St. Marys’ Kyle Bullman (120) gets a pin over Ravenswood’s Jerry Rhodes in 2:26 during state tournament competition Thursday in Huntington. (Photo Provided)

HUNTINGTON — Defending Class AAA state champion University had a strong opening night here Thursday at the 78th annual West Virginia State wrestling tournament inside Marshall Health Network Arena as the Hawks amassed 41.5 points to take the early lead ahead of Woodrow Wilson (36), Parkersburg (33.5), Fairmont Senior (32) and Parkersburg South (25.5).

The Big Reds of head coach Matt Littleton won nine of their 13 matches via fall and that included 106-pound sophomore Seth Drennen opening the state tournament with a 15-second mat slapper versus Jefferson’s Evan Sarna.

While the Big Reds had wins by pin thanks to Stephen Myers (132), Dominic Way (138), Kayden McDonald (144), Lars Cooper (150), Cyler Marks (165) and 175-pounder Jesse Showalter, PHS also watched 113-pounder Austin Carrodus avenge an earlier season loss to St. Albans’ Alonzo Long thanks to an 8-2 decision, and 126-pound freshman Colston Skeen registered a technical fall in his first match at state.

Parkersburg South managed seven wins and five of those were by pin, which included senior 175-pounder Cole Middleton, who could square off against Showalter in tonight’s semifinals.

Coach Shaun Smith’s Patriots also had victories by fall thanks to Aaydin King (132), Reese Kelley (138), Asa Yost (157) and heavyweight Cole Middleton. Brycen Arthur breezed into the quarterfinals via technical fall while 126-pound teammate Coleton Hill won by decision.

Parkersburg South’s Brycen Arthur (215) earns an 18-2 technical fall victory over Musselman’s Brett Damico during state tournament competition Thursday in Huntington. (Photo Provided)

In the Class AA team race, Williamstown finished with 29 points and trails Point Pleasant’s 32.5, but the ‘Jackets are ahead of Oak Glen (28), Ripley (26) and fifth-place Independence (24).

Williamstown freshman Dutch Sandy improved to 31-1 following a first-period pin as the Yellowjackets went 8-3 and also received wins by fall from Aiden Meeks (113), Cole Smith (126), Wesley Freed (132) and 175-pounder Evan Turner. ‘Jacket heavyweight Thad Trent won by decision while teammates Nick Ellison (106) and Kipp Freed won via technical falls.

Ripley head coach Matt Smith’s Vikings sent eight to state and went unscathed with Terry Osborne (113), Ethan Kay (157), Cooper Durst (190) and heavyweight Carter Neal picking up wins by fall. The Vikings received a pair of major decisions from Mason Philyaw (144) and Garrett Brown (150) white 120-pounder TL Koontz and 126-pounder Kendrick Durst advanced by decision.

In the two-team race for supremacy in single-A, Cameron and Braxton County were knotted at 22 apiece while East Hardy was third with 11 points with Midland Trail and Greenbrier West checking in tied for fifth with eight points.

Braxton County opened up with a 6-2 effort as head man Sterling Beane watched Connor Tallamy (113), Sailor McKinney (126), Luke Kelly (132), Paxton Smith (150) and 175-pounder Eliah Moore record pins. Eagle 138-pounder Bradyn Morris advanced to the quarterfinals by decision.

In all, there were eight head-to-head matches on Thursday involving area wrestlers from the Mid-Ohio Valley.

At 120, Sandy’s pin came against Magnolia’s Dominic Harper and in the same class St. Marys freshman Kyle Bullman pinned Ravenswood’s Jerry Rhodes.

Kelly’s mat slapper for the Eagles came against St. Marys’ Ayden Powell.

At 144, Clay County’s Blake Coleman pinned Williamstown’s Tyler Newlon while at 150 Ripley’s Garrett Brown picked up a 12-1 major decision victory versus Gideon Winfrey of Tyler Consolidated.

The other head-to-head matches saw Kipp Freed collect his 17-0 tech against Doddridge County’s Noah Wekseth, Ripley’s Cooper Durst sticking Magnolia’s Eden Harlan at 190 and Wahama 215-pounder Jake Roberts losing via fall to Roane County’s Lane Watson.

Ravenswood won two of its seven matches with the triumphs coming via a decision by 132-pounder Linkin Andrick as well as a tech fall victory by 165-pounder Trenton Bush.

Aside from Watson, Roane County also had pins from Wattson Nichols (126) and Mack Webb (157). Raider 175-pound Wyatt Nichols stayed in the championship brackets after a win via decision.

Tyler Consolidated senior Branson Winfrey, who won via fall, was the only Silver Knight to taste victory in four chances. South Harrison also advanced a quartet, but only Maddox Lewis at 120 by fall and Zane Harlow at 165 by tech fall emerged victorious.

Also winning their opening matches at state were Doddridge County’s Trey McDonough (113, md) and Tristan Swiger (138, pin), Wahama’s Seth Ohlinger (190, pin), Gilmer County’s Dallas Goodrich (106, pin) and Calhoun County’s one-man team of sophomore Reese Schoolcraft, who improved to 43-7 following a 19-second pin of Independence’s Carter Dickens.

Action resumes at 11:30 a.m. today with the semifinals slated to get underway at 7:30 p.m.

78th annual W.Va. State wrestling tournament

TEAM SCORES

CLASS AAA (top 10): University 41.5, Woodrow Wilson 36, Parkersburg 33.5, Fairmont Senior 32, Parkersburg South 25.5, Cabell Midland 23, John Marshall 21.5, Huntington 20, Martinsburg 19, Washington 18

CLASS AA (top 10): Point Pleasant 32.5, Williamstown 29, Oak Glen 28, Ripley 26, Independence 24, Herbert Hoover 23, Keyser 20, East Fairmont 17, Roane County and Berkeley Springs 14

CLASS A (top 10): Cameron and Braxton County 22, East Hardy 11, Midland Trail and Greenbrier West 8, South Harrison 7.5, Doddridge County and Moorefield 7, Ravenswood 5.5, Gilmer County 4