T-L Photo/KIM NORTH OAK GLEN’S Camden Barr looks to control the leg during his opening-round match at the 73rd annual WVSSAC State Wrestling Tournament. Barr won by fall.

HUNTINGTON — Nine Ohio Valley Athletic Conference wrestlers advanced to the quarterfinals of the 73rd annual West Virginia Class A-AA state tournament Thursday night inside Big Sandy Super Store Arena.

Oak Glen led the local contingent with five winners on opening night. Weir had two advance while Cameron and Magnolia had one each.

Leading the Golden Bears, as usual, was senior Peyton Hall who needed just 66 seconds in dispatching his foe. The West Virginia University recruit is now 13-0 all-time in the Cabell County facility. He is looking to become the Hancock County school’s first-ever four-time state champion.

“Peyton is wrestling at an incredible level,” Oak Glen coach Patrick McGillian said of the program’s all-time winningest wrestler. “It’s been a pleasure watching him for four years.”

Also collecting victories were Camden Barr (106), Clayton Lamb (120), Jonathan Creese (145) and Kyler O’Connor (182). Barr won by pin while Creese posted a 14-3 major decision and O’Connor earned a 10-4 decision. Lamb had to work a little to get his win as his takedown early in overtime provided him with an 8-6 nod.

“Everybody that was expected to win did. I was hoping to get (Kaden) Lundy through but that didn’t happen,” McGillian said. “Clayton had a tough match but getting that takedown in overtime sets him up nice.”

The Red Riders advanced Wyatt Conley (132) and Jordan Brueck (285) to today’s quarterfinals. Conley won by pin and Brueck, a state placer two years ago, earned a 5-1 decision.

“We’re pleased with the way we wrestled (Thursday),” Weir coach Tom Taylor said. “Even in the loss we wrestled well, we just made a mistake that cost us.

“I’m really pleased to have two kids in the quarters.”

Cameron’s Ian Bush (170) was only on the mat for 35 seconds as he won by a pin. An OVAC Tournament champion, many think Bush is the odds-on-favorite to win the title.

Magnolia’s James Stillwagoner (195) posted a 9-1 major decision.

Action resumes today at 11:30 a.m. with championship quarterfinal action, and first- and second-round consolation bouts. Tonight’s third session will feature championship semifinals and third-round consolations.