The Schuylkill League Tournament is an event many wrestlers have marked on their calendar, and for good reason.

With the postseason on the horizon, the annual all-league event serves as a great simulation for what wrestlers are going to face at the end of the year.And if Friday night was any indication, there might be plenty for area grapplers to look forward to.A total of 11 wrestlers from the Times News area advanced to Saturday's semifinals after the first night of competition at Jim Thorpe Area High School, with many more still alive in the consolation bracket.Lehighton, Panther Valley and Tamaqua each had three wrestlers reach the semis, while the host Olympians advanced two."I thought we had a pretty good first day," said Indians' head coach Floyd Brown. "I was hoping we would get one or two more into the semis, but we got three, which is good. And we have almost all of our guys (eight) coming back in the consi round."So a lot of our guys will get another match, and get the whole two-day experience, and more wrestling, which is all good."Lehighton's Nate Kemmerer (120), Tyler Schock (132) and Cody Scherer (152) moved into the semis in impressive fashion, as all pinned in the quarterfinals.Kemmerer blasted Halifax's Dawson Trutt in 0:28, Schock cruised past Pine Grove's Gavin Harris in 1:46 and Scherer dispatched Williams Valley's Braxton Boyer in 0:36."I just knew I had to come into the match strong," said Schock, who showed no signs of slowing down after dropping from 138 pounds to 132 for the tournament."It's important (to be aggressive) because the kid who pushes the action will win because he's just constantly going at him and tiring him out. If you're wearing him down on top and bottom, you should come out on top then, because you're pushing the action."Schock wasn't the only one who wanted to force the action.Panther Valley's Derek Beckham used an offensive-minded strategy to claim a 7-4 decision against Lehighton's Chris Whiteman in the 145 pound semifinals."Coming in, I knew it was going to be a tough match," said Beckham. "I knew it was going to be a battle, and I just knew I had to work every period, and just get better every period."I usually like to set goals. I'm not in there worrying about winning or losing. I'll set a goal like wanting to get a takedown, or a certain amount of takedowns in the first period and then so many (takedowns) in the second period. So that's how I like to do it, and I won."In addition to Beckham, Tanner Kennedy (152) and Hunter Kennedy also made it through to the semis. Tanner Kennedy pinned Halifax's Matt Hartman in 1:35 in the quarters, while Hunter Kennedy scored a tech. fall (17-2, 4:50) over Pottsville's Wyatt Kahler to move on.Tamaqua's Tanner McHugh, the No.2 seed at 138 pounds, was measured though no less focused Friday night."Seeding is important, but it's definitely one match at a time," he said. "Watching other people wrestle … you can't look too far in. You just have to take it one match at a time."I'm just focused on the semifinals right now, winning that, and if it's Sammy, then we'll look at Sammy and go out at him there."The Sammy that McHugh is referring to Tri-Valley's Sammy Hepler, the top seed at 138 who sits on the other side of the bracket, with a possible showdown between the two former state medalists looming in the finals.McHugh took care of business in his quarterfinal match, pinning Pottsville's Dalton Sanchez in 1:41.Joining McHugh in the semis will be Pierce Demetriades (113) and Bronson Strouse (220).The freshmen were impressive Friday, with Demitriades pinning North Schuylkill's Damien Deihm in 1:41 in the prelims before getting a 12-4 major over Halifax's Justin Brady in the quarters.Strouse had a bye in the prelims and picked up a big 4-3 (UTB) win over Pine Grove's Zach Leffler in the quarters.Demetriades will have company in the 113-pound semifinals, though on the other side of the bracket.Jim Thorpe's John Newhall continued a stellar season with a 0:35 pin against Lehighton's Lucas Sangiuliano to advance to the 113-pound semis."I just wanted to win my first one, and make it to the next day and play it by ear," said Newhall. "I knew I already beat him (Sangiuliano), so I just wanted to beat him and come back tomorrow and do my best."Now, Newhall will see Pottsville's Nick Onea in the semis. Onea was Newhall's (14-5) last loss."I can stay on my toes more and shoot more," Newhall said of his strategy going against Onea. "He plays aggressive, so I'll just be aggressive back."Cameron Condly also made it into the semifinals for the Olympians. Condly pinned Lehighton's Grant Wetzel in 3:42 to move on.STILL ALIVE … The following wrestlers are still alive in the consolation bracket:Jim Thorpe - Austin Williams (170), Ethan Mordaunt (195), Steven Counterman (220).Lehighton - Kevin Madea (106), Lucas Sangiuliano (113), Logan Pagotto (126), Chris Whiteman (145), Grant Wetzel (160), Dylan Schock (170), Brett Gasker (220), Will Smith (285).Panther Valley - Kyle Rusnak (132), Chris Walkinshaw (285).Tamaqua - Caleb Sell (106), Joey Minehan (120), Brandon Mader (126), Brandon Eberts (152).TEAM SCORES … Pottsville led the way in the team standings after the first night with 86 points. Blue Mountain was second with 80 points, and Tri-Valley and Upper Dauphin were tied for third with 61.5 points. Lehighton was fifth with 49 points; Tamaqua ninth with 41 points; Panther Valley 12th with 38.5 points; and Jim Thorpe 13th with 34 points.BACK AGAIN … Action will resume Saturday at 9 a.m. with the JV tournament. The championship semifinals will follow at noon. The championship finals and consolation finals (third and fifth place) will be held at 5 p.m.