By RANDY GONZALES

rgonzales@dailynews.net

Sometimes, it takes a little luck to go along with skill to be successful.

Thomas More Prep-Marian senior standout Dylan Schumacher is a little lucky to be going for his fourth state title at Thursday and Friday's Class 3-2-1A State Championships at Gross Memorial Coliseum.

Schumacher, who has signed to wrestle at University of Wyoming, is 25-3 this season and ranked No. 1 in the state at 126 pounds. But Schumacher injured his left knee during practice late last month. Schumacher and Monarch coach Mike Howell at first weren't sure how serious the injury was, weren't sure if Schumacher would be able to go for a fourth consecutive state title, something only four other wrestlers have been able to do in 3-2-1A.

"We were freaking out a little bit, (thinking) ACL or MCL, or something like that," Schumacher said.

But the injury wasn't serious. Schumacher just needed to rest the knee, and now he is as good as new.

That whooshing sound you hear is Howell and Schumacher both breathing a huge sigh of relief.

"We were really happy once we figured that out," Schumacher said.

An injury might have been the biggest obstacle in Schumacher's quest for a fourth state championship. Schumacher is 129-6 in his career, and in three previous trips to state is 12-0 with 11 pins and one technical fall. Last year, he went 38-2 in winning at 119 pounds.

At last weekend's regional championship match, Schumacher pinned Oberlin sophomore Dayton Dreher -- ranked second in the state -- in their first-ever matchup.

"I was blown away by Dylan's performance," Howell said of Schumacher at the regional. "He was just on the attack every single match, he never stopped attacking the whole time.

"That Dreher is a super-tough kid," Howell added.

"For Dylan to go out there and beat him the way he did -- I was just really impressed with Dylan's confidence, and also the ability to be just relentless the whole match."

Schumacher keeps it simple as far as strategy.

"If I just go out there, be more aggressive, that'll be more to my advantage," Schumacher said. "Get the takedown first, work on top."

Finishing on top would mean a lot -- and not just for Schumacher, but for the program as well, Howell said.

"It would mean it doesn't matter where you're from, what kind of school you're from -- we're a basketball school, traditionally, everybody knows that -- but it doesn't matter where you're from.

"It just matters what time you put in," he added.

Schumacher has put in the time; now he's reaping the rewards.

But way back when he was a freshman, and he was atop that medal stand at state for the first time, Schumacher never envisioned what was to come.

"I don't really remember, but I don't think I was thinking about anything like four-time," Schumacher said.

But here he is, just a few more days, a few more matches, from ranking among the elite of the elite. Four years. Four state titles.

"That would be really special to me and the coaches and my family," Schumacher said of a four-peat.

"It's been a long journey; hopefully I can go out and win it."