Catasauqua’s wrestling program appears primed to begin the second half of the season.

The Rough Riders finished 14th from a field of 22 teams at the recent Jim Thorpe Christmas Tournament. Catty also is healthy and features a deep lineup.

“It was a good tournament for us,” said head coach Joe Russo. “We knew the competition would be tough, and it was a good test for us. We were able to enter two wrestlers per weight.”

Junior Gavin Fehr captured the 138-pound title when he defeated West Scranton’s Martin Turi in the finals. Turi was a Class 3A District 2 runner-up and fifth at regionals last season. Fehr kept his record unblemished at 12-0.

Senior Jaryn Hartranft took third as he dropped a 9-7 decision to Abington Heights’ Austin Smith in the opening bout at 145, who was a District 2 champ and a fourth -place finisher at regionals. It was his first loss of the season (12-1). Hartranft wrestled his ways back with a pair of pins.

Sophomore CJ Beller battled his way back to a sixth-place finish at 189. According to Russo, Beller (10-4) is looking more comfortable on the mat.

Other wrestlers who competed were freshmen Jon Cordon Pinto (7-4), Caroline Rodriguez (0-4); sophomores Mikhail Hartranft (3-7) and Miles Melendez (4-5), juniors Christian Fye (3-4) and Vinnie Limandri (3-7); and seniors Carlos Cruz (3-6), Cole Brown (6-4), Dom Melendez (0-3), and Juliza Rodriguez (0-2).

Brown and Miles Melendez advanced to the fourth round of consolations.

The Roughies began the season with a fourth-place finish in their own Rough Rider Invitational, and have won matches against Salisbury (48-24), Bangor (42-24), and Palmerton (52-22).

They will be back in action Wednesday with a match at Northern Lehigh before they participate in the Mats on the Mecca Tournament in Pottsville Saturday.

“We’re coming into the New Year with a 3-0 record and getting ready to compete again in dual meets,” added Russo. “We like our depth right now, and we will be able to put a number of kids out there.

“We want to try and qualify for the league championships.”