HERSHEY – Everyone feels it.

The nerves. The Pressure. The adrenaline.All the sensations that come with competing at the PIAA Wrestling Championships are on full display during the first day of the tournament.The best way to combat the rush of emotion that comes with performing on the sport’s biggest stage in Hershey? Walk onto the mat at the Giant Center and pick up a win.Northwestern’s Quentin Bernhard and Caleb Clymer, Tamaqua’s Tanner McHugh, Northern Lehigh’s Matt Schmall and CJ Young, and Lehighton’s Wyatt Clements got their tournaments off to a good start, posting preliminary round victories in the Class AA event Thursday morning.Bernhard started his journey in style, pinning Mount Pleasant’s Austin Mihalchik in 1:36 at 126 pounds.“It feels great. There’s definitely a lot of excitement going,” Bernhard said.The senior took control of the match quickly, scoring a takedown in the first 30 seconds before finishing the bout.Despite facing an opponent that featured a different style than Bernhard was used to, it didn’t take him long to figure it out.“I’ve wrestled a few kids that were a little bit taller and lankier,” he said. “Sometimes that’s a little bit of a different feel, especially when you tie up.“But I just tried to watch his step and take a shot at the right time.”Clymer also cruised into the first round, securing a 7-2 decision over Central Cambria’s Tom Opdenhoff at 145 pounds.McHugh held a seemingly comfortable 5-1 lead over Warrior Run’s Jeremy Hanford heading to the third period of their 126-pound preliminary bout.But Hanford scored an escape and a takedown to cut it to 5-4 before McHugh sealed the win with another escape to earn a 6-4 decision.“It was my first match, and it was a little sloppy; there’s a lot of pressure out there,” McHugh said. “But to be able to take home my first win feels pretty awesome.”Tied at 1-1 heading to the third period, Schmall made good on one of his only scoring opportunities, securing a takedown and holding on for a 3-2 decision.“It definitely gives me some confidence,” Schmall said. “Knowing that I only had one decent shot at a takedown the whole time, and I got it. He (Swank) was in deep at least four times, but I was able to funk my way out of it.“So that’s a good feeling, to know that I didn’t exactly need my offense to win the match. I can let guys get in on one leg and funk my way out of it. I’m comfortable with that.”The Bulldogs’ Young beat Berlin Bros. Storm McDonald 6-2 at 170 pounds.Lehighton’s Clements closed out preliminary round action for area wrestlers with a 5-1 overtime victory over Brad Hucik of Burgettstown at 220 pounds.“It feels really good,” said Clements. “It feels great coming to states with my teammates, Connor (Frey) and Tegan (Durishin), who is also here for the first time. Tegan and I made it a point in practice that we wanted to make it as far as possible at states, and for me to get past this first match is just incredible. I only hope that Tegan can do the same in the first round.”Panther Valley’s Ali Capobianco was the only preliminary round loser among area wrestlers as he fell 12-8 to Jeannatte’s GioVonne Sanders at 152-pounds.Action continues later this morning with first round matches, followed by first round consolations at 1:15 p.m.