BETHLEHEM - Lukas Croizier didn’t need any extra motivation for his second match during Friday night’s Southeast Regional Tournament.

The Lehighton sophomore also didn’t need any for his first.

One year after an injury derailed a promising freshman season after just a handful of matches, Croizier has made his presence felt during a breakout sophomore campaign that has taken him to the second weekend of the postseason.

And the regional semifinals.

Croizier continued his stellar season Friday night with a pair of impressive performance to put himself on the doorstep of advancing to Hershey.

“Last year I didn’t really get to fulfill my expectations, and just didn’t have the season I hoped for,” said Croizier. “But having good matches tonight, and having the opportunity I do tomorrow, it definitely makes up for it. I’ve had a good season. I’ve had a lot of wins, so that kind of makes up for it.”

In addition to Croizier, Northwestern’s Luke Fugazzotto also advanced to the semifinals on the first night of the regional tournament at Freedom High School, while 14 other area competitors are still alive in the consolation bracket.

Tribe Pride

Croizier punched his ticket to 139-pound semis with the composure of a veteran.

The sophomore and Newport’s Lane Wright were scoreless through the first period.

An escape early in the second gave Croizier a 1-0 lead, which Wright answered with an escape within the first 10 seconds of the third to tie the match at 1-1.

Croizier was patient in the third period, waiting to get to his offense and set up a shot, which he finished in the final 10 seconds of the third period to take a 4-1 lead, and ultimately win the match, 4-2.

“I took a very defensive route that match, just trying to stay relaxed and not drain myself,” said Croizier, who was third last week at districts. “I saw a lot of opportunities to score throughout that match and I was able to take advantage of that. Even though I wasn’t super offensive, I was seeing opportunities present themselves. And then when I get to the third period and need to score, that’s when I’m looking to really take advantage of that.

“I went in with the mentality that I wasn’t getting scored on. I was just worried about my offense. In a situation like that, I was just worried about getting to my shots and my offense. It’s awesome. It really helps going into tomorrow. I’m still going to have a tough match and I’m going to have to wrestle good kids but this really helps. I just need to come into tomorrow with a positive attitude and be ready to wrestle some tough matches.”

Croizier, who is now 38-11 on the season, opened in impressive fashion, posting a 15-2 major decision over Archbishop Carroll’s Cole Tancredi in his first bout.

“It was important,” Croizier said of opening with a major. “I actually kind of wasn’t happy with the way I wrestled. I thought I could have done a little bit better. But for me being able to go out there and wrestle three periods, I felt good conditioning wise. I’ve just been really trying to improve my cardio and that was a big help for me.”

Croizier will wrestle Camden Baum of Bishop McDevitt in the semifinals.

“My goal coming into this tournament when I saw the brackets come out, I knew I had a really good draw and it was a good chance for me to make it to the second day undefeated,” said Croizier. “And that’s kind of been my goal, just to win those matches that I know I can win.”

Rolling along

Fugazzotto made quick work of his two matches at 172 pounds Friday night. The junior opened by pinning Camp Hill’s Austin Shore in 0:37, and finished the night be earning a fall over Tulpehocken’s Mark Forry in 1:14 in the quarterfinals.

“I’m just trying to keep a dominant mindset,” said Fugazzotto. “I’m still trying to take it one match at a time, but still have goals.”

Fugazzotto used a third-place finish at last year’s regional tournament to build momentum for a run to the state final.

He’s been unstoppable so far in the postseason, claiming his second district title last week and looking just as impressive on the first night of regionals.

“I think I have a little bit more confidence, seeing where I was at last year and then how I ended up doing,” he said. “It just tells me to have that in my mind and I can do a lot better than I think I can.

Fugazzotto will wrestle Teegan Carroll of Halifax in the semifinals.

“I just want to rest up and come back ready to wrestle,” said Fugazzotto, who is now 46-2. “Tomorrow is a new day.”

Milestone win

Three other area wrestlers also reached the quarterfinals Friday night after winning their opening matches.

Perhaps none was more significant than Palmerton’s Dillon Lombardi, who earned his 100th career victory in his first match of the night.

“It’s probably the best feeling in the world, honestly,” said Lombardi. “I’ve been wanting to be on that (100 win) board in the high school since I was a little kid. Finally knowing I’m going to be there, it’s awesome.”

Lombardi opened with a dominant win to reach the century mark, posting a 23-3 (3:04) technical fall over Mahanoy’s William Stoyer at 172 pounds.

Faith Christian Academy’s Nick Singer pinned Lombardi in 1:01 in the quarterfinals.

Lehighton’s Jacob Ferguson and Tamaqua’s Jacob Hehn also advanced to the quarters.

Ferguson pinned Devon Prep’s John Curran in 2:59 in his first match a 172 pounds, while Hehn rolled to a 17-1 (2:42) technical fall over Bristol’s George Sar III in his opening bout at 189.

In the quarterfinals, Ferguson ran into Berks Catholic’s Carmine Lenzi, who posted a 19-3 (2:30) technical fall. Saucon Valley’s Jared Rohn earned a fall in 0:46 over Hehn.

“It’s definitely a big moment for me,” said Hehn, a senior. “I haven’t made it to regionals before. Definitely getting the first win was big for me. It’s a good feeling. The second match was tough, obviously. But I still went out and gave it everything I had.”

