By PATRICK MATSINKO

pmatsinko@tnonline.com

HERSHEY - Often times, opportunities are what you make of them.

When it comes to competing at the PIAA Championships, all wrestlers long to be able to compete for a state championship.

But those chances are limited, with only 14 Class AA gold medals available.

Sometimes it comes down to the next best thing, which is wrestling through the consolation bracket and pushing for a third place finish.

That's just what Northern Lehigh's Ryan Farber, Palmerton's Jared Mooney and Tamaqua's Tanner McHugh did Thursday, as the trio advanced to the fourth round of the consolation bracket while also securing a spot on the podium.

For McHugh, who topped Saucon Valley's Jonah Zych 3-2 at 126 pounds, the moment was one he had been dreaming of.

"I knew it would be a tough match, but my coaches and I knew we could get through it," McHugh said afterward. "I beat some of the best in the state. I know everyone here is good and everyone here is pretty even.

"But I just wanted it more. That was all I could feel. My childhood dreams came true. I've wanted this since I started wrestling."

After trailing early, Farber finished strong in posting a 9-4 decision over Moshannon Valley's Larry Brown at 160 pounds.

"I'm excited. There's definitely a little pressure off knowing that I'm already on the medal stand," Farber said. "I'm just going to take it one match at a time and try to battle back for third place."

Following a 6-0 loss to South Park's Jake Wentzel, a state champion last year at 152 pounds and 38-0 entering the tournament, Farber was quick to try to fix some of his mistakes from the quarterfinals.

"I know I just have to wrestle a full match, no matter who it is," he said. "I was hanging in there most of the match (against Wentzel) but there were just some little mistakes I have to correct to get back here next year and win it all."

Mooney has displayed tremendous growth in reaching his second straight state tournament.

And the junior showed his mettle in posting a 2-1 overtime victory against Mount Union's Adam Rigney at 182 pounds.

Despite the high-pressure situation, Mooney remained confident he could pick up the win.

"On bottom, I knew I could get out," he said. "And on top, I knew I could hold him down the whole time and that's what I went for.

"It feels pretty good getting a win, and getting a higher placing will be even better."

While Mooney, Farber and McHugh strive for more, the tournament came to an end for another trio of area wrestlers.

At 126 pounds, Northwestern's Quentin Bernhard dropped a 5-1 decision to Bedford's Jonathan Gabriel. Lehighton's Wyatt Clements came up short in overtime at 220, falling 2-1 to South Fayette's Rasaun Culberson, while Northern Lehigh's Cameron Kates dropped a 6-4 decision to Loyalsock's Crae McCracken at 285.

Action will resume tonight with fourth round consolations and semifinals at 7:30 p.m., which will be followed by fifth round consolation matches at 9:30 p.m.