tech fall Mathew Spino (Mahanoy), 19-3 2:30; 152 - Jackson Albert (Saucon Valley) pinned Logan Troup (Pine Grove), 0:12; Angelo Ziccardi (Palisades) maj dec. Konner Nalesnik (Lehighton), 9-1; Jordan Tocci-wachter (Salisbury) tech fall Parker Hatter (Tri Valley), 19-3 3:43; Jah Bushati (Mahanoy) dec. Kaden Tavares (No. Schuylkill), 15-13 TB2; Nolan Koehler (Northwestern) pinned Chase Zeigenfuss (Tamaqua), 3:04; Zachary Metzgar (Pen Argyl) maj dec. Jack Krammes (Schuylkill Haven), 10-2; Lance Thatcher (Wilson) pinned Alexander Tripoli (Central Catholic), 5:05; Derek King (Palmerton) pinned Kaylan Peters (Catasauqua), 0:41; 160 - Cole Hubert (Saucon Valley) pinned Teddy Musselman (Palisades), 2:15; Brok Solt (Lehighton) dec. Ben Carr (No. Schuylkill), 7-2; Colin Crisswell (Williams Valley) pinned Colton Tone (Salisbury), 0:53; Rory Dixon (Mahanoy) tech fall Ryan Bonham (Wilson), 19-3 2:17; Dillon Anthony (Palmerton) tech fall Angel Cartagena (Executive Ed), 20-3 1:12; Mason Rothrock (No. Lehigh) pinned Jonathan Knepper (Tamaqua), 3:58; Shane Moser (Pen Argyl) pinned Aden Celani (Schuylkill Haven), 3:45; Austin Martin (Pine Grove) pinned Nathan Geiger (Northwestern), 1:09; 172 - Luke Fugazzotto (Northwestern) pinned Donovan Torres (Catasauqua), 0:49; Skylor Green (Williams Valley) dec. Hunter Beers (Pen Argyl), 5-4; Jacob Ferguson (Lehighton) pinned Grady Newhard (No. Lehigh), 1:13; Jaden Meyer (No. Schuylkill) pinned Brit Ash (Saucon Valley), 1:32; William Stoyer (Mahanoy) maj dec. Carson Lengle (Pine Grove), 12-1; Bradley Whalen (Tamaqua) tech fall Jacob Watson (Salisbury), 17-1 4:00; Zeandros Johnson (Wilson) pinned Hunter Updegrave (Tri Valley), 2:40; Dillon Lombardi (Palmerton) pinned Levi Weaver (Panther Valley), 1:37; 189 - Dawson Newhard (No. Lehigh) dec. Connor Dower (No. Schuylkill), 12-7; Maxwell Masser (Tri Valley) pinned Eli Sandt (Catasauqua), 0:59; Deven Armbruster (Lehighton) tech fall Xavier Dierolf (Schuylkill Haven), 18-1 4:22; 215 - Anderson Garcia (Palmerton) dec. Braden Bartholomew (Catasauqua), 3-2; Elisha Weiss (Williams Valley) dec. Donovan Keeth (Tri Valley), 7-6; Cadyn Mcgraw (No. Schuylkill) pinned Connor Roetz (Lehighton), 2:58; Nuallan King (Pen Argyl) dec. Jackson Bailey (Northwestern), 10-3; Kyle Pollack (Mahanoy) maj dec. William Behun (Tamaqua), 13-4; Jackson Millen (Wilson) tech fall Bryce Reber (Schuylkill Haven), 16-1 2:15; Robert Schaeffer (Pine Grove) pinned Isaac Jackovitz (No. Lehigh), 1:11; 285 - Scout Frantz (Pine Grove) pinned Cyrus Kinchen (No. Lehigh), 8:30; Sander Stokes (No. Schuylkill) pinned Jack Mclaughlin (Pen Argyl), 3:18; McCoy Miller (Central Catholic) pinned Carlos Maldonado-rosa (Panther Valley), 2:56; Ezekiel Deily (Saucon Valley) pinned Owen Fortna (Tri Valley), 4:55; Jacob Ramos (Catasauqua) maj dec. William Kapp (Palisades), 13-2; Jackson Huber (Northwestern) pinned Sam Krauss (Salisbury), 1:22; Marc Macias (Lehighton) pinned Albert Dilone (Executive Ed), 1:02.

