Northern Bedford’s Kaylee Ebersole and Raegan Snider certainly made a name for themselves in last year’s fist PIAA-sanctioned girls state tournament in Hershey.

Snider finished third at 155 at the PIAA Championships, while Ebersole placed sixth at 106.

It’s highly possible both could climb higher on the medals stand in this year’s state tournament, which begins for the girls at 2 p.m. on Thursday in the Giant Center.

Their success will not only depend on how well they wrestle but also how healthy they are.

Snider, a senior, had to default her Central Regional Tournament championship bout at 155 against Chestnut Ridge rival Juliet Alt because of illness. Ebersole, a junior, was also a little ill, but that didn’t stop her from capturing the 100-pound title.

“I think they’re doing better,” Northern Bedford coach Zach Clark said on Tuesday. “They seemed upbeat and ready to go yesterday at practice. They had Sunday to rest a little bit, and I think it did them some good.

“As a team, we do a lot of praying. I know God is watching over all of them.”

Joining Ebersole and Snider on the trip is Central Regional third-placer Ava Helsel (106), who’s making her first appearance in Hershey as a senior.

Ebersole (22-6), who is coming off of her second regional title, is ranked second by PA Power Wrestling and is the top seed at 100 pounds.

She has a tough opening bout against Parkland’s returning state fourth-placer Ella Hesener (27-6), who finished fourth in the Northeast Regional. Northern York’s top-ranked freshman Makayla Smith (34-0) is in the No. 3 slot in the opposite bracket.

Ebersole could wrestle Quakertown’s Ashley Stank (32-6) in the semifinals. She beat Stank, 8-3, in the Coalcracker finals this season.

“She’s excited,” Clark said. “I think she can do some really great things down there. Where she’s at in the bracket I’m happy with also. If everything goes right, I think she’s got a great shot.”

The second-ranked Snider (27-5) opens the tournament with Norwin’s ninth-ranked West Regional third-placer Karsyn Champion (33-6). Snider might have to tangle with Northampton’s top-seeded and fourth-ranked Mylea Lambert (28-2) in the semifinals.

Alt (27-2) is in the opposite bracket and seeded second. So, it’s possible Alt and Snider could wrestle for a fourth time. Snider rode Alt out in the ultimate tiebreaker in the District 5-6-9 Tournament finals.

“I’m really excited for that match hopefully,” Clark said. “I really like where we’re placed in the bracket. I think she has a really good shot at getting back to the finals. It’s always just a good match between those two. They always make it close and exciting. If it comes down to them, it should be pretty good final.”

Chestnut Ridge 148-pound sophomore Violette Lasure (28-0) is a heavy favorite to win her second title. Bedford’s Mylah Steinbuch (235) is a returning fifth-placer.

First-round winners will be done for the day. Losers will wrestle a consolation round at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

Wrestling resumes at 11:45 a.m. on Friday with the quarterfinals. The second round of consolations will follow. The semifinals are at 7 p.m. Thursday, and a third round of consolations will follow.

The consolation semifinals are at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, and in a change for girls and boys, third, fifth and seventh-place bouts follow at 11:30 a.m. and won’t be wrestled at the same time as the championship finals. They’re scheduled for 4 p.m.

Helsel (17-11), who finished third at the regional, is in a loaded weight class. Helsel, whose preseason goal was to win one bout, opens with Easton’s Morgan Hand (30-3).

“I think she can do really well,” Clark said. “She already far-exceeded her goals. I’m just excited to see her go out and wrestle, and whatever the outcome is I just hope she has fun and enjoys it.”

The girls got an excellent reception from the crowd in Hershey last season. That will probably be no different this year.

“I’m excited for the girls to go and to prove to themselves (this is why) they’ve worked so hard for all year,” Clark said. “They’re trying to earn that step up on the podium and bring home some hardware.”