Sam Frame realized his potential last season, and plans to take a different approach this season.

He should help set the pace for Northern Lehigh on the mats, as the senior heavyweight advanced to the third round of consolations of the District 11 Class 2A championships last season, and was just one win away from advancing to regionals.

Overall, Frame posted a 15-6 record last year, and is anticipated to build on it. His cousin, Matt, was a state qualifier for the Bulldogs last season.

“He is expected to advance to regionals this postseason,” said Bulldogs’ head coach Scott Snyder. “He has put in a lot of time in the weight room and in the offseason, as well as getting some mat time.

“He is a silent leader of this team in terms of goals and work ethic.”

Frame foresees a similar path.

“I would consider myself a leader,” he said. “I am definitely going to be a different wrestler this season. I worked with my coaches to get better.

“We have a small team, but we are a solid team because of our coaches. They push us to be better every day.”

The Bulldogs likely will begin the season with 12 wrestlers, and Snyder sees the possibility of a few more now that the football season has ended.

Senior Austin Rex, who had a 14-11 record last season, is one of two other seniors in the lineup, and will open at 133 pounds. Jonathan Zemlansky will wrestle between 160-72.

Snyder envisions the same type of role for Rex as Frame.

“Austin is a good listener, and works very hard,” said Snyder. “He had a good offseason, and is going to be a good senior leader for this group. Jonathan is a good wrestler.”

Juniors Chase Moffit (172-89), Jack Tosh (189-215), Zach Lehman (215-285), and Lawson Hoffman (215-285) bring more stability to the lineup with another year of experience.

“Chase has to realize that he has to follow through on what he has worked for so far,” said Snyder. “Jack was an eighth-grade junior high district medalist, and has worked his way through a broken ankle. We had high expectations for him last year, but he made a few mistakes that hurt him.

“Lawson was a district champion in the JV tournament last year, and we aren’t sure if Zach Leheman will be cleared because of a medical issue.”

Rounding out the roster are sophomores Cody Mazzocca (127), Emil Mustafin (139-145), Amir Mustafin (139-145) and Landon Moll (215).

“Cody is a different wrestler from last year,” said Snyder. “It is like night and day. He put in a lot of work during the offseason and took up jiu-jitsu. Both Emil and Amir are first-year wrestlers,” said Snyder. “They never played organized sports, but they are good listeners and have done everything we have asked of them.”

Since 2015, the Bulldogs haven’t been able to fill out a lineup. As a result, they often have found themselves on the long end of any outcome, as they have a 16-83 dual meet mark in Snyder’s seven years as head coach.

He foresees his team forfeiting the 107-, 121- and 152-weight classes.

“We could be losing 18 points every match,” said Snyder. “That could work against us with some of our young kids trying to figure things out.”

Snyder remains optimistic his team can begin to turn the corner. The Bulldogs will open the season against Northwestern on Wednesday, and will then travel to Brandywine Heights for the Sam Lavello Tournament, where they have been successful. They also will participate in the Mats on Mecca Tournament in Pottsville on Jan. 7, and in the Coal Cracker Tournament in Lehighton on Jan. 20.

“We won a couple of medals at Brandywine Heights last year,” noted Snyder. “We may have some things going against us, but our kids will keep working.”