HERSHEY -- Carter Chunko was in a tough spot in Friday night's PIAA Class 2A 127-pound semifinal against Chestnut Ridge standout Dominic Deputy.
Deputy rode him out in the second period of a scoreless bout.
But Chunko has proven this season that he not only is better but resilient.
The Saucon Valley junior executed two full sets of back points in the third to knock off the three-time state finalist 8-0 to advance to his second consecutive state final.
"He beat me a bunch of times in middle school years ago," Chunko recalled, "so I was familiar with him. He likes the underhooks on his feet.
"Since last year, I feel like my top game has improved. I've implemented new stuff. I definitely feel really confident in those situations on top."
Chunko, who faces returning state champion Freddy Bachmann of Faith Christian in Saturday afternoon's final, adjusted to what Deputy was trying to do. It worked well twice.
"At first, I was looking for my half, but he peeled my wrist to so I re-wristed and went up to my half to get the tilt [for the first set of back points]," Chunko said. "I went back to the half to get the second set."
Chunko fell behind 4-0 to Hanover Area's C.J. Caines in Friday's quarterfinals, but dominated the third period to win 9-5.
"I've felt more confident because I've come from behind a few times this year," he added. "I've just felt more comfortable as this year has gone on."
Chunko lost in an ultimate tie-breaker to Bachmann in last Saturday's Southeast Regional final.
Faith Christian's Freddy Bachmann will be joined by brother Joey Bachmann (152), Adam Waters (189), Cael Weidemoyer (215) and Mark Effendian (285) in the 2A finals.
Joey Bachmann, a two-time state champion, beat General McLane's Clay Kimmy 7-3 to reach the final at 152 where he'll face Hudson Hohman of Grove City.
Waters moved within one victory of a fourth consecutive state title with an 18-3 technical fall in 4 minutes over Derry's Brody Brown. He will take on Tyrone's Kyle Scott in the final after Scott beat Northwestern Lehigh's Luke Fugazzotto 7-2 in the other semifinal.
Weidemoyer was trailing 7-6 before executing a six-point in the final 30 seconds to knock off Port Allegany's Aiden Bliss in the 215 semis.
Effendian wrecked Bishop McCort's Caleb Rodriguez again, this time 20-4 in 5 minutes, 27 seconds to reach his second consecutive state final. He lost in the final seconds of last year's 285 gold-medal match.
Faith Christian's Riley Crandall (107), Cruz Little (114), Flynn Arnestad (121), Shane Wagner (160) and Nick Singer (172) plus Saucon Valley's Mack Santoro (145) secured top-6 medals Friday. They all reached Saturday morning's consolation semifinals.
All 10 of coach Ben Clymer's Lions will be on the podium Saturday. Faith Christian has 176 points to lead Bishop McCort by 38 points in the team race.
Singer, the defending champion at 172, lost 6-4 to Derry's Mason Horwat on a takedown late in the third period.
Santoro earned his second consecutive medal by winning 12-9 over St. Marys' Greyson Meyer in the blood round. His gas tank was on empty thanks to allergies, but he held on after building a 9-0 cushion. The sophomore was eighth last year.