The PIAA wrestling season may be over, but that doesn't mean the path towards greatness ends for many wrestlers across the state.

With state championship aspirations always on the minds of Bethlehem Catholic wrestlers, last weekend's tournament was a reminder of what hard work can do for the likes of Luke Karam and Andrew Dunn, as both wrestlers came home with gold medals.

And the tournament also provided lessons and motivation for Mike Labriola to achieve the status as state champion as his two teammates.

Labriola's third-place finish at 152 shows the sophomore isn't too far from joining Karam in the journey next season, as both returning wrestlers will be key cogs in the Hawks quest in their team title aspirations, as well as their own individual championship goals.

After taking seventh place his freshman year at the PIAA 2A championships, Labriola's jump in class and finish shows he's capable of making the leap to becoming a state title contender a year from now.

"I just want to be first on the podium," Labriola said. "Seeing my teammates win, it definitely motivates me to be better. I know I can be up there, but I just have to keep working hard."

Hard work is synonymous with the Hawks wrestling room, as head coach Jeff Karam knows that wrestlers in the program become a product of what they put into it.

Andrew Dunn's dominating senior season concluded with a heavyweight state championship to cap off a 46-0 campaign, which is an example of what can become of a wrestler if he sets his sights on the ultimate prize.

"He's a product of our work, plain and simple," Karam said. "That's what it is with all our guys. You come into our room everyday and there's nowhere to hide. They just go at it. The way Andrew has improved since his sophomore year is a true testament to what we do.

"Mikey Labriola jumped up to third this year and no doubt competed in one of the toughest weight classes this year. He just keeps getting better and better. I don't have too many kids coming out of the program that feel like they've gotten worse and Mikey keeps getting better."

While Labriola looks to mimic the results of his state championship teammates, Luke Karam now has to keep himself hungry enough to continue his dominating form as he enters his senior season. With two state titles in the books, as well as committing to wrestle at Bucknell when his Becahi days are over, Karam may have accomplished everything a high school wrestler can ask for.

But when you're a competitor like Karam, there's always a desire to improve and compete.

"I was still nervous in the first period," said Karam of last week's 126-pound state championship bout against Zack Trampe of Council Rock South. "It's the state championship and that feeling never changes, no matter how much experience you have. If anything, I was more nervous because I wanted to repeat. I think this year I knew I had to work harder and amp things up a little bit more moving up to 3A."