The first round of the WVSSAC state wrestling tournament took place Thursday evening as the University Hawks saw 10 of their 12 wrestlers through to Friday morning’s quarterfinal round and sit just four points back of Parkersburg South in the team standings.
UHS junior Pepper Martin (106), sophomore Kaden Nieman (113), sophomore Tyler Husk (120), junior Carter Pauley (132), junior Ryder Ludrosky (150), senior Jay McKenzie, senior Luca Felix (165), junior Jackson Pate (190), sophomore Ryder Hastings (215) and junior Brock Kehler (285) all advanced with victories on Thursday night in Huntington.
Sophomore Colton Gillespie (126) and sophomore Emerson Murphy (175) will begin Friday in the consolation brackets.
Seniors Gavin Garlits (138) and Owen Klimas (190) of Preston High also advanced in their brackets with strong victories. They were joined by junior Cole Turner (165) who earned a 19-9 major decision victory in the opening round.
Kilmas will now face off against the wrestler responsible for the one loss of his now 50-1 record this season, Brycon Arthur of Parkersburg South.
Freshmen Levi Jennings (120) and Hayden Lantz (132) dropped down to the consolation brackets for the next round along with senior Grayson Kuhn (285).
All four wrestlers from Morgantown, sophomore DeShawn Walcott (132), junior Carter Jones (144) and seniors Troy Andis (150) and Michael Burkhart (215) will begin Friday in the consolation rounds.
Championship quarterfinals and the opening consolation matches will begin in the first of two sessions on Friday at 11:30 a.m. at Marshall Health Network Arena in Huntington.
