WEST LAWN - Survive and advance.

That was the motto for all wrestlers on the first night of the Class AA Southeast Regional wrestling tournament.And by all accounts, the 10 TIMES NEWS area grapplers involved were successful in achieving that goal.Jim Thorpe's Kevan Gentile (106), Tamaqua's Colin Mashack (126) and Palmerton's Josh Evans all won their first two matches to advance to today's semifinals.Gentile, fourth at last week's District 11 tournament, was impressive in his opening bouts, picking up both wins by fall."I think the experience he gained last week (at districts) has prepared him for this," said Jim Thorpe coach Shawn Albert. "He's been wrestling his whole life, but now he's putting it all together."The final piece for the sophomore would be a trip to next week's PIAA Championships in Hershey. But in order to do that, Gentile first has to get by district champ Sammy Hepler of Tri-Valley."I expect him to wrestle very well," Albert said of the matchup. "We know it's not going to be easy, but I think he's ready for this."Mashack, too is ready for this moment.After not being able to wrestle in the tournament a year ago, the senior started strong on the opening night.Mashack will now fact Pius X's Dante Albanese, who defeated him in last week's district semifinals."He used his strength against me last time," Mashack said of the first matchup. 'I'm just going to be more conservative and try to not tie up as much."I'm just going to be more prepared this time. I got thrown right off the whistle last time so I'm just going to make sure that doesn't happen again."Evans, also unable to participate last season, will be facing District 3 champion Jeffrey Inman of Annville Cleona in the semis.After coming up short in last week's district championship, Evans started slowly with a 7-5 decision win over Wyomissing's Angel Canela in the first round.But the senior found his groove quickly in the quarterfinals, earning a technical fall over Arch Bishop Carroll's Adam Forman to reach the semis."I thought I did all right tonight," Evans said of his performance. "I didn't really have a sense of urgency in my first match and I maybe didn't take it as seriously as I should have."But in my second match, I got it into gear and got a good win. Hopefully, I can carry that momentum into tomorrow. I know he's (Inman) a tough kid, but if I can stick to my offense, I should be all right."Evans' teammate, Zachary Graver, is one of seven TIMES NEWS wrestlers that are still alive in the consolation bracket.Graver, a state qualifier last year, dropped his opening bout against Wyomissing's Jarred Hardinger.But the junior bounced back a narrow 6-3 win against Northern Lebanon's Evan Daub in the first round of the consolation bracket.Like Evans, Mashack will also have a teammate still alive in Dylan Rynkiewicz, who will face Catasauqua's Jacob Rusnock for the second straight week."He's a solid kid; he's a gamer," Tamaqua coach Jon Mashack said of Rusnock. "He's certainly not out here because he's bad."Style matchups matter a lot. And Dylan, on top, is extremely tough for anyone underneath him. He's going to beat them both physically and mentally."Panther Valley will send have three in the consolation bracket.Lenny Ogozalek (113), Richard Nase (195) and Rian Shubeck (220) were all victorious in their first round of consolation matches to stay alive in the tournament.Two teams will have one representative apiece, but each will have the same chance to advance that all others do.Northwestern's Quentin Bernhard won his opening bout in convincing fashion, but suffered a 4-3 setback to Trinity's Chase Drawbaugh in his quarterfinal match.The sophomore came back and picked up a 7-0 decision win over Lancaster Catholic's Mark Goldbach in his consolation bout, a win that gave him considerable confidence heading into today."I know I'm right up there with everyone I wrestle," Bernhard said. "I still feel like if I keep going and keep working hard that I can win a few more matches and maybe get to states."Frey, a regional qualifier last season, picked up a dominating 8-1 decision win over Boiling Springs' Nate Gouhin in his first match.But the sophomore ran into 39-0 Stephen Loiseau of Lancaster Catholic in his second bout, a matchup that was too much to overcome.Frey rebounded in the consolation bracket, picking up a first period pin over New Hope Solebury's Chris Moretti to move on.With the loss out of the way, Frey has his sights set on finishing strong."I just have to win two more to reach my next goal," Frey said, referencing the qualifying standard for states. "Hopefully I can spend my birthday in Hershey."Action will resume today at 9:45 a.m. Wilson West Lawn High School with the second round of consolation matches.CLASS AA REGIONALRESULTS OF TIMES NEWS WRESTLERSFirst Round106 - Kevan Gentile (Jim Thorpe) pinned Max Lupisella (New Hope Solebury) in 3:05.113 - Quentin Bernhard (Northwestern) pinned Artemio Rodriguez (Bishop McDevitt 1) in :32.; Lenny Ogozalek (Panther Valley) dec. Jalin Hankerson (Bishop McDevitt 3), 4-2.126 - Colin Mashack (Tamaqua) maj. dec. John Lobeck (Lancaster Catholic), 15-4.132 - Scott Cooper (Biglerville) dec. Dylan Rynkiewicz (Tamaqua), 7-6.138 - Josh Evans (Palmerton) dec. Angel Canela (Wyomissing), 7-5.160 - Jarred Hardinger (Wyomissing) dec. Zachary Graver (Palmerton), 5-4.182 - Connor Frey (Lehighton) dec. Nate Gouhin (Boiling Springs), 8-1.195 - Richard Nase (Panther Valley) maj. dec. Matt Guilday (Littlestown), 12-1.220 - Rian Shubeck (Panther Valley) dec. Matt Vines (Northern Lebanon), 7-6.Quarterfinals106 - Kevan Gentile (Jim Thorpe) pinned Austin Clabaugh (Bermudian Springs) in 5:22.113 - Chase Drawbaugh (Trinity) dec. Quentin Bernhard (Northwestern), 4-3.; Coy Campbell (Upper Dauphin) maj. dec. Lenny Ogozalek (Panther Valley), 11-2.126 - Colin Mashack (Tamaqua) dec. Josh Giorgio (Schuylkill Valley), 5-0.138 - Josh Evans (Palmerton) tech. fall Nicholas Forman (Arch Bishop Carroll), 17-1 (3:02).182 - Stephen Loiseau (Lancaster Catholic) tech. fall Connor Frey (Lehighton), 16-1 (2:26).195 - Tristan Sponseller (Bermudian Springs) pinned Richard Nase (Panther Valley) in 1:00.220 - Sam McCollum (Bermudian Springs) dec. Rian Shubeck (Panther Valley), 3-2 (UTB)First Round Consolations113 - Quentin Bernhard (Northwestern) dec. Mark Goldbach (Lancaster Catholic), 7-0.; Lenny Ogozalek (Panther Valley) maj. dec. Jimmy McGuian (Lower Moreland), 13-4.132 - Dylan Rynkiewicz (Tamaqua) dec. Chris Kummerer (Hamburg), 6-5.160 - Zachary Graver (Palmerton) dec. Evan Daub (Northern Lebanon), 6-3.182 - Connor Frey (Lehighton) pinned Chris Moretti (New Hope Solebury) in :25.195 - Richard Nase (Panther Valley) pinned Luke Genetti (Pope John Paul II) in 1:08.220 - Rian Shubeck (Panther Valley) maj. dec. Tobias Mintzmeyer (New Hope Solebury), 10-2.