Cole Franklin doesn't seemed awe by being the only wrestler on Emmaus's wrestling team to advance to the PIAA state championships.

The sophomore 138-pounder earned a bronze medal at last week's Northeast Regional 3A tournament after packing away Nazareth's Sage Karam with a fall in 2:33 during the consolation round of wrestling.

The do or die scenario of taking third at regionals usually isn't a comfortable situation, but Franklin seems right at home in his advancement.

"He basically came out of no-man's land as the fifth seed [at districts] and just put everything on the mat and got some big wins," said Emmaus head coach Jeff Arbushites. "He just made sure he wrestled his best every weekend and now he's going to Hershey."

Franklin (30-11) took fifth at districts and didn't even reach the bronze medal round just over a week ago heading into regionals as the lowest seed from District 11.

He lost to regional runner-up Josh Ortman of Parkland by a 15-0 technical fall at the districts semifinals, but came back to battle Ortman to a 10-7 defeat in the regional semis.

He then pounded his way over Delaware Valley's Frank Carrazza with a fall in 3:23 in his next consolation bout before sending the son of Liberty head coach Jody Karam on vacation for the season.

"It feels great to move on," Franklin said. "My self motivation is what really pushed me through."

While everyone else may have been surprised by Franklin's ability to qualify for states, he made it clear that he wasn't.

"I'm not surprised," he said. "I just take one match at a time and focus on what I have to do. It was definitely a relief to win that [consolation] match. It was a big win."

A big win that solidifies Arbushites one representative, as Jacob Younger (132) and Jansen Grabowski (145), both failed in their attempt to join Franklin at Hershey's Giant Center this weekend.

Franklin is slated to take on Josh Maruca (40-6) of Franklin Regional when state wrestling opens Thursday afternoon.

It's the first time Emmaus has had a competitor in the tournament in two years and Arbushites is excited about the opportunity it presents for his young wrestler.

"We've had a dry spell for a little bit and it's good to get back out there," he said. "Cole just has to let it fly. Enjoy the experience and take it one match at a time.

Don't look at a name, don't look at a district and don't look at a record. It's all about getting to the next round."