SLIPPERY ROCK — After waiting 12 years to get back there, the Slippery Rock High School wrestling program wanted to make its presence known in Hershey.

Michael Doerflinger made that happen.

The Rockets’ junior 138-pounder reached the PIAA Class AA semifinals last weekend at the Giant Center and placed sixth in his weight class.

“No one knew who he was ... Mike was definitely under the radar and we took advantage of that,” Slippery Rock coach Bob Becker said.

“A lot of people out there were surprised to see him in the semifinals. I wasn’t. I know what this kid can do.”

Doerflinger fell one match short of qualifying for the PIAA meet last season. He finished with a 28-7 record as a sophomore.

“I lost that match by three points,” Doerflinger said. “To come so close (to states) ... It motivated me. It made me work harder.”

Doerflinger became the first Slippery Rock wrestler to qualify for the state meet since Jeff Becker and Trevor Gallo did so in 2005. They placed third in their respective weight classes that season.

“Mike is a strong defensive wrestler. He scores a lot of his points that way,” Coach Becker said. “He needs to get a little better on his feet. We want him to work on developing a signature shot, something he can feel comfortable with.”

Many of Slippery Rock’s wrestlers, including Doerflinger, belong to the Pitt Wrestling Club during the summer. Doerflinger figures to work on some offensive moves there.

He will enter his senior season with a 67-15 varsity record. Doerflinger was 12-1 while in the varsity lineup part-time as a freshman.

He was 27-7 this season.

“Coach Becker told me not to work on my defense this summer, to concentrate and focus on developing more offensive moves,” Doerflinger said. “I agree with that.

“I need to be able to score more and be more aggressive on the mat.”

A wrestler since age 8, Doerflinger also played football through his freshman year. He gave up the gridiron at that point to focus on “being the best wrestler I could be.”

Of his seven losses this year, four came against the very best.

Cole Matthews (40-1) of Reynolds defeated Doerflinger in the section, district and regional finals this season, pinning him twice. Doerflinger was also pinned in 21 seconds by unbeaten Max Murin (40-0) of Central Cambria in the state semifinals.

His state tourney wins were decisions of 9-4 over Jack Bennett (22-12) of Schuylkill Valley and 4-3 over Alex Caldwell (28-10) of Ligonier Valley.

“I don’t mind losing to the really good guys,” Doerflinger said. “You learn about your weaknesses that say. It can only make you better.”

Becker said the goal next season is for Doerflinger to return to the state meet and place higher.

“He has to become a more well-rounded wrestler to accomplish that and Mike knows that,” the coach said.

One hundred career wins would be a nice number to achieve as well.

“That will take wrestling in a lot of matches and being more consistent,” Doerflinger said. “But, yeah, that’s a goal. That’s a target.”