HERSHEY – Erie County wrestlers had a big morning, going 5-2 in their preliminary round matches at Thursday’s PIAA Class AA wrestling tournament. They were among 15 District 10 that were victorious at the Giant Center.

Fort LeBoeuf and Harbor Creek each had two winners. The Bisons Steve Waite (135) pinned Zack Lee of Berlin Brothersvalley with 1 second left in their match. Waite led 7-1 at the time.

Mike Hull (152) rallied in the third period for a 6-5 victory over Southern Huntingdon’s Jason Foor. Hull got the decisive takedown with 32 seconds left.

Harbor Creek also advanced two wrestlers to the championship quarters. Joey Nowakowski (130) beat Boiling Springs’ Dakota Kuhn 10-8. Nowakowski took the lead for good at 7-5 on a single-leg takedown with 8 seconds left in the second period.

Chris Daniels (171) had little trouble in an 8-3 victory over Alex Gilchrist of Milton Hershey. Daniels was originally supposed to wrestle Dallas Brown of Delone Catholic, but the bracket was revamped Wednesday when Southeast Region champion Benjamin Clymer of Northwestern Lehigh was scratched from the tournament.

North East’s Kyle Eisaman (125) rounded out the quintet with a 6-5 victory over Eric Shedden of Canton. Eisaman broke a 4-all score on a reversal with 26 seconds left. He allowed Shedden an escape point with 3 seconds left, but didn’t allow Shedden final takedown attempt.

Matt Gregory, Eisaman’s teammate, and Seneca’s Jesse Heubel were eliminated with two losses.

Gregory bowed out at 119. He lost an 11-1 major decision to Southern Huntingdon’s Cody Myers and an 8-5 final to Weston Loxley of Wilson Area.

-- MIKE COPPER