ADAMS TWP — Close, but no cigar.

It’s a timeless cliche undoubtedly heard by every member of Mars’ varsity wrestling team, but it served as no consolation to the Planets Wednesday night.

Mars hosted Pine-Richland with both teams owning a 2-2 record and a spot in the Section 3 team tournament on the line. With only one bout remaining, the Rams held a tenuous 34-30 lead.

A win by major decision from Mars’ Mitchell Wright at 152 pounds would have tied the team score and the Planets would have won on tiebreaker.

Wright took control early with a takedown of Pine-Richland’s Casey Sharlow and the former led 4-1 entering the third period. He was able to push his edge to 7-1, but no further, falling two points shy of a major decision.

The Rams’ 34-33 win sends them to the section tournament.

“This stings,” said Mars coach Jason Wilk. “I understand that Mars qualified for the section tournament back when the program was (Class) Double-A, but this would have been our first time in Triple-A. That would have been pretty sweet.

“I told Mitchell that it came down to his match, but he is not the reason we lost,” added Wilk. “He won by a good margin. Other guys could have done more in their bouts.”

It wasn’t the first time this season the Planets came up just short in a section match. They dropped a 36-35 decision at Butler in December.

Mars scored three pins against Pine-Richland — from Noah Hunkele (106 pounds), Alex Hornfeck (126) and Justin Petrilena (170). Other than a forfeit, the team’s other wins came on three decisions.

“I knew this match was going to come down to bonus points,” said Wilk.

“It’s always hard to take when you lose, especially close like this was,” said Petrilena. “We put a lot of work in and to know that it came down to us not getting enough bonus points, it’s tough.”

Mars’ last lead (27-24) came following Hornfeck’s win.

The Rams won the next two bouts, a pin from Hunter Baxter at 132 pounds and a major decision courtesy of Garrett Burnham at 138.

Jake Richardson then shut out the Rams’ Ben Salas, 5-0, setting up Wright’s bout with Sharlow.

“It wasn’t our great wrestlers who made the difference tonight, it was the guys who fought and didn’t allow those bonus points to Mars,” said Rams coach Ben Rings.

Despite missing out on a postseason berth, Mars is a solid team. The Planets are now focused on proving it in individual tournaments.

“I think we have six wrestlers who can qualify for WPIALs and two for states,” said Petrilena.

Pine-Richland 34, Mars 33

(Match started at 160 pounds)

106-Noah Hunkele (M) pinned Rob Palmieri, :54; 113-Nathan Lukez (PR) won by forfeit; 120-Alex Salas (PR) major dec. Nolan Wicker, 12-1; 126-Alex Hornfeck (M) pinned Aaron Bailey, :25; 132-Hunter Baxter (PR) pinned Max Lamm, :54; 138-Garrett Burnham (PR) major dec. Aidan Leshinsky, 11-3; 145-Jake Richardson (M) dec. Ben Salas, 5-0; 152-Mitchell Wright (M) dec. Casey Sharlow, 7-1; 160-Nick Geyer (PR) by technical fall over Sean McElhinny, 18-3; 170-Justin Petrilena (M) pinned Luke Ziegler, 1:47; 182-Isaiah Johnson (M) won by forfeit; 195-Nick Schriver (M) dec. Zach Shaver, 4-1; 220-Brendan Scheller (PR) dec. Max Aubrecht, 5-4; Hwt.-John Follmer (PR) pinned Jeff DeSantes, 4:50