HERSHEY, Pa. -- Joe Waltko made a second appearance on the winners platform at the PIAA Class AAA Championships this past weekend at the Giant Center, but he is still two steps short of reaching his goal of winning a PIAA title.

"It was good to be back on the winners platform, especially after last season, but I still haven't reached my goal," said Waltko, after accepting the bronze medal at 125 pounds. "I'll be back in the weight room on Monday."

Waltko, a junior, placed fourth in the PIAA tournament at 103 pounds as a freshman in his first appearance at Hershey, but failed to place last season at 119.

"Joe was disappointed by his performance at states last year," North Allegheny coach Jamie Kyriazis said. "He worked very hard during the offseason to make sure it didn't happen again this year."

A two-time WPIAL runner-up, Waltko had the difficult task of facing a returning place-winner in the opening round. But that didn't faze Waltko, who posted a 9-1 victory against Dallastown's Zach Oberlander, who was sixth at 125 last year.

Waltko earned his second semifinal berth in three years with an 8-2 quarterfinal win against Conestoga's Jack Chidester. However, the semifinals were once again his downfall. Waltko dropped a 5-1 decision to Blue Mountain's Courtlandt Choate, the eventual champion.

"[Choate] came prepared, and I didn't come prepared," said Waltko. "I should have opened up more on offense. I didn't wrestle as aggressively as I normally do."

Waltko was pleased with his overall performance. He battled back to place third with a pair of victories.

"I faced Oberlander again and beat him 7-0," Waltko said. "I also got a rematch with [West Mifflin's] Sam Sherlock. He beat me in the WPIAL final and I beat him in the PIAA consolation final [3-2 in overtime]."

North Allegheny teammate Karl DeCiantis was also a medalist. DeCiantis placed seventh after a 10-5 loss to Red Lion's Keith Dahlheimer in the first round. DeCiantis, senior, recorded three victories in the consolation bracket, including an 8-5 win against Dahlheimer in the consolation for seventh place.

"I thought Karl had a chance to make it to the finals," Waltko said. "It's never easy when you lose in the first round. He did a nice job coming back to medal."

Proud father

North Hills senior Alexander Martinez concluded his career with a PIAA medal. The son of Indians coach Jose' Martinez, he placed eighth at 140 pounds in the Class AAA tournament.

"I've been dreaming for 12 years about the day I could put a PIAA medal around his neck," said Jose Martinez, referring to the medal ceremony which he awarded his son. "We both wish he could have finished higher than eighth, but he's a PIAA placewinner and not many kids can say that. I'm very proud of him."

Alexander Martinez opened the tournament with a 4-2 overtime victory against Council Rock South's Dustin Tancredi, then dropped an 8-6 decision to Cumberland Valley's Bryce Busler in the quarterfinals. Busler was the eventual runner-up. Martinez then lost two of three matches in the consolation bracket.

"Gator [Alexander's nickname] wants to wrestle in college, but he also wants to be a physical therapist," said Martinez of his son.

"One school may have a better wrestling program, but not be as good in the area of physical therapy, and vice versa. He has to pick the school that fits his needs."

Martinez was joined at Hershey by teammate Adam Harold, who had a 1-2 record at 160.

"Adam won, 6-5, in the first round, then met the eventual runner-up in the quarterfinals," said Martinez, referring to Harold's 9-0 loss to State College's Steve Bosak. "His other loss was to the fifth-place finisher."

Harold finished his career with the distinction of being the first North Hills wrestler to reach 40 wins in one season, while Martinez finishes with 39.