HERSHEY - Josh Evans hasn't suffered many losses, let alone any losing streaks this season.

After dropping his semifinal and fourth round consolation matches in succession at the PIAA Wrestling Championships, however, that's the position Evans was in heading into his 138-pound fifth-place bout against Saegertown's Nick Monico.And while it wasn't the match he hoped to be participating in on Championship Saturday, the Palmerton senior certainly made the most of his opportunity, earning a hard fought 2-1 decision victory."It means a lot," Evans said of his triumph. "I just had a really bad day yesterday (Friday) and felt pretty bad last night."But I was able to refocus and go out there and get a win."The way Evans got that win was by no means easy, trailing 1-0 for most of the match before getting a late reversal to take a 2-1 lead.Evans then had to ride Monico out for almost the entire third period to secure the win.While no doubt satisfied with the victory, Palmerton coach Dave Lavin was more impressed with how Evans won the match."That was a situation where he had to find a way to win," Lavin said. "He's been really good on his feet all season and he's had a couple of moves that have really worked for him this year. But he wasn't able to go to any of them during the match and there were times that he had to initiate scrambles."After he got that reversal we knew he'd have to keep him (Monico) down, and the ride that he put on him for almost 1:20 was probably the best of his career. He deserved to win that match."Also deserving of his spot on Saturday's card was Panther Valley's Richard Nase, who battled through the tournament to earn a medal match at 195-pounds against United's Tyler Oliver.Unfortunately, Nase was unable to come away with a win against Oliver, dropping a 3-1 decision, finishing in eighth place.The senior was able to leave Hershey with a medal, however, something undoubtedly satisfying for Nase and those that helped him get to this point."It's great for Richard. He's a great kid," said Panther Valley assistant head coach Rich Bower. "He came here to have fun and he won two matches. His goal was to get here and he did it."Nase was quick to praise Bower and Panther Valley head coach Tim Robb for making it to Hershey, an honor that's never a sure thing."Without coach Bower and coach Robb I don't think there's us," Nase said, referring to teammates Lenny Ogozalek and Rian Shubeck, who also qualified for the tournament. "They're the ones that pushed us to get here and they're the ones that we're wrestling for. I go out on the mat and give it my all for them."It's fitting, then, that the final hurrah for Nase and Evans is in Hershey, "The Sweetest Place on Earth.""He's had some struggles the last few years, especially last year not making weight at districts," said Lavin. "But that was a mistake for both of us and we each learned from it."Getting a medal here was very important to him. And after it was guaranteed, he could have forfeited matches or stopped trying. But he didn't want to just get by, and I'm very proud of him for never giving up."After the disappointment of losing twice on Friday faded, making the best of his final match became all that mattered."I think it gives me some closure, because I really wanted to go out there and get a win," Evans said. "Coach (Lavin) made a really good point before the match when he told me, 'Even though you might not feel that way now, looking back on this it's going to matter (if you won or lost).'"I'm really glad that I went out there and wrestled hard today, because that wasn't me yesterday. Getting that win felt really good, and when I do look back, I'm going to know that I tried my hardest and that's the result that I got and I'm proud of it."Nase has also dealt with his share of adversity on and off the mat, making his position on the podium far from a certainty just a few years ago."I'm happy that I joined wrestling, I really am," Nase said when asked to sum up his career. "Sometimes I say that I wish I never did, but I can honestly say that I'm happy to be a Panther Valley wrestler and I am proud to be one."