COLUMBUS — It was a so-so day for the Eastern District during Friday’s opening day of the 89th annual Ohio High School Athletic Association’s boys state wrestling tournament inside Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on the campus of Ohio State University.

Of the 35 local entrants, just over half won their first-round match and advanced to the championship quarterfinals on Saturday morning. Eighteen individuals – nine in Division III and a like number in Division II – will compete at 9:30 a.m. and 10:10, respectively, for a berth in the championship semifinals that will be wrestled at 5:30 p.m.

The remaining 17 lost their first-round bouts, but bounced back in the consolation bracket to win and remain alive for third-place.

DIVISION III

Union Local

lThe Jets led the ‘Small School’ division with three victors in sophomore Gamble Gossett (126) and juniors Gunnar Gossett (157) and Kolten Snyder (215). Gamble Gossett and Snyder recorded pins, while Gunnar Gossett won by major decision.

Junior Brody Perzanowski (190) remained alive with a pin in the consolation round after dropping his first bout.

The Jets are in eighth place with 14 points.

Barnesville

The Shamrocks, who are tied for sixth with 15.5 points, have two individuals left in the championship bracket as they went 2-5 in the first round. First cousins – senior Hines Ford (175) and junior Colt Carpenter (144) – are both alive in the championship bracket after a major decision and technical fall, respectively.

However, it wasn’t all gloom-and-doom for the Shamrocks as four of the five that lost in the first round bounced back with consolation round victories. Junior Easton Stephen (106) and freshmen Jaxon Aberegg (120), Bentley Stephen (126) and Ryder King (138) all prevailed in their consolation round bouts.

Martins Ferry

The Purple Riders have the Brothers Nixon – freshman Jayce (113) and sophomore Colton (138) – alive for state titles after they both won by pins in their first bouts.

However, senior Tayson Palmer (215) fell twice and was eliminated.

Martins Ferry is in 17th place with eight points.

Bridgeport

The Bulldogs lone entrant – junior Cole Weekley (126) went 1-1. He remains alive in the consolation bracket.

Buckeye Local

The Panthers’ Chase Milton (132) remained alive with a consolation round victory, but teammate Nathan Dentz (120) lost twice and was eliminated.

Shenandoah’s Devyn Kinkle (157) won his first match, while Caldwell’s Jesse Pemberton (126) is alive for a possible third-place finish.

DIVISION II

Beaver Local

The Beavers had four winners out of five as Jordan Bates (106), Robert Buchheit (150), Jake Hughes (157) and Evan Ours (165) all prevailed. Bates and Hughes collected pins, while Buchheit and Ours earned decisions.

John Burkett (113) dropped both of his matches and was eliminated.

Beaver Local is tied for sixth after Day 1 with 12 points.

Steubenville

Big Red went 2-2 as senior Cooper Smith (144) and junior Landon Crosier (175) moved on. Smith won by decision. Crosier advanced via injury default.

Seniors Cole Harvey (120) and Beau Hudson (285) lost, but remained alive with wins in the consolation bracket. Harvey posted a pin and Hudson a decision.

Steubenville sits in a tie for 10th with 10.

Cambridge

The Bobcats were a perfect 2-0 as sophomore Mason Hill (144) won by pin and junior Marshall Laishley (15) posted a 14-0 major decision.

East Liverpool

The Potters came away with one victory as junior Kyle Ingram (106) earned a decision.

Teammates Wyatt McCune (132) and Xavier Lara (190) lost twice and were eliminated.

Indian Creek

The Redskins’ Luke McMillion (285) fell in the first round, but stayed alive with a pin in his consolation match.

GIRLS

The fourth annual state tournament saw two of three locals advance to the championship quarterfinals Saturday at 12:50 p.m.

Barnesville freshman Ladyn Hines (115) made quick work of her first opponent with a 17-1 technical fall.

Steubenville’s two-time state champion, junior Talea Guntrum, ran her perfect record to 42-0 with a 54-second pin.

Big Red’s Jahmiah Bey (100) lost in the first round.