PINE GROVE - North Schuylkill's Owen Boyer, Ricky Elliott and Tyler Budnavage have struggled this season.
They haven't won a ton of matches, but they've hung in there, worked hard and gotten better.
All three got paired in toss-up bouts during Wednesday night's Schuylkill League Division I clash at Pine Grove.
And all three delivered victories that lifted the Spartans over the Cardinals 46-27 in a battle between division unbeatens.
With its 11th straight win, North Schuylkill (15-1, 2-0 D-I) solidified its standing both in the division and in the District 11 Class AA ratings. Pine Grove (11-7, 2-1) had its seven-dual win streak come to an end.
"It was the toughest match we had this season in the league,'' Spartans coach Chris Edwards said. "We have Pottsville next week, Schuylkill Leagues this weekend, we've got to keep it rolling.''
Budnavage, a junior 138-pounder, led off the night by pinning Marcus Kassab in 1:06. Kassab scored the first takedown, but Budnavage hooked Kassab's chin and reversed him to his back for the fall.
Instead of possibly falling behind on the road, Budnavage gave the Spartans a win - and bonus points.
"Tyler, he was the hero tonight, for starters,'' Edwards said. "He was the No. 1 hero, getting the fall. ... A big swing.''
Boyer and Elliott, a pair of freshmen, contributed nine more team points with victories.
At 106, Boyer mauled Quentin Wolff in the second period, switching from a chin hook to a headlock and eventually posting the fall in 3:37.
In the final bout at 132, Elliott scored a takedown with 10 seconds left in the first period and made it stand up in a 3-1 decision over Carson Rittenbaugh.
Another North Schuylkill freshman, Mason Madden-Edwards, added a 9-second fall at 113.
"These freshmen that came up ... they're doing great and helping the team,'' junior 285-pounder Nate Gadinski said.
Through eight bouts, Pine Grove built a 24-19 lead. Senior standouts Jared McCabe (16-11), Ryan Heim (18-5), Guy Zimmerman (25-1) and Ryan Martin (24-2) earned falls.
The Cardinals, though, gained just one more victory: Danny Diaz-Walton's 5-4 decision over Jess Wetzel at 126.
"Give North Schuylkill credit. They're a well-balanced team,'' Pine Grove coach Jack Drey said. "We're getting better and better. ... We just have to keep plugging away.''
Trailing by five, North Schuylkill went ahead to stay when Gadinski (18-1) drove a deep half nelson to pin Scott Werner in 1:02.
Lightweights Boyer, Madden-Edwards (16-2) and Shane McGrath (17-3) followed with three more pins to settle the issue. In all, North Schuylkill won at nine weights, seven with bonus points.
Though the Cardinals had a wrestler, they forfeited to state qualifier Auston Hummel (17-1) at 170.
Alek Hummel (17-2) had three takedowns and two sets of back points in a 12-2 major decision over Jesse Fisher at 182.
Garet Grove (17-2) topped Josh Phillippy 12-5 at 160, using three sets of back points to pull away. Phillippy scored a late takedown to avoid a major decision.
"Last year's team had the toughness, they just didn't believe in themselves quite enough,'' Edwards said. "This year, we're another year into the system. The kids are believing. They know they can win; they don't think they can win anymore.''