This year’s PIAA wrestling team tournament is certainly out of the ordinary, but it’s one that Bethlehem Catholic is looking forward to despite the obstacles around it.

The Golden Hawks open the tourney on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. when they hit the road to face District 3 champion Central Dauphin (17-0) in the 3A quarterfinals.

With the Hawks, as well as every other team in the state participating in this week’s event, getting up to speed can be a slog through an already stretched out wrestling season.

Competing for the team title, after individual states wrapped up on March 13, presents its own set of challenges that head coach Jeff Karam has been navigating since districts.

“Obviously, it’s tough trying to keep everyone up to speed and not burn guys out,” Karam said. “We have guys that haven’t competed since districts was over [February 20]. That’s a long time off for guys in our lineup and trying to make sure everyone watches their weight. It can be dragging for some of these guys, but we’ve been smart with how we have them practicing.”

The transition to the team tournament, which is being held after the individual postseason this year due to COVID, should be easier for the Hawks than other teams, as they had seven wrestlers competing all the way to the state tournament in Hershey. Central Dauphin only had one representative in Hershey.

“To be fair, the west super region they [Central Dauphin] competed in was much harder than our east super region,” Karam said. “They are a really talented team.”

The winner of Wednesday’s match moves to Saturday’s final four at Cumberland Valley. It’s not the traditional allure of competing for a state title in Hershey, but it’s a trophy that everyone on the Becahi sidelines chases every year.

The Hawks have won the 3A title three times since 2015 and have returned home with a team medal every year since.

“Every year our goal is to come home with a team trophy,” Karam said. “Our seniors really want this. They’re driving it for our younger guys, but we all know it’s going to be really tough.”

Should Becahi advance, they’ll wrestle either Spring-Ford or Delaware Valley in Saturday’s 4 p.m. semifinals. The championship round is slated for 6 p.m. with District 7 champion Waynesburg the favorite to come out of the other bracket.