Aiden Schlier admitted it wasn’t his prettiest match.

But the Tamaqua senior couldn’t deny the end result was pretty appealing.

Schlier needed just one minute and 26 seconds to register the 100th victory of his career and reach a milestone years in the making last Wednesday against Panther Valley.

“When I look back at the tape of my 100th win, it was sloppy really,” Schlier said with a laugh. “As soon as I got my first takedown the pressure lifted off. It was just a sigh of relief.”

It was a moment Schlier savored, and one that he had been looking forward to since the start of his career.

“Just being up on the wall with the greats, it shows what I really can do, and what I’ve done,” said Schlier. “I’ve just improved so much everywhere.

“I’ve been thinking about it since freshman year. It’s been a pretty big goal of mine.”

Schlier is one of three area wrestlers who have recently reached 100 career victories.

Northwestern’s Luke Fugazzotto accomplished the feat Jan. 11 at the Great Valley Duals, and Palmerton’s Derek King reached the milestone this past Friday at the Coal Cracker.

Schlier’s success

Schlier has seen some greats come through the Tamaqua program, and last season watched as teammate Gabe Erbe hit 100 career victories at districts.

Former Blue Raider standout Dylan Rynkiewicz, who finished his career in 2015 with 127 wins, is currently an assistant with the varsity team, and also serves as an inspiration to Schlier.

“It’s real cool,” Schlier said of working with Rynkiewicz. “He has the experience, and he definitely knows what he’s talking about. He really helps me with stuff that I don’t have completely dialed in yet. He’s just really good to have around.”

Schlier has also set an example for the underclassmen, such as his brother Brody, who is a sophomore and a 20-match winner each of the last two seasons.

“It’s real important,” Aiden said of being a leader. “I have my little brother coming up ... and it gives me something to look forward to, for them to achieve, and surpass even. It’s just something to look forward to in the future.”

For now, Schlier’s immediate future is on finishing his senior season strong.

“States,” Schlier said of his ultimate goal. “Do well at districts, do well at regionals, and just work my butt off. I just really want to get to states.

“But it’s pretty exciting to have 100 wins.”

Top Tiger

Fugazzotto has been nearly unstoppable this season. The junior, who is a two-time Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Wrestler of the Year, reached the 172-pound final at last year’s PIAA Class 2A tournament.

That momentum carried over into this season, where Fugazzotto won his first 36 matches.

“It’s pretty cool to have 100 wins,” said Fugazzotto. “It’s good for the team, and I hope it can also inspire some of the underclassmen as well. It’s also another step to maybe 100 pins or something. I’m still looking for that.”

And Fugazzotto is well on his way.

Through this past Saturday’s Coal Cracker, Fugazzotto owns a career record of 113-17, with 86 of those wins coming by pinfall. He had 28 pins as a freshman and 30 as a sophomore. He is already at 28 this season.

Beyond his individual success, Fugazzotto takes immense pride in what the Tigers have accomplished as a team. The squad, which also includes younger brother Vinnie, is 12-6 and will qualify for the District 11 team tournament in Class 2A.

Including Vinnie (24) and Luke (36), Northwestern currently has six wrestlers with at least 20 wins: Freshmen Weston Killar (27), Logan Uricchio (23), Nolan Koehler (20) and sophomore Braydon Uricchio (22), as well as freshman Chase Sukanick and junior Colby Townley, who each have 18 wins.

“It’s helped a lot, feeling that I could go far individually as well as go far with the team,” said Luke.

There is little doubt the Tigers are trending in the right direction.

Palmerton Pride

Sharing individual and team success is of equal importance to King.

“The team aspect,” King said when asked what he enjoys most about wrestling. “I play other sports, but no other sport has the bond, the camaraderie, the way wrestling does. You are so close with everyone, because you know everyone is working so hard, and there is just a mutual respect we have with one another.

“It’s always so exciting to have other guys around you who are also doing well to push you. It’s great to have other guys with you at tournaments and stuff like that. When you’re done, say you have a hard loss, you can go cheer on your teammates and root for their success.”

There has been plenty of it for the Bombers this year. The team is 10-2 and will qualify for the District 11 2A team tournament, and also has Dillon Lombardi with 32 wins — just six away from his 100th — as well as King (28), Connor Messinger (24), Dillon Anthony (23) and Thomas Pasqueriello (21) with over 20 wins, Josh Merkel and Vincent Taglieri with 19, and Braden Strohl with 18.

King is on pace for a career year. He reached 29 wins a season ago after 28 as a sophomore and 18 as a freshman.

“I’m not always trying to think about that all the time. I’m usually trying to take it one match at a time,” King said of reaching 100 wins. “But I realized I had a chance in my junior year, and I kind of knew at the end of my sophomore year after how many wins I got.

“It’s definitely more of a weight off your shoulders, because now I don’t have to go into every match thinking, ‘I’m this close, I have to win this.’ Now I can just go wrestle, so free. You wrestle better like that.”

One thing is certain: King, Fugazzotto and Schlier have all wrestled well throughout their careers to earn 100 victories.