Zach Thomson just kept repeating the mantra in his head.

“Believe, believe. You can do this.”

That’s all that went through Thomson’s mind for the last 11 seconds of his 152-pound quarterfinal. If Thomson could scurry around and not get caught, he would have the biggest win of his career.

Tick, tick, tick.

Believing became reality for Thomson. After the clock struck triple zeroes, and the Mechanicsburg junior was awarded a 4-3 triple overtime decision over Spring Grove’s Dylan Wisner, one of the favorites in the weight class, he could hardly believe he was a district semifinalist.

“I don’t like to wrestle the name; I just go out and wrestle,” Thomson said. “It‘s just another guy in a singlet.

“When it was over, I was in shock. I was like ‘I did this‘. This win is all I can think about right now.”

Apparently so.

Thomson is no stranger to the district wrestling scene. A year ago, he competed at the 125-pound weight class, going 1-2 before seeing his season come to an end.

After a significant growth spurt in the offseason, Thomson never expected to compete at such a high level. No way he expected success jumping up five weight classes.

Surprise.

Thomson did that and more, blowing into today’s 9 a.m. semifinal round, where he will face Solanco’s Connor Moran.

“I would have probably laughed at you if you would have told me this earlier in the season,” Thomson said. “I gained so much weight. I thought I would be out-muscled by these other guys, but I think wrestling at 160 earlier this year really helped me.”

It did against Wisner.

The Rockets senior, who entered the match with a pretty impressive 39-4 mark, held a 3-2 lead late in the third but was hit with a stalling call with eight seconds left after he kept backing away from locking up.

Neither wrestler could score in the first overtime. Wisner chose down in the second, and Thomson held on with all his might until he heard the sweet sound of the buzzer.

“I attribute that to Rustin Barrick,” said Thomson of his 145-pound teammate, who will face Middletown‘s Bo Candelaria in the semis. “He is so hard to keep down in the room.”

Thomson was able to escape in the third overtime period. From there, he circled and was able to stay out of Wisner’s clutches.

“I almost got taken down at the end, but I was able to stay away,” Thomson said. “It was a great feeling.”