HERSHEY — The PIAA Wrestling Championships never fail to demonstrate what a huge challenge it is to bring home a gold medal.

Six Franklin County wrestlers found that out the hard way on Thursday, the first of three days for the wrestling tournament at Giant Center — all six were defeated in their first bout of the day.

Jessica Li

Of those six, three were able to win a consolation bout Thursday, so they are still alive for a medal. The other three fell twice and were eliminated.

Jessica Li of Chambersburg had one of the most surprising bouts of the day. Wrestling at 106 pounds, the sophomore was pinned by Finley Fourspring of Corry in the first round.

In her consolation match vs. Lillie Maynard of Towanda, Li trailed 3-1 after one period. In the second, Maynard escaped, then put Li in a headlock for a takedown and four back points to go up 11-1. But Li was able to reverse Maynard and turned her for a pin in 2:39.

Trojan coach Josh Sherman said, “Jess fought off the headlock, reversed the girl, put in a half and stacked her for the pin. The bout came down to two match-ending positions and in each of them — defensively, and then offensively — Jess wanted it more.”

Li (24-6) will wrestle a quarterfinal loser Friday afternoon.

Shippensburg’s Olivia Kearns had a rough first period in the first round against Brashear’s Tamara Humphries and was taken down three times for a 9-2 deficit. Kearns secured a takedown in the second to close to within 9-5, but a reversal by Humphries to start the third led to a 14-6 major decision.

Kearns came back to pin Saige Rittenhouse of Parkland in 2:13 and will wrestle Friday.

Chambersburg qualified three boys for the Class 3A event and all went down to defeat in the preliminary round. Zach Sherman (127) was edged 4-3 by Steven Wiechecki of Conestoga (a third-period takedown was the difference), Ashton Romberger got stuck in 2:45 by Brady Colville of Delaware Valley at 139, and Frank Barrientos was pinned in 1:05 by Kyle Draina of Crestwood at 285.

In the first round of consolations, Romberger was the only winner. He jumped ahead of South Fayette’s Talan Mizenko 6-1, and led 6-2 after two. Mizenko got within 7-5, but Romberger closed with an escape and takedown.

Sherman gave  up three takedowns in a 9-4 defeat to Jackson Orrell of Red Lion, and Barrientos was knocked out 10-4 by Jeff Gessner of Council Rock South. Sherman, who will wrestle at Pitt-Johnstown next year, finished his senior season with a 34-10 record. Barrientos, a junior, was 39-11.

Trojan coach Matt Mentzer said, “The kids competed well against the best wrestling in the country. I was watching the names in the consolation rounds and there were a lot of talented kids there.

“Frank will be back and better next year. Sherm got to finish an excellent career at Giant Center. I’m absolutely nothing but proud of these young men.”

Waynesboro sophomore Anthony Ausherman couldn’t get his offense going. He was blanked 5-0 by John Boggs of St. Joseph’s Prep in the first round, and lost 12-1 to Brayden Collins of Canon-McMillan in the consolations. He finished with a 28-12 record.