DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Warrior Run coach Jeremy Betz congratulates Kaden Milheim after Milheim wrestled Cade Wirnsberger of Meadowbrook Christian in their match at 145 pounds during Saturday’s District 4 championships.

It’s hard to put into words just how great of a season Warrior Run’s wrestling program is having. The Defenders have had outstanding wrestlers over the years, especially under former longtime coach Wayne Smythe.

But breaking it down, it’s an impressive 2022-23 resume for the Defenders.

First, Warrior Run won the program’s first-ever District 4 Duals title to secure a trip to the state tournament as a team for the first time ever.

Warrior Run followed with an undefeated league record and an impressive 20-3 dual record.

On Saturday, the accolades continued. The Defenders sent an impressive seven wrestlers to the Class AA Northeast Regional tournament this upcoming Saturday at Williamsport, and of those seven, five wrestled for a district championship.

Warrior Run also secured the team title on Saturday, another first in a storied program.

“It’s just unreal. Last year we had a real young group of kids. We had one senior, a junior in that group and rest were freshmen and sophomore,” Warrior Run coach Jeremy Betz said. “To watch them progress, I think they beat some of our expectations in terms of progress they made and where they’re at at this point.”

Reagan Milheim defeated Southern Columbia’s Mason Barvitskie at 139 pounds, 3-0, to win the Defenders’ first gold medal of the evening. A bout later, it was brother Kaden Milheim who defeated Meadowbrook Christian’s Cade Wirnsberger, 3-0, for another gold medal.

Cameron Milheim had a solid bout against No. 1 ranked Conner Harer of Montgomery at 152, but the Defender, ranked No. 2 in the state, fell by decision 5-3.

Warrior Run’s Tyler Ulrich, a freshman, lost a close bout at 127 to Midd-West’s Matthew Smith, ranked 16th in the state, 7-5 SV. Cole Shupp of Warrior Run came up just shy at 172, losing by decision to Montgomery’s Caden Finck, 11-4.

That group of Defenders have each put together remarkable individual seasons.

Kaden Milheim is an impressive 42-3 this year and eclipsed the 100-win mark for his season. He also has 24 wins by fall and, so far in his four-year career, has yet to be pinned.

Cameron Milheim is a win away from recording 40 for the second consecutive year and Reagan Milheim, just a freshman, is 43-3 with 24 wins via fall.

Impressive enough, but also more so given all three Milheim brothers are ranked in the top-10 in the state at their respective weight classes. Reagan Milheim is the eighth-ranked wrestler at 139 pounds, as he beat second-ranked Barvitskie. Kaden Milheim is ranked No. 3 in the state at 145 and beat second-ranked Wirnsberger. And Cameron Milheimis ranked No. 2 at 152, behind only Harer.

“They’re good,” Betz said with a laugh. “I can’t say that I’ve been around kids who have been that high of a level that they are. It almost sounds like it’s taking away from other kids, (but it’s not). Like our other guys are really good. But when you have that nucleus in there, it elevates the standard and they help everybody around them and elevate the other guys. They have confidence in other guys which gives them confidence in themselves.”

The brothers provide a huge spark in the middle of the Warrior Run lineup as they wrestle consecutively.

“It means a lot (that we’re successful). We’re certainly going to look back at this time when we’re all older and out of high school and remember all the good times,” Kaden Milheim said.

For Kaden, the senior of the brothers, it’s his only time wrestling alongside his siblings, and he’s soaking in the moment.

“It’s been a great year. Especially having all three brothers on the team now, only year that’s going to happen. I’m just kind of taking it all in,” Kaden Milheim said.

The Defenders’ success this year may be a surprise to some fans, but Betz had a hunch it would happen. Last year the team was extremely young with just one junior and one senior. But even prior to that, Betz saw the potential in elementary school.

“We worked with this group a lot, through elementary. We saw, we kept saying we’re coming, watch out for Warrior Run, we’re coming through elementary,” Betz said. “To see these guys finally put it together it’s something we certainly thought was possible.”