Harer has had numerous accolades in his career. He had reached 100, 150 and 200 wins already. But Saturday’s banner was an historical one that put him in company of his own.

Harer’s win on Saturday in the semifinals over Mifflinburg’s Lane Kenamond gave him 207 for his career and made him the winningest wrestler in Pennsylvania’s long history of wrestling.

Harer cruised past Kenamond via tech fall, 19-4, in 61 seconds, and moved past Northern Lebanon’s Aaron Siedel to become the state’s all-time wins leader.

“I’ve been getting this asked a lot, it’s great,” Harer said on Saturday. “I’m super proud of myself. If I was looking back four years from now, I wouldn’t think I’d be in this position. I’m super grateful for it and I’m excited to close out the season as well.”

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Gage Swank of Muncy tries to fend off the shot by Carden Wagner of Montgomery during their match at 127 pounds at the District 4 Championship wrestling at Williamsport High School. Swank reached the District 4 championships for the first time since his freshman season.

Harer became a four-time District 4 champion after he picked up another tech fall in the final over Midd-West’s Charley Paige, 21-4, 2:32. That win in the final put Harer at 208 wins as he will add to an already impressive number with the Northeast Class AA Regional at Williamsport this upcoming weekend and the PIAA Class AA championships in Hershey the following week.

“The postseason’s my favorite time of the year and I’m excited for states and I’m excited for regionals next week,” Harer said. “That’s what I’m looking for: one match at a time. I’m excited to come out and wrestle and I just wanna keep dominating.”

Harer has all but dominated his opponents so far this year, and no doubt will do so even more at regionals and states. The Rutgers commit has 39 tech fall wins this year — 103 for his career — and has pinned six opponents. Only two wrestlers have gone an entire six minutes against Harer this year and both those came at the PIAA Class AA Duals tournament.

Saucon Valley’s Matthew Santoro lost to Harer by major decision, 16-4, and Bishop McDevitt’s Greyson Music lost to Harer, 4-1.

Harer’s ultimate goal is to cap states with another gold medal around his neck and Harer knows that most likely waiting for him in two weeks at Hershey will be Bishop McCort’s Bo Bassett, ranked No. 1 in the state and undefeated for his career.

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Brandt Harer of Montgomery takes a shot on Charley Paige of Midd-West during their match at 145 pounds at the District 4 Championship wrestling at Williamsport High School.

But Harer isn’t looking too far ahead. He knows he still has to get there first.

“It’s probably the biggest match maybe ever in PIAA history, I’m definitely looking forward to it,” Harer said of facing Bassett. “It’s always in the back of my head, but I got to make it there first, he’s got to make it there first. It’s just one match at a time, sticking with what I’m good at and just keep working hard.”

100 WINS AND COUNTING

Hughesville’s Kile Hartman has been putting together an outstanding season his junior campaign. He has the best winning-percentage of his career so far as he had a .776 win percentage entering the District 4 championships.

He earned his 40th win in a single-season for the first time. He qualified for the Northeast Class AA Regional tournament for a third consecutive season.

And, oh yeah, he joined the 100-win club at Hughesville on Saturday with a win in the consolation bracket.

“I’m happy, but I wanted third, even second, I would have liked that even more,” Hartman said. “But I’m just happy for the opportunity (at regionals).”

Hartman had a bye into the championship quarterfinals but suffered a 10-7 loss to No. 29-state ranked Evan Maneval of MIdd-West. In the consolations, Hartman earned a 16-2 major decision win over Mifflinburg’s Wesley Smith and secured win No. 100 for his career.

The Spartan added to his win total by beating Milton’s Chase LYtle by tech fall, 19-3, 4:27 and then beating Montgomery’s Josh Knoebel in the consolation semifinals, 3-1, to ensure a spot in the third-place finals.

The match vs. Knoebel was a rematch of last week’s Central Sectional championship at 160 between the two as well.

“I knew he was going to be tough to take down,” Hartman said of facing Knoebel again. “I tried to defend what I could and wrestle how I could.”

Hartman sits with 102 career wins after Saturday’s competition, which ties him with former Spartan Curt Pearson and Josh Pauling. Hartman became the 20th Hughesville wrestler to win 100 or more matches in a career.

