Caleb Clymer is back on top.

After tasting gold as a freshman but fighting through an injury-plagued sophomore season, the Northwestern junior returned to the top step of the podium Saturday at the District 11 Class 2A Wrestling tournament. Clymer knocked off Pen Argyl’s Chase Anklam with a 7-0 decision to win the 152-pound title.

Clymer established a high standard as a freshman with a district title at 138 pounds as the fifth seed - a win that came by fall.

Despite a hip injury that cost him time during his sophomore campaign, Clymer still came away with a runner-up finish last season in falling to Palisades’ Tyler Marsh 3-2 in the 145-pound final.

But a fully healthy Clymer left no doubt Saturday in taking down Anklam.

“Last year, I felt broken physically,” he said. “There’s definitely a big difference this year.”

There was also a significant change in how Clymer wrestled Anklam, a junior who had won back-to-back district titles.

The two met earlier this month in a second-round consolation match at the team district tournament. On that day, Clymer used an escape in the final seconds for a 3-2 victory.

No such drama was needed in Saturday’s district final at Liberty High School.

“I wrestled more his match that time,” said Clymer. “So I knew as long as I stayed out of his tie-ups, and didn’t let him get to his shots or play his game, keep it at my pace, I knew I’d do well.

“I stayed out of his tie-ups, liked my misdirection’s and I got to the legs and was able to score.”

A 3-0 decision over Panther Valley’s Tanner Kennedy in the semifinals put Clymer in the finals.

Clymer was especially dominant on the opening night of the event, pinning Tri-Valley’s Rayce Newswanger in 33 seconds in their 152-pound quarterfinal match after receiving a first-round bye.

“He’s doing well,” said Tigers’ head coach Jim Moll.

Northwestern senior Baily Wehr perhaps had the most memorable night of all the wrestlers to reach the semifinals.

Wehr opened the tournament by pinning Tamaqua’s Joey Minehan to record his 100th career victory, and moved into the 120-pound semis with a 40-second fall against Lehighton’s Nate Kemmerer in the quarters.

“I just wanted to get to the semis,” said Wehr. “I just wanted to get there. I was trying to take it one match a time and just focus on one match.

“In the first match I was a little skeptical because I know kids want to place at this tournament, and it’s pretty big, and they’re gonna throw big things. So I was a little nervous in my first match. But I just tried to wrestle my match. As soon as I got on top, I know how to work my moves and go.”

Wehr, the third seed, defeated No. 2 seed Ryan McGuire of Notre Dame (Green Pond) 8-2 in the semifinals.

Though he came up on the short end of a 3-2 decision in the 120-pound final against Saucon Valley’s Josh Jones, Wehr wrestled tough for six minutes.

After a scoreless first period, Jones built a 3-0 lead in the second. Wehr scored late in the that period but was unable to erase the early deficit.

In addition to Clymer and Wehr, Jackson Bernhard will also represent the Tigers at this weekend’s Southeast Regional Tournament at Wilson West Lawn High School.

Bernhard reached the semifinals at 145 pounds, where he lost a 12-4 major decision to eventual champion Nathan Haubert of Palisades.

In the third-place match, Catasauqua’s Ryan Greene topped Bernhard by a 9-1 decision. The top-four finish was still enough to put Bernhard through to the regional tournament.

Northwestern’s Harrison Bernhard and Colin Rex fell just short of making it to regionals.

Rex took fifth at 132 pounds with a 10-1 major decision against Wilson’s Anthony Micci. Bernhard placed sixth at 113 pounds, dropping a 5-2 decision to Jim Thorpe’s John Newhall.