HERSHEY – Survive and advance, by any means necessary.

That was the mantra for wrestlers participating in the first day of competition at the PIAA Championships in Hershey.With 15 wrestlers from the Times News area taking the mat on Thursday, early returns showed that many were able to do just that with great success.Jim Thorpe’s Kevan Gentile (106) and Panther Valley’s Rian Shubeck (195) both advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class AA event, while several others are still alive in the consolation bracket.Gentile started his quest for a state title in impressive fashion, pinning Canton’s Dennis Route in his preliminary bout to move into tomorrow’s quarterfinals.“Winning the first match is always important, no matter what tournament it is,” said Jim Thorpe head coach Shawn Albert. “But being here, it’s even more important. “We can relax for the rest of day, and now this starts to shift back into a regular tournament. I’m very excited with how we started.”Gentile, who led 2-0 after the first period, came out on top during a scramble in the second and was able to put Route on his back before securing the pin.“I think I was just able to use my strength,” said Gentile, who will face Chestnut Ridge’s Aaron Burkett in the quarters. “I was happy that I was able to finish him.”Shubeck’s match was over before it started when the senior earned a forfeit win over Greenville’s Zach Miller.“It’s not the way I wanted it, but it’s still a spot in the quarterfinals,” said Shubeck, who will take on Elizabeth Forward’s Luke Fournier. “I’ve just got to come back and be ready to wrestle tomorrow.”Gentile and Shubeck were the only wrestlers from the Times News area to earn first round wins.Northern Lehigh’s Matt Schmall (132) and Ryan Farber (145), Northwestern’s Caleb Clymer (138) and Lehighton’s Connor Frey (182) all suffered narrow first round losses.Schmall dropped a 7-0 decision to Brockway’s Mason Lindenmuth, while Farber was on the short end of a 3-1 decision against Muncy’s Dakota Nixon.Clymer couldn’t generate any offense against Grove City’s Luke Walter, who won by a 3-1 decision.Despite trailing for much of the match, Frey was able to mount a late charge against South Fayette’s Brett Beltz that came up just short.The junior scored a reversal near the end of the third period, but it wasn’t enough, as he fell by a score of 7-6.All four will be in the second round consolation bracket, along with Northwestern’s Jarret White and Tamaqua’s Dylan Rynkiewicz, who came back from preliminary round losses to stay alive.White dispatched Warrior Run’s Eric Hunt, 11-2, while Rynkiewicz defeated Brandywine’s Hunter Gimbor, 5-2.While a total of eight are still alive in either the quarterfinals or consolation bracket, the tournament came to an early end for many on the first day of competition.Northern Lehigh’s Colten Rex (113), Northwestern’s Matt Peters (106) and Quentin Bernhard (120), Palmerton’s Zachary Graver (170) and Jared Mooney (182) and Panther Valley’s Darren Goida (126) and Ali Capobianco (138) were all eliminated after dropping two matches on the opening day of the event.Quarterfinals and second round consolation matches will take place tomorrow morning at 9:00 am.The Times News will have more detailed accounts from the PIAA Championships throughout the weekend.Also, follow the action on Twitter @ patmat01.