And, given that he’s just a junior, Hartman will look to move a lot higher on the list.

Now Hartman turns his attention to regionals.

“I’m going to have to beat one or two kids that I’m not supposed to and move onto states,” Hartman said as to his expectations.

HAMM IT UP

South Williamsport’s Jayden Hamm is no stranger to postseason wrestling. The junior, who’s ranked No. 29 in the state at 172 pounds, has reached the District 4 wrestling championships all three seasons he’s worn a singlet.

But one thing has eluded him each year: a district medal and a berth to regionals.

That all changed on Saturday. Hamm advanced to the Class AA 172 third-place final at the Magic Dome on Saturday. Hamm finished with a fourth-place medal and secured his first-ever trip to the Northeast Class AA Regional tournament next week.

“It was great,” Hamm said of the feeling when he knew he was regional bound. “Definitely want better outcomes, but it was a great feeling.”

Hamm suffered a tough loss in the third-place final, falling to Line Mountain standout Nolan Savage who won by major decision, 14-2. Savage is ranked No. 6 in the state at 172.

Hamm had a first-round win in the quarterfinals against Blane Wesneski of Canton by decision, 9-3, to reach the championship quarterfinals. After suffering a 17-2, 3:21 tech fall loss to No. 3-ranked Max Wirnsberger of Warrior Run, Hamm then dropped into the consolations.

But once in the consis, Hamm kept wrestling well when he battled against Jordan Brown of Sayre and beat him in a hard-fought contest, 3-1, to secure a district medal and regional berth.

“It’s a great feeling. I worked really hard for this moment and just pushing every day trying to get better,” Hamm said.

The Mountie noted that reaching regionals was a goal for him this year.

“My first goal was to get to regionals,” Hamm said with a smile. “I got bigger goals now. I wanna get to states.”

Hamm will have tough competition at 172 pounds at the regional tournament, which features No. 2 ranked Gage Wentzel of Montoursville and No. 3 ranked Max Wirnsberger of Warrior Run, who met up for the title on Saturday. But those type of wrestlers are who Hamm enjoys going up against. You have to beat tough competition if you want to advance, and Hamm knows it.

“I always want the best competition and I’m just very blessed for it and I’m glad to be fighting for it.”

BACK IN THE FINALS

It’s been three years since Muncy’s Gage Swank saw himself standing at the top of the podium at the District 4 championships. His freshman year, Swank took gold at sectionals, districts and regionals en route to an eighth-place finish at the state tournament at 107 pounds.

But his sophomore year saw him not able to compete in the postseason. Last year as a junior, he took third at districts and regionals and didn’t medal at states.

On Saturday, Swank found himself once again competing for district gold, doing so at 127 pounds. While the end result wasn’t what Swank had hoped for — he ended up taking home a silver medal — he still finds himself back at the regional tournament.

Swank had a tough matchup with No. 13-ranked Carden Wagner of Montgomery and came up just shy in a tight contest, falling by decision 6-2. Swank, ranked No. 14 in the state, picked up his 31st win at districts and will look to earn his first state medal since his freshman year after not medaling as a junior.

ROUND II

On Friday, Montoursville’s Kaden Kleinman had one of the bigger upsets in the district tournament when he earned a 3-0 decision against Mifflinburg’s Ben Starub, ranked fourth in the state. But less than 24 hours later, the two would collide once again.

This time for a bronze medal.

Straub won out in the consolation bracket and Kleinman was sent to the consolations following a disqualification loss to Anthony Barra of Bloomsburg. It set up a rematch between the to state-ranked wrestlers. Kleinman entered the weekend ranked No. 27 in the state.

In the second period, Kleinman opted for a neutral start. He shot low against Straub, but the two would spend a minute trying to gain an advantage over one another to no avail.

Kleinman used his leg to take down Straub, but Straub was able to reverse him and get control on top. Straub then cradled and got a pin with 1:13 left in the period to avenge Friday’s upset loss and get revenge over Kleinman for a bronze medal.

Kleinman and Straub were scoreless through the first period and second periods.

Straub held a 2-0 lead thanks to his reversal in the third period before securing the fall.