HUNTINGTON — Following Thursday’s opening session of the 79th annual West Virginia state wrestling tournament, two-time defending state champion University leads Parkersburg, 47-39.5, in Division I while Ripley sits atop the Division II team race with 38 points.

Last year’s triple-A state runner-up Parkersburg, which qualified its entire team, finished 10-4 with nine pins. Parkersburg South, which sits in fifth place with 27 points and is behind Cabell Midland (37.5) and Huntington (32.5), went 7-4 and had five wins by fall.

Following the Vikings, who went 10-1 with nine mat slappers, in the DII team scoring race are Independence (27), Keyser (25.5), Williamstown (23) and Herbert Hoover (22). The Yellowjackets had a 7-2 showing with five pins.

The Big Reds had a pair of 9-second pins thanks to 106-pounder Aiden Linko and 138-pounder Stephen Myers. Also winning by fall for PHS were Austin Carrodus (113), CJ Carrodus (126), Colston Skeen (144), Kayden McDonald (150), Dominic Way (157), Parker Woods (165) and Tyreke Glover (175), while 120-pounder Seth Drennen won via a tech fall.

Parkersburg South received its fastest pin by 190-pounder Jesse Adams, who needed 30 seconds to secure his win as the senior eyes a fourth state crown. Also winning by fall for the Patriots were Aaydin King (138), Asa Yost (150), Nathan Murphy (165) and 215-pounder Justice Drain. Both Jordan Dearth at 120 and Coleton Hill at 132 remained in the championship bracket after winning by tech fall.

Ripley, which is seeking the first state mat crown in school history, received a win by decision from 157-pounder Jace Starcher. Also advancing to the state quarterfinals by fall for the Vikings were Enoch Quesenberry (106), James Starcher (113), Terry Osborne (120), Austin Modrzakowski (126), Kendrick Durst (132), Lars Cooper (138), Carter Price (150), Cody Lawrence (215) and heavyweight Carter Neal.

Williamstown’s five pins were recorded by Landon Miller (120), Cole Smith (132), Dutch Sandy (138), Jake Junkins (144) and 175-pounder Evan Turner, who watched fellow senior Dylan Pucella advance via a decision at 150. ‘Jacket Wesley Freed also won by decision at 157.

There were numerous head-to-head showdowns from the area and that included Sandy’s pin of Poca’s Jace Britton, Cooper’s pin of Ritchie County’s Cash Mossor and Lawrence’s win by fall versus Roane County’s Mark Callow.

Doddridge County’s Jesse Cayton improved to 41-2 after handing Braxton County 113-pounder Jeremiah Morrison an 11-3 major decision setback, while 132-pound teammate Trey McDonough had a 22-5 tech fall versus Braxton County’s Sean Foster.

At 120, Wirt County’s Matt Balis advanced by pinning Calhoun County’s Lance Grogg with 7 seconds left in the first period, while Ravenswood’s Levi Blackhurst won by fall with 22 seconds left in his match against Tyler Consolidated’s Wesley Kelly.

Ravenswood’s Johnny Heath pinned St. Marys’ Ayden Powell in 3:08 at 138 and 157-pound teammate Atreya Copen doubled up Bulldog Noah Wekseth, 6-3.

Other area head-to-head results had Braxton County heavyweight Joel Sigman picking up a 7-2 decision versus St. Marys’ Alex Baltzar. The Eagles also had 144-pounder Bradyn Morris secure a 6-2 decision against Calhoun County’s Ezra Anderson as well as 126-pound teammate Colton Putnam winning by a fall in the third period versus Poca’s Beau Clark.

Clay County 144-pound junior Blake Coleman improved to 52-1 after pinning Doddridge County’s Noah Bodkins in the first period. Roane County 175-pound senior Wyatt Nichols upped his mark to 49-3 after winning by fall against Panther Eddy Metheney.

Action resumes at 11:30 a.m. today inside the Marshall Health Network Arena with the third session set to get underway at 7:30 p.m.