QUARTERFINALS

107 - Carter Chunko (Saucon Valley) pinned Chase Lobasso (Lehighton), 0:41; Isaiah Adams (Pen Argyl) pinned Gaige Mentusky (No. Schuylkill), 4:36; Magnus Monger (Williams Valley) pinned Thomas Pasquariello (Palmerton), 1:52; Owen Wolfgang (Tri Valley) pinned Logan Uricchio (Northwestern), 1:23; 114 - Gavin Chunko (Saucon Valley) pinned Noah Gosart (No. Lehigh), 3:55; Connor Messinger (Palmerton) dec. Alex Deritis (No. Schuylkill), 8-4; Leonardo Gonzalez (Executive Ed) pinned Jacob Spinner (Salisbury), 3:04; Weston Killar (Northwestern) pinned Blayke Lacey (Pen Argyl), 0:42; 121 - Gabriel Baer (Saucon Valley) pinned Jaden Garcia (Executive Ed), 1:35; Gavin Hacker (Catasauqua) dec. Jack Lucykanish (Lehighton), 4-3; Easton Edwards (No. Schuylkill) maj dec. Jaxs Miller (Palmerton), 13-4; Cody Mazzocca (No. Lehigh) pinned Ethan Miller (Tri Valley), 3:31; 127 - Jarrod Blunt (Salisbury) pinned Gage Cleary (Pine Grove), 1:38; Chase Sukanick (Northwestern) tech fall Stanley Padakowski (No. Schuylkill), 16-1 4:49; Aiden Schlier (Tamaqua) pinned Josh Merkel (Palmerton), 0:25; Matthew Santoro (Saucon Valley) pinned Christopher Crespo (Pen Argyl), 1:57; 133 - Aiden Grogg (Saucon Valley) tech fall Aidan Ortiz (Palmerton), 16-1 2:43; Jaxson Bruso (Tri Valley) pinned Braydon Uricchio (Northwestern), 2:46; Xzavion Tennis (Williams Valley) pinned Connor Dugan (Lehighton), 3:07; John Haubert (Palisades) pinned Brody Schlier (Tamaqua), 1:51; 139 - Collin Ramsay (Pen Argyl) pinned Brody Boyce (Tamaqua), 0:50; Aaron Osatchuck (Pine Grove) dec. Vincent Taglieri (Palmerton), 4-2; Hector Mateo (Saucon Valley) pinned Bryce Kile (No. Schuylkill), 0:32; Lukas Croizier (Lehighton) tech fall Michael Ramos (Executive Ed), 17-2 1:57; 145 - Noah Hanlon (Tri Valley) dec. Jonathan Cordon-Pinto (Catasauqua), 4-1; Luca Albanese (Pen Argyl) dec. Nate Sterner (No. Schuylkill), 14-8; Nathaniel Tone (Salisbury) dec. Braden Rohn (Saucon Valley), 5-0; Colby Townley (Northwestern) pinned Evan Wentz (Lehighton), 3:53; 152 - Jackson Albert (Saucon Valley) pinned Angelo Ziccardi (Palisades), 1:37; Jah Bushati (Mahanoy) pinned Jordan Tocci-Wachter (Salisbury), 3:52; Nolan Koehler (Northwestern) pinned Zachary Metzgar (Pen Argyl), 1:27; Derek King (Palmerton) maj dec. Lance Thatcher (Wilson), 24-14; 160 - Rory Dixon (Mahanoy) tech fall Colin Crisswell (Williams Valley), 21-5 3:34; Cole Hubert (Saucon Valley) tech fall Brok Solt (Lehighton), 15-0 1:33; Dillon Anthony (Palmerton) tech fall Mason Rothrock (No. Lehigh), 17-2 3:01; Austin Martin (Pine Grove) pinned Shane Moser (Pen Argyl), 0:30; 172 - William Stoyer (Mahanoy) dec. Bradley Whalen (Tamaqua), 6-2; Dillon Lombardi (Palmerton) pinned Zeandros Johnson (Wilson), 1:50; Luke Fugazzotto (Northwestern) pinned Skylor Green (Williams Valley), 0:31; Jacob Ferguson (Lehighton) pinned Jaden Meyer (No. Schuylkill), 5:29; 189 - Zachary Kurtz (Pine Grove) dec. Vinnie Fugazzotto (Northwestern), 9-6 SV; Jared Rohn (Saucon Valley) pinned Dawson Newhard (No. Lehigh), 0:16; Jacob Hehn (Tamaqua) pinned Maxwell Masser (Tri Valley), 2:41; Kyler Quick (Mahanoy) injury default Deven Armbruster (Lehighton); 215 - Silas Day (Palisades) pinned Anderson Garcia (Palmerton), 1:21; Nuallan King (Pen Argyl) dec. Kyle Pollack (Mahanoy), 14-7; Jackson Millen (Wilson) maj dec. Robert Schaeffer (Pine Grove), 30-18; Cadyn Mcgraw (No. Schuylkill) pinned Elisha Weiss (Williams Valley), 3:41; 285 - Camron Green (Williams Valley) dec. Scout Frantz (Pine Grove), 1-0; Sander Stokes (No. Schuylkill) tech fall Mccoy Miller (Central Catholic), 23-3 6:00; Jacob Ramos (Catasauqua) tech fall Ezekiel Deily (Saucon Valley), 20-4 4:59; Marc Macias (Lehighton) pinned Jackson Huber (Northwestern), 5:52.