HERSHEY – There’s nothing better than opening the biggest wrestling tournament of the year with a win.

That’s exactly what Palmerton’s Josh Evans and Panther Valley’s Richard Nase did in their preliminary bouts at the PIAA Wrestling Championships.Evans picked up a 4-3 decision win over Jeannette’s Gio Vonne Sanders while Nase scored a 3-1 win over Hyndman’s James Bennett. “It helps to get the nerves out of the way a little bit,” Evans said. “I’ve been here before but you’re still going to be a little bit nervous for that first match of any tournament, not just the state tournament. “Getting that out of the way and being able to continue on his huge.”Evans opened the scoring early, claiming a quick 4-2 lead after one that lasted through the second period.“It just helps when I can get to my offense on my feet,” said Evans. I thought I might have had a takedown near the end of the first period, but I didn’t get it.“It’s all right because I was still able to wrestle tough and hold on.”Sanders got a point for a stalling call on Evans near the end of the match, but it wasn’t enough to take the lead.With momentum on his side, Evans should be primed to perform once he takes the mat again tomorrow morning against Jefferson-Morgan’s Jason Miller in the quarterfinals.Nase and Bennett, the Southwest Regional champion, were scoreless after the first two periods before the Panther Valley senior moved ahead with an early third period escape.Nase padded his lead with a takedown to increase his advantage, and managed to hold Bennett off the board until allowing a late escape.While the win may have surprised some, Nase was prepared for the challenge that was ahead of him. “I knew he was good coming into the match, only having one loss this season,” Nase said. “But it’s states; everybody’s good. All the matches are even, and you just have to be prepared for that. “You don’t know what kind of matches he’s wrestled and he doesn’t know what kind of matches you’ve wrestled. A record doesn’t mean much here. It’s all about heart.”With Nase certainly not lacking desire, the senior will be looking for even more tomorrow in the quarterfinals. “I expect to have a good day, hopefully win one more match and get up on the podium,” Nase said. “I want to bring a medal back to Panther Valley.”Panther Valley’s Lenny Ogozalek and Rian Shubeck, Tamaqua’s Colin Mashack and Lehighton’s Connor Frey each opened their preliminary matches with close losses.Ogozalek dropped a 6-4 decision to Jamestown’s Faris Messai while Mashack suffered a 4-0 setback to Jefferson-Morgan’s John Demaskie.Ogozalek opened his bout with an early takedown to claim a 2-0 lead.            Messai scored late in the first to cut the defecit to 2-1 and took a 3-2 lead early in the second on a reversal.The Panthers’ senior responded quickly, opening the third with another takedown to claim a 4-3 lead. But Messai tied it seconds later and took a 6-4 lead on a takedown for the final tally.With the loss, Ogozalek will move to the consolation bracket where he will face Central Columbia’s Lewis Williams.  Mashack ran into Jefferson-Morgan’s John Demaske, Southwest Regional champ who entered with a 40-0 mark.Demaske controlled the match from the outset, scoring three near fall points near the end of the second period to take an early lead.The senior scored again near the end of the bout for the final tally and never let Mashack get to his offense.The Blue Raider senior will look to bounce back later today in the consolation bracket, taking on Charles Johnson of Wyoming Area.Frey lost by fall in 2:57 to Saegertown’s Dylan Reynolds, the Northwest Regional champion, while Shubeck lost to Avella’s Jake Temple by a 16-1 (4:00) technical fall.Frey will face Lucas Shaheen of Montoursville in the consolation round while Shubeck will take on Connor Overman of Conneaut Area.