It wasn’t the way Liberty wanted to end the District 11 3A wrestling tournament, but the Hurricanes extended their season another week when Elijah Heimbach pushed through the 114-pound bracket.

Heimbach, a junior, was one of two Hurricanes to wrestle in the medal rounds and came away with a fourth place finish following a 3-2 loss to Parkland’s Braden Todora in the third-place match.

Freshman Max Milia also lost in the medal rounds, losing by fall in 1:46 to Northampton’s Ben Schoeneberger in the fifth-place match to keep him out of regionals.

Only the top five wrestlers advance to this week’s Northeast Regional 3A tournament back at Liberty and Heimbach will be riding solo in a Liberty singlet.

“I’d like to see that match next week,” said Hall of a rematch with Todora. “He battled and wrestled hard all weekend. He’s definitely matured and locked in mentally.

“I thought we had some other guys that were close to make it to regionals, but that’s definitely frustrating only pushing one through.”

Milia took a 3-0 lead in his medal round bout with an opening takedown, but couldn’t hold off getting turned on bottom for the defeat.

Hall knows his freshman will be back next year, but wanted more for him this time around.

“I thought we were in the drivers seat when he took that lead,” said Hall. “You got to be able to get out on bottom. Obviously, we have a lot of work to do with these guys heading into next year.”

The focus for the ‘Canes now is on Heimbach, who will be making his first trip to regionals in his career.

“Elijah’s tough on top, he scrambles well and if can get to his offense, he’ll be good in shape,” said Hall. “He can wrestle with anybody.”