HERSHEY - If there’s one way to kickstart your second trip at the PIAA wrestling tournament, Northwestern’s Luke Fugazzotto got the full jolt of adrenaline Thursday morning at the Giant Center in Hershey.

Fugazzotto battled through six minutes of regulation against Fort Cherry’s Braedon Welsh to a 1-1 draw, but scored the winning takedown in sudden victory and converted it to a fall in 6:36 to hammer his way to Friday’s Class 2A 172-pound quarterfinals.

It was a stoic moment for the Northwestern sophomore, who hopes his fast start can catapult him in Hershey this weekend after failing to take home a medal a year ago.

“I was just looking for openings and trying to counter his moves to use to my advantage,” Fugazzotto said of the round of 16 matchup. “That was probably the best way to start a tournament.”

Fugazzotto used a cradle to put Welsh on his back in overtime and send the returning state place-winner packing into the consolation round.

He’ll now take on Hunter Hohman of Grove City in Friday’s quarterfinal round - a daunting task for the sophomore considering Hohman’s pedigree as a three-time district and regional champion as well as a state runner-up last year.

“I’m really confident right now,” Fugazzotto said. “I’m going to take it to Hohman in the quarters and hopefully get a semifinal berth.”

Tigers’ head coach Joe Killar was happy to see his lone boys state representative win, but also knows there’s plenty of room for improvement.

“He wrestled hard, but needs to get his hands moving on his feet more,” Killar said. “There needs to be more offense, but he was in good shape and didn’t get tired. It was a tough match, and it’s good to get the first win out of the way.”

Fugazzotto was the only Times News area wrestler to advance to the quarterfinals, as Lehighton’s duo of Jacob Ferguson (160) and Reese Balk (heavyweight) were eliminated on the first day of competition.

Ferguson lost to Honesdale’s Mason Avery 7-1 in the preliminaries and then got pinned by Chase Frameli of Jefferson Morgan in 2:28 in the consolation round.

Balk also exited the tourney by fall in 1:48 to Sawyer Robinson of Towanda in the consis. Balk jumped out to a 4-0 lead against Robinson, scoring a takedown and two nearfall points to open the first period, but a pair of reversals drew the match even and Robinson was able to work Balk to his back in the second period to end Lehighton’s run in Hershey.

Balk lost his opener to Central Columbia’s Aiden Hidlay 6-1.

Friday’s 2A quarterfinals were at 8 a.m. followed by third consolations at 10:30 a.m. Semifinals will take place at 7 p.m. and the fourth round of consolations cap off the night at 9 p.m.