It was an unbelievable start for several Times News area wrestlers Thursday at the PIAA Championships.

One they hope will lead to an unforgettable finish.

Four wrestlers — three girls and one boy — advanced to the quarterfinals on the opening day of action in Hershey.

Panther Valley’s Brenda Banks and Alisa Williams both posted falls in their first-round matches to reach the quarterfinals of the girls tournament.

Pleasant Valley’s Juliette Trout won by technical fall in her opening match to advance to the quarters.

Northwestern’s Luke Fugazzotto was equally impressive to move within a victory of reaching the semifinals, winning his only match Thursday with a major decision in the Class 2A boys tournament.

Palmerton’s Dillon Lombardi bounced back from a preliminary round loss with a win in his consolation match to stay alive, while the Tigers’ Nolan Koehler saw a stellar freshman campaign come to a close on the first day of competition.

Mahanoy Area’s Rory Dixon (Marian) dominated his preliminary round match before suffering a setback in the first round, and is still alive in the consolation bracket.

Panther pair

Banks, who has been a dominant force in the emerging landscape of girls wrestling over the past three years, left little doubt she is primed to continue her postseason success.

The junior secured a fall over Emily Dolan of Boiling Springs in 1:38 at 235 pounds Thursday.

While Banks is out to defend her PIAA title and win her third state championship overall, Williams is making her first trip to Hershey. She got acclimated quickly, pinning Angela Imorhoa in 5:09 at 170 pounds.

“It really was amazing to watch them both go out there and get pins today,” said Panthers’ head coach Kris Nalesnik.

“Just to see the hard work paying off is why we do this. For Alisa to go out there and beat a regional champion ... it’s amazing to see. Brenda did exactly as she prepared to do.”

Williams, who was fourth at the regional tournament, got a takedown late in the first period against Imorhoa and added another in the third period to build a 7-3 lead before earning the pin.

Banks won district and regional titles this postseason. The junior secured a takedown with 0:43 left in the first period against Dolan before getting the pin.

Williams will wrestle Central Mountain’s Kendall Wagner (26-7) in the quarters, while Banks (33-1) will take on Leah Nason (21-10) of Athens. Wagner was eighth at states last season.

Bear down

After a third-place finish at districts, Trout was dominant en route to her first regional title two weeks ago.

That momentum continued Thursday, as the sophomore dominated Emma Renninger of Athens with a 15-0 (4:40) technical fall at 112 pounds.

Trout, who qualified for states for the second consecutive year, got a takedown 10 seconds into the match, and added a total of eight back points in the first period to build a commanding 11-0 lead.

Trout (26-3) will wrestle Daylee Watson (6-1) of Conneaut in the quarterfinals. Watson was fourth at states last season.

Taking care of business

After advancing to the state final last season, Fugazzotto has put together a dominant junior season, winning his second district title and advancing to a regional final last week.

The junior controlled Line Mountain’s Kohen Shingara throughout their 172-pound first round match Thursday, getting a takedown in each period and keeping Shingara from his offense to claim a 10-0 major decision.

Fugazzotto (48-3) will take on Clearfield’s Brady Collins (41-1) in the quarterfinals. Collins was a district and regional champion and has 160 career wins. He was third at states last year, and fourth as a sophomore.

“I am looking forward to watch Luke wrestle tomorrow,” said Northwestern coach Joe Killar. “If he wrestles hard and with intensity, it should be a good result.”

Staying alive

Lombardi and Dixon both bounced back quickly after preliminary round losses Thursday morning.

Lombardi battled Tussey Mountain’s Ezra Masood in his 172-pound preliminary match, cutting the deficit to 4-3 in the second period. Masood held on, getting another takedown in the third period before prevailing 8-4.

The Bombers’ senior was resilient in his consolation match against Line Mountain’s Kohen Shingara, scoring a takedown in the first period and only allowing a second-period escape to claim a 4-1 win.

“He wrestled a good second match,” said Palmerton coach Justin Petersen. “We had an idea of what his opponent wanted to do, and he executed the game plan well. His conditioning played a vital role as well. He was still fresh in the third and was able to defend.”

Lombardi (42-10) will wrestle Rocco Reifer (Moshannon Valley), who is 44-8, in his next consolation match.

“We believe in his abilities. He can certainly get on the medal stand,” Petersen said. “(It) starts with his first one in the morning. He got the nerves out in his first match today and realizes it’s just wrestling. I expect him to come out confident tomorrow ready to roll.”

Dixon didn’t waste any time in his 160-pound preliminary bout, getting a takedown 10 seconds into his match with Burrell’s Ben Catullo, adding eight back points and another takedown in the first period to go ahead 14-1. The sophomore, who battled back from a knee injury and is making his first appearance at states, finished the match with another takedown in the second period to claim a 17-1 (3:49) technical fall.

His first round match came against Bishop McCort’s Melvin Miller, a sophomore who is a defending state champion, 46-1 this season and 103-4 in his career. Miller marched into the quarters with a 16-3 (1:27) technical fall.

Dixon (32-10) will wrestle Central Clarion’s Mason Gourley (40-5) in his second round consolation match Friday.

Tiger pride

Koehler, who was fifth at last week’s regional tournament, suffered a 10-4 loss to Burrell’s Calio Zanella in his 152-pound preliminary match, and dropped a 17-3 major decision to Line Mountain’s Dalton Schadel in his first round consolation match.

The freshman ends his season with a 30-19 record.

“I was happy with Nolan for competing hard today,” said Killar. “Even though he didn’t win either of his matches, he was perfectly capable of winning his first one, and it will be a good experience for next year, which I’m sure he’ll be on the podium soon enough.”

UP NEXT ... Action resumed at 8 a.m. this morning with Class 2A quarterfinals and second round consolations, followed by third round consolations at 10:30. The girls quarterfinals were scheduled for 11:45 a.m. with second round consolations at 1:15 p.m. The Class 2A, 3A and girls semifinals will be held Friday night at 7 p.m., followed by 2A and 3A fourth round consolations and girls third round consolations at 9.