The Emmaus boys wrestling team capped a successful 2024-25 season with a 7-3 record in the East Penn Conference and qualified for a spot in the District 11 Class 3A team duals.

There was also a lot of individual success for the Hornets.

Plenty of that talent returns for the upcoming winter campaign, including four of the five state qualifiers—and the two medalists—from a season ago.

“With the start of the official PIAA season, the coaches and wrestlers are focused on day-to-day improvement,” Hornet head coach Jim Best said. “We are proud of our accomplishments from last season, both as a dual-meet team and during the individual postseason, but as a program we’re not satisfied or content.”

Junior Emilio Albanese, who culminated last season with 40 wins, placed second at districts, first at regionals, and finished third at states at 114 pounds. He’s expected to move up to 127 or 133 this year. Senior Jackson Max, who will see the majority of his matches at 133 or 139 pounds, also had a successful postseason run a year ago. Max placed fourth at both districts and regionals, then culminated his season with an eighth-place finished at the state meet.

Senior Xayden Sallit (172 or 189 pounds) and junior Teagan Caciolo (121 or 127) are the two other returning grapplers who competed at states. Sallit (35-13) was a district runner-up and fifth-place finisher at regionals. Caciolo (34-14) took fifth at districts before earning a top-three finish at regionals.

“From an individual perspective,” Best said. “We want to build on our postseason accomplishments by qualifying a handful or more of our wrestlers for the individual state championships, and placing all qualifiers in the top 8 of their respective weight classes. Throughout offseason training, and now into the official season, the efforts of the wrestlers and coaching staff has focused on progression and growth with technique, strength and fitness.”

The Hornets will need to replace a number of key seniors that graduated last year, led by Jesse Scott, a district and regional runner-up in 2024-25. Massimo Traguch and Ashir Choudhry have also since moved on from the program.

Sophomore Cam Martinez is expected to wrestle at both 107 and 114 this winter. He was a District 11 junior varsity champion and went 11-5 on the varsity stage a season ago. Sophomore Xyler Sallit (22-15) will compete at 152 or 160 pounds after placing sixth at districts last winter, and senior Logan Armstrong (10-8) will see the mat at 160 and 172 pounds.

“This year’s roster has a wide range of ability levels, from newcomers to the sport to our core group of 20-plus wrestlers that have committed themselves to progressing their wrestling skills through a year-round structure,” Best said. “Our key to dual meet success is finding the balance in our lineup to make us competitive in all 13 weight classes against any team we face.”

Sophomore Talan Springer—a district JV champion—will compete at 114 and 121 pounds, and Chase DeCesare will fill the lineup at 215. Both are newcomers for Best at the varsity level.

Emmaus opens its season against Bethlehem Catholic on Wednesday. The Hornets will then compete in the Tom Best Memorial Top Hat Tournament at Williamsport High School on Friday and Saturday.