A year ago, two Emmaus wrestlers came up just one win shy of capturing district gold.

Junior Emilio Albanese and senior Xayden Sallit both advanced to the championship match of their respective weight classes in last year’s District 11 Class 3A Championships.

With this year’s district tournament set for this weekend, Albanese and Sallit headline a group of Hornets looking to make noise in the postseason once again.

Six wrestlers in each weight class will earn a medal, with the top five advancing to the Class 3A Regional Championships.

“The individual postseason tournaments present an opportunity for wrestlers to compete at peak performance levels based on their training and preparation throughout the season,” Emmaus head coach Jim Best said. “And for several of our varsity wrestlers, based on their preparation since last March without thought of a dual meet score. For that reason, the wrestlers and coaches approach the district championship tournament with a high level of anticipation, excitement and expectation.”

Albanese (29-2) has been the most decorated Hornet wrestler so far thus season as he approaches his 30th win of the winter.

All but four of his victories have earned Emmaus bonus points, with 11 of them coming by way of fall. He competed at both 127 and 133 pounds during the regular season.

Sallit (25-9) is one of three other Hornet grapplers to have 25 wins on the season thus far, competing mainly at 172 pounds this winter. In the midst of a seven-match win streak, Sallit will compete at 174 pounds at districts.

Senior Jackson Max (25-9) and junior Teagan Caciolo (25-4) are the other two 25-win wrestlers, both of who finished in the top six of their respective weight classes at last year’s district tournament.

Max placed fourth a season ago and will suit up at 141 pounds, while Caciolo took fifth and will compete at 123 pounds. Both are poised for strong runs once again this postseason.

Sophomore Xyler Sallit, who enters the postseason with a 20-7 record, placed sixth at last year’s district tournament. He will compete at 162 pounds this weekend.

“Five wrestlers placed in the top six in the tournament last year, so returning to the tournament this year presents an opportunity for them to improve on last year’s placement,” Best said.

Emmaus has a number of other wrestlers seeded just outside the top five of their weight class, but with the chance of making some noise at districts.

Seniors Aiden Bayard (17-14; 154 pounds), Logan Armstrong (18-5; 191) and Logan Roth (16-13; 287), and juniors Levi Max (17-10; 116), Tommy Fallstich (21-11; 147) and Chase DeCesare (16-12; 217) will all look to outperform their seed and qualify for regionals.

“Several other wrestlers will begin the tournament seeded in the top 6-10 of their bracket,” Best said. “So, wrestling to meet their seed, or achieve slightly over their seed, will put them in the mix to advance to the regional tournament.

“Ideally, we want all 13 of our wrestlers that enter the tournament to qualify for the regional tournament. Of course, that process begins by focusing on the first match of the tournament, and what lies directly ahead after each match. As a coaching staff, we want to see our wrestlers compete through every scoring situation in every match. If we do that, the outcomes will take care of themselves.”

The tournament will get underway on Friday at 4 p.m. at Liberty High School. Saturday’s matches will begin at 9 a.m. with championship finals scheduled to get underway at 5:15 p.m.