BETHLEHEM - Northern Lehigh proved to be the class of the field at yesterday's District 11 Class AA Wrestling Championships.

The Bulldogs left Freedom High School with three individual champions a year after not having any wrestler place above fifth-place.

"It's a testament to their hard work," said Northern Lehigh head coach Steve Hluschak, who was also named District 11 AA Coach of the Year. "Some of these guys went from fifth to first, and that just doesn't happen overnight.

"They deserve it. They've put the time in and I'm so happy for them that they've achieved this success and that the hard work has paid off."

Colten Rex (113), Matt Schmall (132) and Ryan Farber (145) all won titles for Northern Lehigh, which had a total of seven wrestlers place in the top three to easily advance to next week's Southeast Regional Tournament at Wilson West Lawn High School.

Those results helped the Bulldogs win the team title with 167 points over Tri Valley, which had 154.5.

Northern Lehigh's performance was part of a historically successful day for Times News wrestlers.

A total of 31 placed in the top-six, with 28 advancing to the SE Regional Tournament, where Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, Northern Lehigh, Northwestern, Palmerton, Panther Valley and Tamaqua will all be represented.

In addition to Rex, Schmall and Farber, Jim Thorpe's Kevan Gentile (106), Northwestern's Caleb Clymer (138) and Lehighton's Connor Frey (182) all won titles.

Check out Monday's edition of the Times News for more coverage from yesterday's event.