Last weekend was a time for reflection and relaxation during the holiday season. But Northwestern Lehigh’s Harrison Bernhard spent last weekend punching the clock, working to become an even better wrestler.

The senior took fifth place in the 152-pound weight class at the Bethlehem Holiday Wrestling Classic, held at Liberty High School in Bethlehem. Bernhard earned the medal with a win over Northampton’s Colby Judd in the final round. The win improved his season’s record to 14-6.

“I’m actually really pleased,” said Bernhard. “I think I did a good job this weekend. I tried not to worry about how I was going to do. I just focused more on being in the match.”

The BHWC provided Bernhard with a chance to meet top-flight opponents.

“This is a tough tournament, so it’s really a chance to prove yourself and see what level you are at,” he said. “Coming in and doing well was really exciting for me.”

Bernhard started well in round one by pinning Zachary Beblavy in 3:47. However, he was upended in the second round by Saucon Valley’s Tyler Pfizenmayer in a 4-2 decision. Bernhard shook off the defeat, easily beating Pen Argyl’s Corey Cockley in an 11-1 consolation second round major decision. In his third-round consolation match, Bernhard pinned Liberty’s Jackson Marcantonio in 4:16. He continued his winning ways with a 6-4 decision over Jamie Pahler of Wilkes-Barre.

Bernhard beat Phillipsburg’s Matthew Donofrio 3-1 to advance to the consolation semifinals, where he lost 5-3 to Seamus Leavey of Shenendehowa, NY, dropping Bernhard into the fifth-place match against Judd.

Other Tigers who won their first round matches were Ben Griffith at 126, Tyler Watson at 160 and Ryan Haverkamp at 195. Watson and Jake Dellicker, wrestling at 126, advanced out of round two, but both had their tournaments come to an end in the quarterfinal round. Watson lost Kai Clark in a decision and Dellicker could not handle Northampton’s Noah Reichelderfer.

For the tournament, the Tigers finished 24th out of 31 schools with 38 points.

The following are Northwestern results from the Bethlehem Holiday Classic

120 – Eli Dellicker

Ansar Niazi (Liberty) tech. fall Dellicker, 18-2

Travis Riefenstahl (Saucon Valley) major dec. Dellicker, 13-5

126 – Jake Dellicker

Dellicker dec. Blake Sheridan (Wilson), 7-6

Noah Reichelderfer (Northampton) pinned Dellicker in 1:35

Ethan Paul (Upper Dauphin) dec. Dellicker, 7-1

132 – Ben Griffith

Griffith dec. O’Ryan Reid (Liberty), 11-9

Nino Cinti (Wilkes-Barre) dec. Griffith, 2-1

Griffith pinned Nick Dipippo (North Penn) in 1:33

Mohammed Savriddinov (Council Rock South) dec. Griffith, 8-1

138 – Mason Brensinger

Jason Tino (Phillipsburg) dec. Brensinger, 8-1

Jacob Jones (Saucon Valley) tech fall Brensinger, 16-1

145 – Lucas Miller

Jared Kukor (Phillipsburg) dec. Miller, 9-3

Brian Adams (Council Rock South) major dec. Miller, 11-2

152 – Harrison Bernhard

Bernhard pinned Zachary Beblavy (Whitehall) in 3:47

Tyler Pfizenmayer (Saucon Valley) dec. Bernhard, 4-2

Bernhard major dec. Cory Cockley (Pen Argyl), 11-1

Bernhard pinned Jackson Marcantonio (Liberty) in 4:16

Bernhard dec. Jamie Pahler (Wilkes-Barre), 6-4

Bernhard SV-1 dec. over Matthew Donofrio (Phillipsburg), 3-1

Seamus Leavey (Shenendehowa) dec. Berhnard, 5-3

Fifth-place match

Bernhard SV-1 dec. Colby Judd (Northampton), 3-1

160 – Tyler Watson

Watson dec. Like Wahlers (Pennridge), 12-6

Watson forfeit over Mathew Arciuolo (Saucon Valley)

Kai Clark (Whitehall) SV-1 dec. Watson, 3-1

Nate Zastowny (Phillipsburg) pinned Watson in 4:00

195 – Ryan Haverkamp

Haverkamp pinned Zach Wilken (Honesdale) in 1:49

Jacob Wicks (Phillipsburg) pinned Haverkamp in 1:27

Haverkamp pinned Robert Yovish (Saucon Valley) in :16

Kyle Perl (Northampton) pinned Haverkamp in 2:26

220 – Isaiah Johri

Matthew Bogardo (Freedom) dec. Johri, 4-1

Brendan Panchison (Council Rock South) pinned Johri in 1:47