Through Day 1, three Bald Eagle wrestlers — Tanner Guenot (121 pounds), Caden Judice (133) and Caleb Close (189) — left the venue without a loss to advance to the quarterfinals. And the fourth, first-timer Dawson Lomison, bounced back from an opening defeat to keep his run alive another round.

It was a day that reflected the strengths they’ve displayed through the postseason, particularly the recent upticks in production from its sophomore standouts.

“We work very hard every day,” said Judice. “It’s great to see guys on my team winning. Everybody’s doing well, so it’s nice to see the guys around you doing good.”

“They deserve every win they get,” emphasized Close. “It makes me happy to see them win.”

DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express Noah Doi of Camp Hill and Dawson Lomison of Bald Eagle Area wrestle during the first round of the PIAA Class AA championships on Thursday in Hershey.

Guenot, a sophomore making his second appearance, entered the tournament fresh off one of the biggest wins of his career, a 3-2 decision over two-time PIAA runner-up Dom Deputy in the Southwest Regional final.

“It definitely helped my confidence,” said Guenot. “But I’m trying not to reflect on it too much, just worried about the tournament that I’m in right now.”

In his first bout since his victory over the Chestnut Ridge great, he’d pick up where he left off in Altoona.

Off the rip, he’d secure a takedown before riding first-round opponent Dylan Bateman for much of the first period and working to get Bateman on his back. Then, when it seemed like his lead would stay at 3-0 heading into the second, one of those fall efforts paid off, giving him four additional back points of cushion.

From there, it was much of the same. The Eagle put together two five-point moves out of bottom in the second and third to score every last point in the 17-0, third-period tech fall. Every period featured a takedown and near fall, culminating in a strong start to his second PIAA run.

DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express Bald Eagle Area’s Caden Judice wins his match against Gage Evansof Towanda during the first round of the PIAA Class AA championships on Thursday in Hershey.

“I feel a lot better than I did last year and I came out, got a tech fall which is nice because I scored a lot more points than what I scored in the entire tournament last year in one match,” said Guenot, who’s hoping to build on a fifth-place medal from last year’s event. “So that was pretty nice to do. Makes me feel good about myself for my next match.”

Like his regional final matchup last Saturday, Guenot faces a grueling challenge to start Day 2, matching up with 2023 state champion and three-time medalist Gauge Botero (Faith Christian). Nonetheless, he’s proven capable in matchups of that nature and looks forward to the battle.

“I think it’ll be a good match, that’s what I’m looking forward to,” said Guenot on that matchup against Botero.

Judice and Close followed him up with bonus-point victories of their own, with Close securing his second career pin at the event against No. 13 Jayden Imler (Chestnut Ridge) and Judice posting a controlled 12-2 major decision against No. 22 Gage Evans (Towanda). Starting the second on top, Close worked an immediate pin after almost pulling one off in the first.

Both wrestlers, along with Guenot, feel good about his Day 1 success and are excited to be back in Hershey.

“It’s special, but I think I’m a little more sad about it since it’s my last time coming in here as a wrestler,” said Close. “Next time I come I’ll be buying tickets and watching with my family, so that’s pretty crazy to think about. It’s still pretty special and I’m just trying to enjoy the moment.”

Despite tough prospects awaiting the trio, taking it one match at a time is the mindset and none of them are fazed about what’s to come.

“I’ve been working on getting higher on the podium since the day states ended last year,” said Judice. “To get those guys, you’ve got to beat the guys in front of you. So, I’m just taking it one match at a time, and we’ll worry about them when we get there.”

And after falling in a hard-fought nailbiter to No. 5 Noah Doi (Camp Hill) by 5-4 decision, sophomore Dawson Lomison bounced back in a big way, controlling the pace against No. 11 Hector Mateo (Saucon Valley) in pursuit of keeping his run alive another day.

He’d rack up seven points through two periods before ultimately carrying an early third-period takedown into a pin. That fall marked the sophomore’s first career win at the event.