Still alive

In addition to Lombardi, Ferguson and Hehn, 11 other area wrestlers are alive in the consolation bracket.

Northwestern’s Weston Killar (114), Chase Sukanick (127), Nolan Koehler (152), Vinnie Fugazzotto (189) and Jackson Bailey (215) will return for the second day of the tournament.

“It’s been exciting,” said Killar, a freshman who won a district title last week. “I never really thought I would be here or have done so well. But it’s all about trying to keep moving on now.”

Palmerton’s Vincent Taglieri (139), Derek King (152), Dillon Anthony (160) are also still alive, as are Lehighton’s Konner Nalesnik (152) and Marc Macias (285) and Northern Lehigh’s Cody Mazzocca (121).

UP NEXT ... Action resumes Saturday with second round consolations at 9:30 a.m. followed by semifinals at 11. The parade of champions is scheduled for 3:50 p.m. with the consolation and championship finals to take place at 4. The top five in each weight class advance to next week’s PIAA Championships in Hershey.

SE Regional Wrestling Tournament

Results of Times News area wrestlers

Quarterfinals

139 - Lukas Croizier (Lehighton) dec. Lane Wright (Newport), 4-2

172 - Luke Fugazzotto (Northwestern) pinned Mark Forry (Tulpehocken), 1:14; Carmine Lenzi (Berks Catholic) tech fall Jacob Ferguson (Lehighton), 19-3 2:30; Nick Singer (Faith Christian Academy) pinned Dillon Lombardi (Palmerton), 1:01

189 - Jared Rohn (Saucon Valley) pinned Jacob Hehn (Tamaqua), 0:46

First round consolations

114 - Weston Killar (Northwestern) pinned Nathaniel Kummerer (Oley Valley), 1:22

121 - Cody Mazzocca (No. Lehigh) pinned Connor Cozzo (Lower Moreland), 0:27; Austin Anderson (Bermudian Springs) tech fall Jack Lucykanish (Lehighton), 15-0 1:47

127 - Oliver Funck (Annville-Cleona) dec. Aiden Schlier (Tamaqua), 8-4; Chase Sukanick (Northwestern) pinned Xavier Smith (Devon Prep), 1:13

133 - Henry Racich (Faith Christian Academy) pinned Brody Schlier (Tamaqua), 3:17

139 - Vincent Taglieri (Palmerton) maj. dec. Bryce Hefenfinger (Susquenita), 18-9

152 - Nolan Koehler (Northwestern) won by forfeit over Mason Bishop (Biglerville); Derek King (Palmerton) pinned Sincere Perez (Northern Lebanon), 0:44; Konner Nalesnik (Lehighton) pinned Austin Nova-valle (Bristol), 1:38

160 - Dillon Anthony (Palmerton) pinned Chase Goffman (Conwell Egan Catholic), 0:54

189 - Vinnie Fugazzotto (Northwestern) pinned Preston Gladfelter (Bermudian Springs), 2:10

215 - Jackson Bailey (Northwestern) pinned Avery Clark (Mastery Charter Gratz), 0:41

285 - Marc Macias (Lehighton) pinned Shamar Brunson (Mastery Charter Lenfest), 1:21

First round

114 - Roman Polcha (Newport) dec. Weston Killar (Northwestern), 7-1

121 - Keegan Barrick (Big Spring) tech fall Cody Mazzocca (No. Lehigh), 17-0 3:23; Liam Lawler (Bishop McDevitt) tech fall Jack Lucykanish (Lehighton), 17-2 2:46

127 - Karter Adams (Northern Lebanon) pinned Aiden Schlier (Tamaqua), 2:26; Greyson Music (Bishop McDevitt) F Chase Sukanick (Northwestern), 2:44

133 - John Haubert (Palisades) pinned Brody Schlier (Tamaqua), 1:38

139 - Hector Mateo (Saucon Valley) pinned Vincent Taglieri (Palmerton), 0:47; Lukas Croizier (Lehighton) maj. dec. Cole Tancredi (Archbishop Carroll), 15-2

152 - Seth Karpulk (Tulpehocken) dec. Nolan Koehler (Northwestern), 12-5; Ian Vitalo (Schuylkill Valley) pinned Derek King (Palmerton), 2:36; Ryan Lawler (Bishop McDevitt) tech fall Konner Nalesnik (Lehighton), 20-3 1:34

160 - Curtis Conrad (Halifax) pinned Dillon Anthony (Palmerton), 5:34

172 - Luke Fugazzotto (Northwestern) F Austin Shore (Camp Hill), 0:37; Dillon Lombardi (Palmerton) tech fall William Stoyer (Mahanoy), 23-3 3:04; Jacob Ferguson (Lehighton) pinned John Curran (Devon Prep), 2:59

189 - Zachary Dresch (Lancaster Catholic) pinned Vinnie Fugazzotto (Northwestern), 1:08; Jacob Hehn (Tamaqua) tech fall George Sar III (Bristol), 17-1 2:42

215 - Jason Singer (Faith Christian Academy) pinned Jackson Bailey (Northwestern), 1:36

285 - Mark Effendian (Faith Christian Academy) pinned Marc Macias (Lehighton), 1:33