COLUMBUS — Ashland coach Tommy Bauer couldn’t have scripted a better opening day to the state wrestling tournament.

Four of the five qualifying Arrows won their opening round matches Friday afternoon to reach Saturday morning’s quarterfinals and the fifth stayed alive with a consolation bracket victory later in the day.

Below are photos from the opening day of the state wrestling tournament. (Credit: Curt Conrad and Tom Theodore)

“It’s pretty cool,” Bauer said shortly after 215-pounder Budda Martin punched his ticket to the quarterfinals. “I think they exceeded our expectations for the first round.”

Bauer’s son, Mason, didn’t waste any time in his opener at 138 pounds. He pinned Cincinnati Anderson’s Joe Schnurstein in 1:18 of the first period.

“I came out ready to wrestle and got it done as fast as I could,” said Bauer, who improved to 49-2. “I just know I belong here and I feel I can scrap with anybody.”

Guardian Miller improved to 46-4 with a 21-6 tech fall of Avon Lake’s Brayden Patterson at 150.

The surprise of the day came at 165, where Talon Boyd’s opponent, Dublin Coffman’s Grayson Woodcock had to forfeit because of injury. Woodcock won a district title at Hilliard Davidson last week.

“He got a medical forfeit into the quarterfinals,” Tommy Bauer said. “It was a little bit of a surprise there, but we’ll take the advancement.”

Martin had his hands full with Olentangy Liberty’s Jackson Lane for the first two periods before pulling away in the third for a comfortable 15-6 major decision.

“Nerves were getting to me,” said Martin, who improved to 46-6. “I had a better mindset coming out (in the third period). I came out ready to go and got it done.”

Max Ohl had a tough draw at 120. He fell to returning state placer Colin Broxterman of Cincinnati Elder in the opening round, but bounced back with a 7-0 victory in his consolation bracket match.

On A Mission

Crestview’s Naomi Gearheart and Mapleton’s Skylar Hopstetter both advance to the quarterfinals in overwhelming fashion.

Gearheart recorded a first-period pin of Keystone’s Sage O’Brien at 145, while Hopstetter cruised to an 11-0 major decision over Olentangy Orange’s Chloe Tompkins.

Crestview 138-pounder Brayden Parrigan dropped a pair of matches Friday, as did Mapleton 285-pounder Lukus Jenkins.